Don't shoot dogs!!!
 

Hey guys. Just want to remind everyone that this season there will be many hunters out there, not just us bowhunters... I for example, will be hunting with my squirrel dog. His job is to trail squirrels to the tree and bark treed when he's got 'em up there. He barks 'til I get to him and shoot out the squirrel. However, no public land hunter has the right, or good reason, to shoot another man's hunting dog who is hunting legally. I don't like a ruined hunt, but I will not shoot a hunting dog. Some will be loud, such as treedogs and beagles, but remember, their masters are doing what they love, which is the same thing deer hunters love - hunting. Just a reminder for everyone to think before potentially ruining another hunter's season. :D -MIKE

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Hey, squirrel/grouse hunters don't bother me much... I think i've had you guyz push as many deer twards me as away from me.

-Good luck this season!

RE: Don't shoot dogs!!!
 

Darn, There goes The USA Dawg Hunters Season.

I don't mind the dogs in the woods. They can help you and they can hurt you. The one thing that is always true, they keep the deer moving. It's all part of the hunting expirience.

RE: Don't shoot dogs!!!
 

I don't give a single dog a second look ,
or even 2 or 3 , but an obviously feral pack is fair game here . We have problems with feral dogs attacking livestock , deer , and occasionally people .

If there's more than 3 they're shot by me .

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You are ofcourse correct in this statement and I definitely would not consider shooting one unless its intent was obviously to attack me. However, I am curious as to why you posted this here. Do you think that bowhunters tend to shoot dogs for no particular reason?

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PAB, there was a debate on another forum and this guy shot a dog. Swears it was rabid and "coming right for him" (if you've seen SouthPark). There was a big debate and most guys said they shoot dogs on the spot. I think it's BS. Most of the time I've seen people freak out over dogs it was all in the persons head. SOme people are just plain scared of dogs and will do IDIOTIC stuff like that. I have two German Shepards who, once out of the yard, wouldn't hurt a fly. I am certain if one of them walked under someones stand they would shoot. Most dogs are just misunderstood.

Hey SWOSU, maybe a hunters orange jacket for your dog would help. Not like you should have to but better to be safe than sorry. Maybe even paint "Squirrel Dog" in big letters on the side, just so people don't think it's wild or after deer. I'd hate to loose my dog and feel sorry for the guy that shoots him. They would be in a world of pain.

RE: Don't shoot dogs!!!
 

Solax,

Thank you for the explanation. I now understand the direction and the reason for the post. Truth be told, there were several heated discussions regarding shooting dogs and cats in the wild when hunting...on various forums. Where I hunt, small game hunters are in the woods regularly so a dog is not an unusual sight. I cannot imagine shooting one. However, I can also imagine that there are some areas of the country where there are wild dog problems. In which case a dog running through the woods may not be a welcome sight.

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A big dog lover but I don't think dogs and Deer season are a good combo. To me it is right up there with setting the woods on fire and see what runs out the other side. As long as it is legal though then I can't do much more than voice my opinion. I hunt private land so if I was to see any dogs chasing game they would be done.

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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:eek:) In the wallet.

.

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I agree about shooting dogs, especially hunting dogs, there just doing what there suppose to do. However, I have been attacked and didn't hesitate to shoot to save my butt. If I see a dog with coyotes or with coyote breeding, he's a goner. I shoot the dog before the coyote.

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Once, during shotgun season back when I lived in NY, I was hunting from a permanent platofrm stand about 20 feet up. One of the neighbor's dogs followed my trail and then sat at the bottom of the tree barking his fool head off.

What a pain in the axx !

So I did what I thought was necessary.


Zzzzzzip ....... wizzz .....

I guess he didn't like me peein' on him because he left pretty quick.

I still laugh about it.

And before someone starts jumpin on me about being disgusting or whatever, dogs roll in all sorts of stinky dead stuff, so my pee wasn't all that bad, the dog didn't get hurt, and I continued to hunt.

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HEHEHEHE I agree, dont shoot the dogs. Pee'in on the dog must of felt great!

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I didn't shoot but everyone I tell this story to asks "why not?"
I was bow hunting on federal property in Texas and made a good hit on a doe. I waited for an hour in my tree stand and heard the deep constant barking of a dog coming from the direction of my arrowed deer. I followed the blood trail and came upon the deer, still alive leaning against a tree and a large yellow lab circling and barking. I finished the deer from about 20 yards and when she fell the lab pounced on it. As I approached he turned to face me, crouched over the deer, lips curled, snarling. I backed off and he proceeded to eat an entire rear ham of my deer. This was a large, male, yellow lab wearing a collar with tags. When he was full he just walked off. I gutted the much lighter doe and went to the check station. End of story. Would you have shot Fido?:eek:
I might add that we are required to have our name and address on our arrows.

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Use to have wild dogs in my area, i peppered a couple and havent seen em since.

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Sorry guys I know that I'm going to catch a lot of flack for this but if I catch a dog chasing deer through my neck of the woods I'll down it in a heart beat. I have no problem with squirrel dogs, bird dogs, rabbit dogs or any other hunting dog but in WV it's illegal to run deer with a dog so shame on thier butt if they are chasing deer around me.

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From my name you can tell im a dog person. However I wont tolerate a mean dog. Most squirrel dogs are great around people or are just a one person dog and wont want to be around another person. I can understand shooting a pack of wild dogs, they are a problem that needs to be taken care of. Most hunting dogs will/should/better be deer broke. So I dont think you will see many hunting dogs running deer, unless they are young dogs. Ive only had one encounter with dogs while deer hunting and they wherent after deer. Of course they are the landowners dogs so it wouldnt of mattered.

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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.

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Without hesitation.

RE: Don't shoot dogs!!!
 

It is truly a pain here, lots of dogs and bird hunters after the 2nd week of the season, but its their season too and I respect it. Also, lots of people training their bird dogs before then, but no where near as many as when the small game season starts. On a positive note, they do move the deer some. The one time I wanted to shoot a dog, I really would rather have had the owner cited. I follow the law when I hunt, and I believe everyone, non-hunters included need to do the same. I was spring turkey hunting on a rather slow day, when I finally located and set-up on a hot Tom. Finally got him coming in when out of the blue come two dogs wearing orange collars heading right for him! Obviously, the bird got quiet. Off in the distance, Mr. Owner on a mountain bike comes down the trail. That time of year, unleashed dogs in the WMA are NOT legal. I kept my head tho, and just shut up and sat still. I suspect the Tom did too. When I resumed calling about 5 minutes later, I got a single gobble, which I believe translated to "goodbye" in english.

RE: Don't shoot dogs!!!
 

I posted this topic because, though deer hunting is about my favorite thing to do, I know that we bowhunters can get pretty bent out of shape when things get disrupted in the woods. It's our human nature, and it's alright to admit it. We want things to go our way. If we see another hunter running around making noise, we get angry. If we see coyotes running deer, we get angry, and if we see a dog, we may get angry, too. I won't hunt my dog during any rifle season, nor will I have him on public land much during bowseason, except maybe from 10 o' clock on into the early afternoon. Still, I dred that someone who thinks that "their" woods are being disrupted will stick my old pup. I just simply wanted to remind everyone that more than just deer season will be goin' on this year. Not becuase bowhunters are jerks (I'm a bigtime bowhunter), but because they are human. Thanks for all the replies...It has made for some good reading. -MIKE

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Hornbow, You were actually from Maine. I Grew up in York co and a lot has changed. Today it is a suburb of boston and there is little land left in my town. If I were in the northern or western part of the state where it isn't so populated I can see your point but to shoot a dog in southern york county I'd be asking to get the book thrown at me. I hunt in Hancock co as well and dogs in the woods there are fair game. There isn't a house within 15 miles of my hunting camp.

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Do you guys who shoot dogs care if they are wearing collars or not? All my hunting dogs wear dayglo orange collars.

RE: Don't shoot dogs!!!
 

This is the most shocking thread I have ever read on a hunting forum. That any hunter would shoot a dog because if wandered on his land or chased a deer is beyond my comprehension. Of course, many feral dogs are likely better off put down anyway, but you guys would shoot someone's pet?

A guy did this to a rabbit dog(may have been a deer dog) in a lease I was in. he made a poor shot. The owner reverse tracked the blood. The guy was not only removed from our club, but he was forced to pay restitution for the treatment of the dog that he wounded.

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I own my own land and spent alot of money to do so. Trespassing is trespassing wheather by a dog, human or a farmers cattle. The bottom line is the owner of the dog, cattle etc. is responsible for their control, and my state is specific on landowners rights when it comes to animal trespass but my property is just that: MY PROPERTY! My eye sight is not what it used to be, tresspassers whether human or dog, you better be running!

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Thats exactly why he started this thread in the bowhunting forum!!![:@]

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I have a joke I plan to tell people who hunt with me or near me..."You shoot my dog, I shoot you!" Of course I wouldn't, but if someone shoots my dog in unfair play, he better be ready for me to lose my tempor. It's the attitude of some hunters that says, "these are "my" woods" when it's public land. My granddad probably wouldn't hesitate to shoot a dog on his property...I'd be more likely to befriend a hunting dog I found in the woods. I know that private property is a different story, and landowners have their rights, but if I were a landowner and I knew my neighbor hunted dogs on the adjacent place, I wouldn't shoot one for following game into my property...Hunting dogs don't know what a fence means, they are just doing what their genes are telling them to do...get the game!

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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

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It is beyond your comprehension because you live in the south where there is no deep snow and perhaps running deer with dogs is legal. In Maine, it is not legal to run deer with dogs and in the deep snow, a Chijuajua can bring down a deer. The deer's hooves cut through the snow and it flounders while a dog can run on top of the snow (especially if there is a crust). They will eat at the hamstrings until the deer can't run and then they will simply eat it alive. Additionally, as I said, there is a leash law in Maine. Your "pet" must be on a leash at all times. There is no legal justification for allowing your dog to roam the woods. If your dog gets shot in the woods, odds are it is your fault for not obeying the law in the first place.

Shooting dogs in the woods of northern and central Maine is not only tolerated; it is advocated. There is a bounty on yotes too. If everyone just let their dogs chase deer, the effects on the deer population would be catastrophic. That is the reason people shoot free roaming dogs. And no, it doesn't matter if it has a collar or not. Keep your pet on the leash as is the law and it won't get shot.

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A couple of years ago I was sitting in my stand listening a couple dogs come my way from a long way out. After a couple of hours they had made it to my stand and proceeded to bark every couple of seconds at the rabbit hole at the base of my tree. I think they there were just a couple house dogs out taking themselves for a walk; rather than hunting dogs. I have to admit it was pretty annoying situation (I wish I would have had the bright idea to wiz on them like the other guy.) When I got back to camp I told some of the other guys what had happened and they quickly responded "you should have shot them." There is no way I would shoot a dog for ruining a hunt. I can only image how it would feel if someone arrowed my dog. I think that anyone that would shoot a dog in that situation needs to re-examine their life and perhaps consult a psychologist because their just not right.

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I never said landowners didn't have their rights...I covered both private and public land...I said that on public land nobody has the right to shoot a legal hunting dog, and then I said that landowners have their rights, yes, but that I personally still wouldn't shoot someone's hunting dog on my land. I don't think I implied not to shoot wild dogs...of course those dangerous animals should be controlled...but my post was about hunting dogs, that is, dogs that are loud and obnoxious to deer hunters but music to another hunter's ears...I also wasn't talking about states where it's illegal to have a dog running lose...I just wanted to give a simple reminder for hunters to be mindful of another guys hunting pleasures, for some, that's a slobber mouth tree dog or a sure-nuff birddog. Good luck this season.

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If you ask me, I dont think you should be able to hunt anything but birds with dogs. Its not even hunting when you have a dog chase an animal up to a tree and then you walk up and shoot it. People who hunt bears with dogs just make me sick. How can you take your good old time walking through the woods talking and laughing, let your dogs run out a few miles ahead of you and let them find a bear and chase it up a tree, then when ytou hear them bark, you walk up to the bear in the tree and shoot it while its just looking at you and cant go anywhere. You call that hunting?

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IMO only a complete jackass would shoot a dog with a collar on. unless it was a reacurring situation (which could not be resolved) or truly in self defense.

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So, if I understand what you are saying, it is fine to kill someone's pet, thereby destroying his property because of the potential that the dog might act on his preditory instincts and kill a deer that belongs to no one other than the State(unless you damage your car on one)?

Leash law? Violation of the leash law justifies killing a dog? Man, this is one eye opening thread.

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Yep, I call that hunting... I don't feel a huge need to explain myself here, but I thought I'd let you know that a squirrel dog (I cannot speak for bear hunting...never done it) doesn't "chase" it up a tree...Usually the animal is already at the tree, the dog trails it with its nose and barks treed when it smells the pharamones from up in a tree. Then you have to make sure the dog didn't lie, you have to find the squirrel up in the thick leaves of a tree before it timbers out or goes into den.etc There are many factors, probably more than when hunting birds with a dog...So how are you saying that bird hunting over a dog is fair if using a tree dog isn't. The birddog finds the game for you and pinpoints it for you, then you flush them, knowing right where they are at. They fly up in mid air right in front of you, usually within yards of you and your dog. You need only have the skills to shoot them. According to your reasoning, this seems like it shouldn't be allowed either...Actually sounds easier than using tree dogs for squirrels...And while we're on the subject, if using a dog to tree game isn't fair, then how can sitting fifteen feet up a tree with scent proof clothing, a lethal weapon, and knowlege that you're on an active deer trail be hunting either You need only get certain ducks in a row before you've got the game on the ground. Maybe to someone the only fair way to hunt a deer is walking around with stick bow or a speer. Maybe some say the only fair way is to use a rifle and put the animal straight to the ground with no running off to die....you see, it can go both ways. Hunting is hunting in all it's forms...My point is not that bowhunting isn't fair, as I am a bigtime bowhunter myself...what I am saying is that if your reason for saying some form of hunting isn't fair, then there's probably something that someone else thinks is unfair about your hunting...Try hunting with a dog and then call it unfair...I can kill a bag limit by sitting on a log, but maybe only tree a few with a good dog. But, everyone deserves their opinion, and I will respect yours, but I just disagree;):D

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We don't need fellow hunting bretheren bashing legal forms of hunting, that's what the anti's do. Perhaps you should think before you type, or find another hunting forum community.;)

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Its about watching good dog work, true you cant see alot fo it but hearing the chase realy gets the blood pumping. I cant realy describe for you the feeling you get when you see your hardwork pay off and that pup starts treeing. I cant imagine how other people hunting in a legal way makes you sick. I could understand that not being your chosen method but making you sick, comon? Its bad enough we have anti's with that attitude but another person who calls themself a hunter feelin that way worrys me.

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Glad we're not neighbors!!!

Here's the thing, dogs get loose, you can't control it. I've accidently left the gate open or the door and the dog gets out. Dogs don't know they're "tresspassing", they don't know boundry lines. And how do you know they're chasing deer, they could be chasing coons, or rabbits or squirrels. Or maybe just walking through the woods.

If it's a pack of wild dogs that's one thing, but you can tell if it's someones pet. And like someone said, it's the owners fault, not the dogs. Why would you shoot a dog for the owners mistake.

All I have to say to guys that would shoot a pet is you might want to think twice. If someone shot my dog there would be hell to pay.

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Last year I was in my livingroom and could hear a dog barking on the run. You need to understand that me and my father-in-law own all of the land that surrounds my house. So as he got closer to my house I went and got my Ruger 10/22 and when I stepped out onto the porch a doe was in the creek that runs in front of my house. She had been run so far that her tounge was hanging out. When I stepped out she ran off and whenin a few seconds here came a beagle so when it got to where the deer had been standing I let the Ruger bark. That dog had a collar but was turned loose. You guys say that you can't control when a dog gets loose but you can and it's not our responsiblity to catch the dog or contact you to come and get it. You need to take responsibilty for not being more careful. JMHO

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I was brought up to believe that most "pets" would run themselves to death trying to catch a deer, which always seemed sensible to me - a pet dog doesn't run anywhere near as fast as a deer and a dog doesn't have the stamina a deer has.

A pack of dogs is a different story - they can "corner" a deer, surround it, etc. But a single dog seems hard pressed to keep up with a deer, let alone "run it down".

Have I been thinking wrong all these years ? Can ONE dog really chase down a healthy deer on its own ?

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Ditto That;)