ORIGINAL: adams
I think it's a great time to post to the dog owners of the world hunting season is a perfect time to practice controling your pets. Hunting dogs are obviuosly that, hunting dogs and it's easy to tell a hunting dog. Then there are dogs that belong to slobs that roam the world and pay no attention to property lines. These dogs should not be shot. They should be reported and the owners should pay a fine for breaking the laws. In both Maine & New Hampshire is it illegal to shoot a domestic dog and will result in a loss of hunting privledges for as much a 5 years.
I've in the past call animal control about a neighbors. Words were exchanged and as a result of the situation an invisable dog fence was installed this summer. Talk to the dog owners, talk to animal control but don't shoot a domestic dog. Hit them where it hurts most.(no, not the boiler room
) In the wallet.
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I grew up in Maine (Skowhegan/Canaan area mostly) and dogs roaming free in the woods are routinely shot. As you probably know, there is a problem with dogs chasing (and killing) deer, especially in the deep snow. My stepfather and I were told (by a game warden) to shoot any free roaming dogs we saw in the woods for that reason. Just running around free in the woods was considered prima facia evidence the dog was chasing deer. There is a leash law in Maine and Coon hunting is pretty much the only hunting done with dogs up there and that is done at night. There is no legal justification for letting your dog run free in the woods during the day up there.
On a side note, we surprised 3 dogs feeding at a freshly killed doe carcass later that year and my stepfather shot all three with his .243 rifle. It certainly appeared the warden had a point. They had hamstrung that doe and literally ate it alive.