Everything I've read points to dog hunting for turkeys as being a wonderful twist on an old tradition. Seems to have started in the south, but there is a fellow in New York state who was very influentual in developing the breeds, and refining the sport. Dogs are sent out an hour or two after fly down when the birds have had a chance to get some scent on the ground. (So much for those 4 am wake ups...these guyssleep in a spell and set down to a hearty breakfast!)Dogs move in and scatter the flock very well, often honing in on small groups and improving the original scatter. On the signal from the hunters, the dogs curl up in a camo burlap sack and often take a nap while the hunters wait for the birds to start sounding off and call them in typical fashion, just as the rest of us do. At the shot, the dogs rush out and secure the bird, often trained to retrieve it, and bring it back to the hunter. When more birds are coming in, the dogs may return to the sacks and wait for more action. Sure sounds sporting and like alot of fun to me. To the best of my knowledge, the only time the law is on your side in killing a dog, is when it is OBSERVED, running a deer. I don't currently own a dog, but rest assured that any man who would shoot MYdog, on public land or private, would pay for it dearly.