I think there is a difference here. You are talking about Public land. I don't know any one that has shot a dog on public land during deer season. However private land is a different story. On public land, it is just that PUBLIC, any one can be there if they wish. Could just be some guy walking his dog, not even hunting. Stupid time to do it, but none the less unless there is a specific regulations saying he can't be there at that time, it's his right as well as yours. Sucks, but that's how it is. Of course there may be some type of leash law you would have to follow, depends on where you are. Lot's of government land it is illegal to let your pet run free without being on a leash. Not only for other's protection, but for the pets as well.

Now if your on private land and you have exclusive permision to hunt it that may be a different story. You would have to check your state and local laws. Some states it's perfectly legal to shoot a dog, others it very illegal unless it's a threatening situation. And that would be hard to prove. It's the same way with home protection, it's not always legal to shoot someone just because they are stealing your TV, they have to be a threat. Not all states, but some. I can't just shoot my neighbor's dog if it wanders into my yard one day.

Me personally, I don't think I would shoot a loose dog when hunting. Even if it were on private land. Now if it wouldn't let me out of the tree or something and was being very aggressive I might do it. Didn't we have a post like that a year or so ago? Maybe it was Eders?

I have hunted dogs in CA however. And I don't mean shoot one when out hunting something else. We intentionally went out looking for them at night. I lived up in mountain valley (3500 ft) and we had bad problems with wild and stray dogs. People would dump them off in the middle of no where and they would make their way to a housing devolopment or something and start reaking hovac. Getting into trash, killing cats, that sort of thing. I don't know if it was legal for sure or not, but no one minded, that much I know.

Paul