How would you deal with this
 

This is a very ethical question, that requires a simple answer. Some may remember a similar post I had last preseason. In a lease I hunt there have been several feral dogs that not only have been caught on cameras, but attack other domesticated pets that are near woodlines, etc. several have been rabid, others just abandoned or lost and never recovered and have been surviving as pretty much a wild dog, needing a carnivorous diet.

A good frind of mine with my county's animal control highly suggested shooting (killing) the dogs. Evidentally this is something that is simialar to coyote bounty's ($50 for a killed coyote turned over to the VDGIF). I have a bit of an issue with this, but in some ways agree that they do not need to procreate and have packs of wild (feral) packs.

The first thing I look for is a collar, and then the general appearance of the dog. Second is basic dog behavior, ie coming to a call vs running, spooked and very timid of people...if given the chance to encounter one.

If you were on the ground, and were within distance to shoot, after seing such an obvious feral dog.......would you?

If they are indeed feral, I wouldn't hesitate and I'm a huge dog fan. I love dogs, whitetails and then people however, a truly feral dog does nothing and no one any good.

Agree with Rob. But I'll add...I'd have to see him more than once.

Feral dogs are dangerous,not only detrimental to the game but dangerous to you.The dogs will be shot on sight.

Wasnt there just an elderly couple killed by some stray dogs somewhere??? Ill see if I can find it...



Yup here it is
http://www.wusa9.com/news/watercoole...9922&catid=148

SSS. Shoot, Shovel and Shutup.

When leasing property and I have photos, I take them to the farmer/landowner and ask him if this is his neighbors dog(s)...

If they are then he can ask the neighbor to keep them in the pen as deer season is approaching...

No GREY area there, I like!

Same for me...

X2

I have been treed by a pack of wild Dogs while hunting before so they will die !

If it was a reoccurring problem, then yes I would defnitely shoot.

I would arrange for him to be "Dearly Departed":happy0001:

i would not hesitate to shoot one also cats in the woods as well without question

I am very much a dog lover, but also in agreement with most everyone here. If it is feral it is no longer the kind of animal that I know and likely would be a threat to the kind of dogs I love.

It's dead meat.

Good addition.

This is the best advice in this thread.

Hell it's the best advice in many threads. :biggrin:

that is a tuff one. I would use a gun to make sure they were down right there. I can only imagine the headlines if they were to somehow get out of the woods and be found with a broadhead in them. I would have a hard time doing it as I am a dog lover but in the long run you would be doing them a service. Domestic animals just don't have the ability to make it in the wild. That is why they attack other pets and chickens and what have you.

If they are attacking, they would be put down if caught by animal control anyway - so you're just saving the taxpayers money.

**owner of 2 very spoiled dogs.

I would shoot depending on the behavior of the dog.

I resemble that remark.

we have had the same problem and we took care of the problem in one weekend and ever since then i havent had one thing to complain about.

Depending on the area that you are in, there will be no wondering about if they belong to someone. If there is a possibility of them belonging to someone, I ask them if they have a dog that looks like the ones I have encountered. If they don't belong to anyone in the area, or there is no one in the area, they go down. Besides, it doesn't take a trained eye to tell the difference between a healthy pet and a feral dog. One of my hunting mentors once told me, "You know how you keep it a secret when you see a huge buck? Well, if a dog keeps ruining your hunting trips, kill it and practice that same kind of secrecy."

If I knew the dogs were an issue/problem, then the conservationist in me would go right to work solving the issue/problem.

Dog
 

I have had dogs all my life. I LOVE dogs. If it has a collar I try to scare it real good so it doesn't come back. I know accidents happen and dogs get out. If I continue to see that dog (such as used to be someone's pet and they just left it at my lease) I give it a few chances. After that...no more. One without a collar...ONE chance to not come back. After that NO MORE!!!

Doesnt the appearance of the dog in the picture kind of tell the story? Luckily I knew this because it had been caught on several cameras throughout preseason, never tracking deer like a trained hound would, but was always most active at night.

FYI, I couldnt do it. Im as much of a dog lover as I love to hunt, but if disease, traps, or others who were as close to it to have a shot...it was never seen after late winter.:confused0024:

Ditto!!! I killed a pair of dogs one day while squirrel hunting, both dogs came running directly at me, in a very viscious manner. I had a Semi-Auto .22LR, and shot the first dog 3-4 times in the head, dropped him about 25ft from me, the second I shot probably 7-8times, it died about 10ft from me. I've also been treed, waited them dirty SOB's out, climbed down, and walked out with my knife in my head and on ready. Fortunately, they never returned as I trotted out of the woods.

I'm not a big fan of being "The Hunted!!!"

I'm surprised the animal control officer (granted he is a friend of yours) said to shoot them. A-la Michael Vick.... killing a dog in VA is now a felony. Personally Jeff, I'm with you, I don't have the heart to do it. Out west and in several other states in the mid-west, dogs that run deer and livestock not only may be, but are encouraged to be shot on sight. Dogs running deer in VA is part of life, and totally legal during the season. Most of the wild dogs and what not we get occur in wake of lost or discarded deer dogs coupled with other escaped or discarded house/yard dogs.

About all you can do is photograph the offending animals, call animal control, and hope you don't ever get cornered by one. If one ever squares off with you.... shoot first and sort her out later.

Good addition:)

Agreed!!!!!!

Yep :fighting0007: They are no good at all.

Do what you think has to be done, if they are a problem solve it.

Couldn't agree more, feral dogs, let alone a possible pack are bad news and frankly dangerous to have running around. Years ago around here we had a group of feral dogs(5 if I remember) They killed 3 calves, chased a few people that luckily got away and tore up a few of the local pets, thankfully none were killed before the dogs were chased off.

Shane

Would you shoot a Yote? I would!! The answer would be the same for a feral dog for me.

Shoot on sight!

Total agreement with TFOX.