To shoot or not to shoot
 

Guys,
As I stated in my previous posts, I only have a few years whitetail hunting experience. I have heard many opinions on this. But I am asking here to get a general "what would you do" answer.

Ok my land is very small only 10 acres. I am the only one that hunts it. But on both sides of me the hunt club has now leased the farm land that buts against my property. And their dogs like clockwork on saturdays when they are out, run through my woods, not everytime, but sometimes the chase will end up crossing my hunting land while I'm out there set up still hunting.

My question is, is it "immoral" or wrong to shoot at a deer on my property while it is in front of their dogs being ran? I mean, would it upset the club enough to confront me? I am a peaceful person and always help them catch their dogs when they are on my land, and I can hear them calling for the dogs..and they seem thankful when I help.

I will admit last year I was still hunting and they ran a 6 point right by me..yes I shot it..and they never said anything to me either way..but since then I've been told by others that I shouldnt have done it. I am just looking for opinions on this.

thanks

Scott

RE: To shoot or not to shoot
 

First, its YOUR land you can kill what you want when you want!
Second, have they asked if you mind their dogs runningon YOUR land?
Third, would you allow them to kill a deer on YOUR land if they had the op?

RE: To shoot or not to shoot
 

On your land....good to go!

RE: To shoot or not to shoot
 

Well I've ran into this a few times and its been my expierence youll have a few club members that wont care and a few that will be all pi$$ed off. Most times this depends on who's dogs are running. Some clubs have "club dogs" some members have their own dogs and those are the ones you usually have issues with.(personally owned dogs)You cant make everyone happy and it is your land. If it were me I'd be selective so that they cant fuss about you killing every deer they run across your land. I'd let does and scrub bucks go. But if they ran a wall hanger by me you best beleive I'd go after him. Just my opinion andI run dogs and still hunt.

RE: To shoot or not to shoot
 

its your land so its ur deer... they shouldnt be on your land anyway

RE: To shoot or not to shoot
 

Thanks for the advice guys. I hope they arent running the property on purpose. See they lease the land on the east and west side of my property. When the turn out on the east side for example, 9 times out of ten they get hot on a trail on run right through to the west where they usually have a few guys set up...so maybe they are doing it on purpose I dunno...

Question though..if them running the dogs through there stirs things up on my property..does that REALLY screw up my woods? will the deer that got spooked off eventually come back, or are they like "to heck with that place, it's too hot" Dumb question, but I'm new to this..and Always wondered just how bad it ruins my chances on my land when they run through.

Again, thanks for the advice.

It's just REALLY frustrating..like I said I've only been hunting a few years now, and this is the first year I've actually took the time to learn the signs, and found a bunch this year..bunch of rubs, a few scrapes (in the last couple weeks), some deer trails in my woods..


so I have been really ecxited for gun season...I don't bow hunt, nor do I have a blackpowder rifle, so gun season in my only season..and as you know the dog hunters begin that day as well..

So it just gets frustrating when this happens...

RE: To shoot or not to shoot
 

SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT...................i used to hunt in a club and we ran dogs every chance we got . the guys on the ajoining property shot their biggest bucks ahead of our dogs.................and still complained about our dogs . I say shoot ,just dont complain about the dogs afterward...........good luck.

RE: To shoot or not to shoot
 

If it was the guys I know and hunt with that hunt with dogs during regular firearms season they would probably be fine with it if you shot it. Might be dissapointed if it was a huge buck but then again they would be dissapointed if it was huge and someone else in the group shot it too. However, they wouldn't have a problem with you shooting it. They also probably wouldn't mind if you wanted to come hunt with them either.

RE: To shoot or not to shoot
 

man its your land, if they have a problem with you hunting on your private land (I'm sure they wont) and they complain about you hunting in front of there dogs, than offer them a lease on the condition you get to hunt it and a life time membership to their club LOL.:D

you might want to go and introduce yourself and chat to them about your concerns. you never know, you might make some good friends and expand your hunting opportunity to larger hunting grounds.

good luck.

RE: To shoot or not to shoot
 

Thanks guys.. :)
I was thinking along the same lines, of letting does run by and the smaller bucks, I haven't killed many bucks since I've been hunting, so to me a small buck would be a spike or four point LOL...

I have a few friends in a different hunt club in a diff county that I discussed this with and they are dog owners and they are the ones that put it in my head that it's "wrong" to shoot something infront of their dogs....

The guys are really nice..as I said, I've helped them round up some of their dogs especially when they decide to hang around me when I'm trying to hunt lol.. I've also found a few over night and watered them for the night until they could be picked up.

I have these dreams of making a food plot on the land..but on the other hand, part of me thinks it would be a waste of time considering how often the deer get ran out of there by the club..I dunno..

Just how bad does it ruin my woods when the dogs tramp all through it chasing deer...I mean will the scent left over from the dogs keep the deer out of there for a while? These are embarrasing questions but I've always wondered...

I think I will make an attempt to try to get to know a few of them a little more than just idle chat when returning dogs...I dont have enough money for club dues or anything, but maybe make a deal with them about using the property in return being able to hunt their other properties...

I know they kill a lot of deer..or at least shoot at a lot...when they run accross the road from me it sounds like world war 3 over there..

thanks again guys...this forum is great!
I'm going again in the monring...sitting here watching youtube videos on grunting and such :)

I've got the fever now I beleive ...I just wish I was taught more as a youngster..basically have been teaching myself, and learning from reading and a few tips here and there from buddies..