ORIGINAL: eng40sqd
vulture...
If you would take a minute to read all of my posts on all the threads regarding this subject(forgive me I do post on seveal other boards so I might not have put all of it on here) you will see that I grew up a still hunter and am still a huge still hunter, I spend countless hours putting in food plots, scouting and shed hunting, moving and placing stands and all things that go with it and so on, not o mention the money I spend for the purpose of still hunting. I have had numerous hunts disturbed by rouge dogs and whole packs that were chasing deer and or foxes and oncea coyote. I know whats its like to sit thee and during the golden hour before sunset to have the silence broken and a evening shot to hell. I have also been still hunting and had dogs come through and not too long later had other deer that were bumped by the dogs come sneaking by heading back the way the dogs came from and gotten to harvest them. so YES I do know what he is talking about.
I also know the amont of money that I spend on my dogs such as food (which I am a dealer and it is still insane the cost of it) kennel up keep, meds and wormers (just finished my monthly worming and it costs me about $60 just to worm them to keep them healthy) plus rabies and other vet bills. Plus the tracking equipment costs and upkeep etc etc... not to mention the gas involved in that as well.. all in the of season which is jan thourgh nov.. plus the time I spend with pups in rabbit and fox pens trying to strart them but keep them from picking up bad habits. I do have about half of my dogs who will run the hair off of a fox or a yote so I will take them out and fox hunt them during the summer but generally when oct gets here mine are in the pen until opening day because thats the way it is suppose to be.
I am all for a sit down and reach a middle ground approach (once again refer to my other posts). I see you and many others say this but what have you done toward that other than just type it. Have you taken time to speak to local landowners both that allow hunting (all types) and those that dont, have you talked to other still hunters and still hunting groups in your area? What about dog hunters one at a time and or in group settings? WHat about your local consevation officer and state biologist? I have done a few things in every one of these questions... not saying I have talked to everyone by anymeans but I have made a start... and did this back at the end of last simmer when I started doing this and I am continuing to do so. All of this with the intent to have our own little focus groups to reach middle ground. I am also workign on putting a still hunt only club together and have some land leads to go with.. some with no dog hunting near them and some with very little dog pressure around, once I see i have a group of good and sincere people I will move forward with that/. I have run a rather large club so I already have most of the things in place except people. Rick has actually been on one of the tracts I am going to go after.
Justin
Justin – not sure why you’re firing a shot across my bow…
I’ve read a lot of your posts (but by no means all of them) and think I have a pretty good take on your position, and don’t see you as part of the problem. And I'm glad you take care of your dogs -- I too spend considerable money to take care of my land -- a couple of hundred dollars in posted signs alone, let alone property taxes, insurance, etc...
I generally have nothing against people who hunt deer utilizing dogs so long as they stay within the spirit of the law and have a respect for other people’s property. I’m sure that most hunters (whether they hunt with dogs or not) do this. I haven’t posted much on this issue on this board, but I have posted some. Admittedly, some posts were done when I was angry with local deer-doggers, but I’ve tried to limit those. Overall, my experience this year has been markedly different from years past in that dog incursions have been few and far between, and most of those times that I have come across someone retrieving dogs they’ve been apologetic and courteous (unlike a couple of years ago when I was threatened at gunpoint and told that “a book of matches would settle everything”).
Yes, I’ve talked with local clubs and local deer-doggers as well as local law enforcement and the game warden, although I haven't talked to other land owners in the area unless you count the clubs and those who are running the dogs. I have my property posted within (and in excess) of regulations (and so far this year, no one has shot or torn down my posted signs). My issues in the past with deer-doggers are tied directly to my post above – that is people intentionally running their dogs across my property (which is illegal, but how to prove intent). Again, that wasn’t much of a problem this year. I understand that dogs may stray across boundaries and I’m pretty much okay with my local deer doggers this year – they notify me if they need to come on my land to retrieve their dogs (by law not a requirement, but still a much appreciatedcourtesy). A simple cell phone call – that’s it and we’re cool. My property hasn’t been vandalized this year, and I haven’t ducked buckshot – nor have I come across wounded/dying/dead deer on my property and the trash left behind has been pretty minimal (in comparisons to years past). I no longer feel that I need to carry a side arm every time I go out to post the boundary, scout, or maintain the property (during the off season).
Of course, this is one year out of the past 30 that I’ve been responsible for this property. It’s been in my family now for coming up on 95 years, so I’m sure that there is other history there as well. If things continue like they were this year, then I don’t see any problems coming up, and I’m sure that given time and a record of responsibility and respect, the relationship between me and the local deer-doggers and still hunters will improve in the spirit of compromise (one year is a start, not a pattern of behavior).