I prefer to hunt deer when they are calm, not running through the woods and brush. I understand many places in the south are thick and dogs are used to get the deer running towards standers. In PA the use of dogs is not legal but we do drive deer using hunters walking slowly through the woods towards standers, under normal conditions the deer are not so alarmed that they run flat out during the drive. I believe many hunters use buckshot to hunt deer over dogs becasuse the deer are running through thick areas. I have no desire to hunt deer over dogs, I do hunt rabbits over hounds and birds over pointing dogs . However, If hunting deer over dogs is a southern tradition and legal, then when in Rome do as the Romans but I could never see myself enjoying that kind of hunt.