Justin,
I can not speak for Bird or anyone other than myself for that matter. But after watching this debate and having far too many hunts screwed up by hounds out of season, I too am fed up! You're right in that if you choose an illegal means of dealing with the hounds you are no better than the hound hunters who caused the problem. And in your case it sounds like you are one of the hound hunter/owners who takes great care of their pack and I would bet your hounds rarely cause an issue for others? It's like everything else in life, good folks or actions are not seen or remembered near as much a bad action. Those bad hound hunters have killed it for many good ones. Then when a deer hound hunter jumps in screaming there is no problem or we don't need any more laws on this it only fuels the anger and folks like Bird make it clear... They ain't taken it no more! I think if we really look into what being said here, what it is really saying is.. "If the hound hunters don't fix it and fix it now then folks are willing to stoop and fix it by whatever means they see fit.." They feel like their rights have been violated and they are at wits end. That doesn't make it right but I can assure you it will have an impact of the problem..

I would hope folks like you never have a dog cause an issue with another hunter. Something tells me you would not let that occur and if it did occur you would do everything in your power to prevent it in the future. So Justin, talk with your Deer Hound Owner friends and do whatever you can to make sure hounds don't run out of season, and that they stay on your property. In turn maybe non-hound hunters will take a deep breath and try to find better ways to work this issue out? I can promise that if folks keep denying (not that you have) that there is a problem it's only going to get worst.

Maybe it's too late? Maybe the damage has been donelets hope not.