If you have a continuous 30 square mile tract of land to hunt, then use dogs if you want. This is a real touchy subject here in SC now. The DNR is passing new regulations and many think “dog drives” will be outlawed in the near future. I, for one, can’t wait. A few places I hunt have a “shoot on site” mentality about dogs. I won’t say whether I have or haven’t since it is illegal to shoot them, but make sure you get rid of the radio-tracking collars. Many, Many times I’ve had hunts ruined by dogs and if an area is constantly pressured with them the deer will leave. It happened this year to one of our best spots, a place that used to almost guarantee at least seeing deer. Half way through the season the deer virtually disappeared. A bunch of slobs, leasing the adjoining land, that couldn’t get out of bed before sunrise to hunt, started getting buddies with dogs to come in. If you can’t keep your dogs on your own property don’t expect them to ever get home. Let me reiterate a point though, if you have a LARGE enough track of land then by all means have fun “dog driving”. Other wards I would like to see the “drivers” prosecuted for poaching if the dog leaves their land. If the “driver” comes on my land and shoots a deer it’s poaching and I don’t see any difference if their dog does, poaching is poaching my book.


Tazman,
In answer to your question, I’ve hunted Quail with dogs. I personally don’t see it as an ethics question. Bird hunters keep control of their dogs, they have to, while to many “dog drivers” let their dogs run all over the county. With me it is a trespass and poaching issue, not ethics.


Edited by - mello_collins on 01/18/2002 09:22:00

Edited by - mello_collins on 01/18/2002 09:22:40