ORIGINAL: Virginia Mike
News,
The difference is that most of the landowners have repeatedly asked the dog runners to stop coming on their property. They have gotten no help from the authorities and continue to lose precious days in the field. Most of us are backed into a corner. We look one direction and see finding another place to hunt and avoiding any confrontation while taking a loss on the property we are paying for. (Thats the "Tolerate them" path) We look the other direction and see breaking the law, but standing up for our rights when the authorities won't. Tell me, what would you do if most of your hunting days in the field were ruined by the dog runners. I am curious to hear a solution from you. Don't say talk to them, it's been tried and they won't listen or change their tactics. Don't say the authorities, most of them are in these clubs and nothing gets done, I've tried that. Please let me know what you would do while walking in our shoes.
Mike
Mike,
I am not just a dog hunter. Iwalk in your shoes every season when still hunting my farm. Guys run their dogs all year and it sucks to have a nice crisp October morning interrupted by someones dogs running through. I know and can relate. For the most part I do the same thing many of you do "tolerate it". Yes it frustrates me and yes it has cost me time afield. The only thing we did(that was proactive)was develop a good relationship with the two wardens in the area and voiced our concerns. We also would catch and return dogs but rather than ask the dog drivers we would just ask for the name and number of the club president and speak directly with them in regards to problems. We surprisingly had good success with the main club in our area as my father is retired Navy and the club president was too andthe only peoples dogs we continue to have trouble with are some of the smaller unorganized clubs/groups of guys. It is really up to your local warden and authorities to fine and ticket those breaking the current laws on the books. The main laws that applyread as follows:
1.
When the chase begins on other lands, fox hunters and coonhuntersmay
follow their dogs on prohibited lands, and hunters of all other game, when the chase begins on other lands, may go upon prohibited lands to retrieve their dogs, but may not carry firearms or archery tackle on their persons or hunt any game while thereon. The use of vehicles to retrieve dogs on prohibited lands shall be allowed only with the permission of the landowner or his agent.
2.
Unlawful to hunt dogs when hunting any species with archery tackle during any archery season.(muzzleloader too as it coincides with the end of archery season)
3.
The training of dogs on live wild animals is considered hunting and is unlawful during the closed season.(There are some exceptions for rabbit and non-migratory game birds but not deer.)
I know for a fact that when we presentedour problemsand concerns(about enforcing laws)to our local wardens they responded and ticketed violators. There are laws and no they don't cover everything but if they are enforced and people start getting hit in their pocket they will change or hunt somewhere else. This is the main part of your post that bothers me "they have gotten no help from the authorities". That is unacceptable, those authorities have bosses and if enough heat is put on them something will change. It took us almost 3 seasons to see real results and we still have occasional problems but nowhere near what they were before. Light a fire under somebodies a$$(local authorities and wardens)is what I would try. I know that is not want you want to hear but it is the only real solution and if those local guys are in the clubs and are part of the problem then you go above them not just with a phone call but with documented events and other local landowners that will back you up.