Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms

http://www.tidewaternews.com/news/20...er-not-hunter/

Killer, not a hunter
Published Thursday, December 11, 2008

I’ve been hunting most of my life — all types of hunting: bow hunting, black powder hunting and hunting with dogs. Hunting with dogs is very traditional and dates way back into early times.

My son, Tyler, who just turned 13, and I starting raising our own hunting dogs about seven years ago. I taught him at a very early age the responsibilities of caring for his dogs. He does the feeding, watering and most of the cleaning of pens and water bowls, and I provide the vaccinations, wormers and the feed. He has raised 14 puppies over the years and is in the process of raising six more.

I would say he has done as well as any adult could have done given the same opportunity. He treats his hunting dogs as pets with an obligation, meaning they are pets when in their pens, but when collared, loaded and turned loose to run game, that’s their obligation to him. From the time he turns them loose until the time he puts them away, they hunt and they hunt hard for him.

Last Saturday, when he carefully picked out eight dogs to get the job done, little did he know he would only have seven at the day’s end. You see, some coward who calls himself a hunter took the life of one of my son’s prized possessions (his name was Ranger) by shooting him with a slug gun.

We tracked Ranger most of Saturday night. We worried about him all night and finally, on Sunday morning while thinking we were close to retrieving him, we got close enough for my son to walk into the woods to retrieve Ranger and load him into the dog box.

What Tyler found was his dog covered in blood, dead from a gunshot wound. Try explaining to a young boy who has devoted the last five years raising this pet/friend/hunting dog how someone could do something this pathetic to an animal that was out for one reason — to make my son proud. I couldn’t explain it to him; neither could the animal control officer who showed up to write the report.

Tyler’s question to me before going to bed that night was, “How can a man with a loaded gun, that calls himself a hunter, shoot a 25-pound dog that was only doing what I taught him to do?”

Ranger was just hunting. He never messed with anyone, and he wasn’t even able to defend himself. All I could do was agree with Tyler because I can’t even imagine stooping that low.

My only hope is that the individual responsible for this senseless act have the guts to read this column and then look himself in the mirror and realize what he has done and whom he has affected.

Then, if you are a real man, find us. I would like to introduce you to the person you hurt the most, my son, and have you answer the question I was unable to answer.

How could you take the life of a harmless pet that was doing what he loved to do: just hunt. No matter how hard I try, I can’t explain to Tyler how or why you did what you did.

After that, we would be done and the law would handle the rest of your punishment, which in my opinion would be far less than what you really deserve.

Ranger will be sadly missed.

BILLY NELMS is president of the Bent Barrel Hunt Club in Ivor. His e-mail address is [email protected].
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RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

Truly a COWARD! No excuse could convince me otherwise!

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

Man I sure hate to hear that. Hunting dogs are special dogs to us... especially when you raise them from pups and train them yourself.... they are way more than just pets, they are your best friends and your best hunting partners. This guy is truely a coward and I hope he gets what he deserves. Try explaining to your son the difference in an ethical hunter and an unethical one. I feel for your son.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

Hokie has it been investigated, any suspects? No excuse for actions like that,does the VHDA plan on pushing for stiffer penalties and laws against anyone(including the owner)shooting a dog?

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

Thats awful that the dog got shot. Was the person who shot the dog tresspassing when the dogwas shot?

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

We shoot dogs on our lease. Hunting deer with dogs is illegal in our game zone and we don't do it. The only dogs we get are strays. They may have a collar, but we still shoot them. One of our members had some stray dogs chase a buck in front of his stand. He shot the buck, then had to shoot one of the dogs to get them to leave. He wouldn't leave the buck for fear they would return. He had to send a text message to us for help. I once got permission to hunt a power easement on a deputy sheriff's land. Just after sunrise his 3rottweilers ran by. Not a good hunt, but I didn't shhot them. The article doesn't say where they were hunting. If it was public land, I would not have shot him. If I was hunting someone else's land or lease, I would not have shot him. On our lease, I would have.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

If they have a collar on they are not a stray........

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

It should not matter weather it was on a lease that did not hunt with dogs(duh) The dog had a collar which any moran should know it is not a stray. The person who did this should not be allowed to carry a gun, most of them prob. arnt smart enough to pass the HSEC anyways. Just unbelievable how dumb some people are

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

Shooting a dog straight off, if he was wearing a collar is wrong.
I guess my question is where was the dog when he was shot. Was he on your lease, public propertyor someone else's private property.

If he was on your lease or property, then someone should know something. Public property, sorry that your dog was shot but I doubt that we'll ever know who did it. If the dog was on someone else's property.... the real hard truth is that the dog shouldn't have been there. I'm not saying that shooting him was right, but if a private land owner is over run by other peoples dogs and can see how it would happen.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

By the way does any1 know the penalty of MURDERING a dog(not a wild 1)? You would think it would be pretty hard(penalty and as a human to do)doing something like that. If somones dog ever ran across one of my pieces of land, that thought would not even cross my mind. Some people are just sick[:'(]. no other way to put it or defend it!

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

This is a case that happened earlier this year, not the same situation as Tyler's dog. He was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty for shooting the dogs. http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=600&sid=1353497

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

The Code of Virgnina can be found on the VA State Police website. The Code section you are looking for is 3.2-6570 Cruelty to animals. It is a class 1 misdemenor to kill or injure an animal. If its a second offense in 5 years,or a companion animal, its a class 6 felony. Now i don't know what the court thinks a companion animal is but i don't think its a hunting dog. Also, its not illegal to defend your animals or livestock by deadly force if a dog is attacking your animals.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

I had heard, in wake of the Vick case, that killing a dog in VA is now a felony. I'm unsure of on what level. I'm sure hokie man knows.

As to defending livestock, in western states, its common knowledge and practice that a dog that chases livestock or horses is dead and doesn't know it yet. As to VA, I'm not 100% on what the law is... but when it comes to defending yourself I'm sure the law will be on your side as long as you are honestly defending yourself or a third party.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

One of the guys I hunt with said that it's now a felony to kill a dog. However, I'm not sure if it is in all cases or just some. I assume he knows what he is talking about as he usually does.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

That's horrible. I deer hunt w/ dogs in Central VA on a friends hunt club and I keep and own 8 rabbit dogs and no one should shoot someone elses dog in a situation like that. If my rabbit beagles run onto someone elses property, I try and retreive them as quickly as possible. I know deer dogs can run a long way out but my buddies who run them run tracking collars on them and all the clubs around them are polite w/ each other and catch each others dogs if they run over there and call and return them as quickly as possible.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

Thats a horrible situation, to have to tell your son someone has done something like that. You try to teach your kids the values in hunting and then you have people that do stuff like that..... i hope the person who did this does not have children and if they do i hope they dont find out that a parent did something like that.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

Killing a kids hunting dog is almost as bad as hunting deer with dogs, that sucks. I have no use for hunting deer with dogs. I have had too many hunters on my land, drunk, running their trucks up and down the road like maniacs, leaving their dogs to roam around, etc. Even had one tell me one time "you damn landowners think you own everything and can tell us what to do." Don't shoot a kids dog, but outlaw deer hunting with dogs tomorrow. IMHO.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

Just because you have a hunters in your area that don't act like they should doesn't mean all of them that hunt with dogs act like that. Infact, I know several guys that hate hunting with dogs and only still hunt that should not be allowed to own a gun much less hunt. They give still hunting a bad rep just like a few bad dog hunters give all dog hunters a bad rep. Just because their are a few like that it doesn't mean that they all are.

If you don't like hunting with dogs no reason you should have to do it. However, it shouldn't be outlawed and the ones who do enjoy it should not have to suffer for it.

Another thing I will say is I don't know very many still hunters that don't bait the deer. IMO that's worse than hunting with dogs. It's also illegal here which I'm sure to let them all know it's illegal and how I feel about it. It seems like they don't follow the laws any more than dog hunters do and most of them seem to break more laws.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

Getting "your kind" out of hunting all together would be a plus to the hunting community.;) Just because you do not agree with tradition of other hunters should not mean that type of hunting should be outlawed. GEES talk about selfish, this is a prime example!

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

If I see a dog on my property, I usually try to go catch it and check for a collar or some other identification. If there is none I take it to the vet and give it to him. On the other hand, if there is no collar and the dog is clearly showing aggression towards me, then all bets are off. Boom, game over.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

Exactly.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

I have had dogs ruin my hunts like none other. However I never even thought about picking up myweapon and killing the dog. But I can tell you this, people letting their dogs run loose on others property over and over again should be prosecuted as well.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

Was the young mans dog a deer dog by chance?Was he running deer?Was it on your property?I will not to hesitate to shoot a dog,pet or no pet!I just flat out don't care.If I see a dog on my property,then im sorry for the owner,but that dog is dead!If owners care so much about their dogs then keep the damn things tied up during deer season,simple as that!In my opinion I think that all deer dogs should be shot!They are useless,only thing they are good for is to tresspass on other peoples property.Deers run way to far to be hunting with dogs and expect to stay on your own property!

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

IGNORANT!

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

I will be honest, I have had my problems with dog hunters in the past, but in now way EVER would I do harm to a dog. I love dogs and have 4 Dachshunds that I rabbit hunt with on my Uncles farm.

Whoever did that to your son's dog deserves the same fate.

Now, as far as being a "hunter" goes, well there aren't many of those left either. Well, not unless you consider sitting on baited land in a heated stand 30 feet in the air drinking coffee and eating donuts waiting for a deer to walk by "HUNTING".

Sorry about your kids pet man.

Stan

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

Pretty cowardly dude. If I have a problem with a dog I will confront the owner (like a man). Not shot a dog that only is doing what his ignorant owner allows him to.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

stancel.. What makes it worse is this guy is a dog owner.. he claims to own rabbit dogs or something to the nature..If this is his mindset being a dogowner makes one wonder how he treats his dogs.. probably shoots them once they get older or dont run like he wants. People like this should not be allowed to own a chiapet much less another living breathing creature.. lets hope he doesnt have any kids, one only knows how they are treated with that mindset..

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

I have to notice that the question of whether or not the hunter who shot the dog was trespassing or not was never answered. I would truly like to know all of the situation. We have a huge problem here of dogs being released to purposely run across private property. The dog hunters know very well what they are doing. I am not saying the original poster is that kind of person as I do not know the situation,but as long as so much is being made of the fact that a kid is involved I'd like to know that it was the other person that was trespassing.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

My heart goes out to you and especially your son. That had to be incredibly difficult for you. I have hunted on some landmy father-in-law owned a few years ago and we constently had the neighbors dogs running around on his place screwing up the hunting. When you spend as much money as we did to prepare for the season and then take a weekend to go there to hunt and have half the weekend ruined because the dogs are running all over the place I certainly can see why someone would want to kill a dog. We actually talked about but bottom line....I just could not bring myself to kill someone elses dog. I was so mad I wanted to a couple of times but not mad enough to actually go through with it. Never even put the crosshairs on them.

Tough lesson for your son to learn, that people do not have the same beliefs that he has, but unfortunately if you live long enough you learn this.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

I agree. Mad enough to. Just can't do it. That's why I am looking for non-lethal alternatives to keeping dogs off my property. Who knows, if I can come up with a good invention, maybe I can retire and we all can have some peace.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

This is what happens when the idiot dog hunt clubs don't respect the rights of private property owners. I don't condone the killing of an innocent dog. I am a dog lover and think the owner of the dog should be addressed. But as seen in the past some of these hunters don't give a $h** what you think.

This is a sorry story and I feel sorry for the kid, but his old man should have taught his son the responsible way to dog hunt and not had the dog in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just my .02.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

other way around to me... its the idiot who shot the dog not the ones who were hunting deer with the dog...some ofyou guys are a joke. the title says it all.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

your dog on his property run deer off of it all the time yeah i would be pissed.dog being a pest ruining this HUNTERS hunt the dogs owners need to be accountable for the dogs actions.my pitbull would not be foregiven if it attacked other dogs,deal with it.i would of put the dog on a fence post on my property and left a note for you to talk to me if you had any questions man to man i would bring a box of tissues for you.
he is about as cowardly as the other hunters who kill any dog or animal just to kill which im sure many of us have done.
now if it was not his land he is in the wrong, he owes the dog owner
i dont shoot dogs and i have put up with three german shepards that ruin my hunts over and over for about eight years now, never shot at one, even had one charge me stopped about twenty feet from and barked very agressively at me a bluff.but they run some deer to me not as much as away from but take the good with the bad.
he should of shot the dog, sank the dog, then shut up thats what many hunters on these web sites say they do and they are still hunters not killersmost agree with them i dont unless they run in big packs.
im sure you have killed something just to kill while hunting.
just a form of hunting deer i dont agree, with your the killer the dogs are the hunters somethings need to be changed dont care what they did back in the day. romans or whoever loved little boys i guess you think that should still be allowed

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

The people on here taking up for the dog is not real hunters , ANYONE who hunts with a dog is NOT A HUNTER they are lazy A$$$$ who dont know how to hunt , i might have a bad outlook on it but if you had to deal with all the outter state hunters sitting at my mailbox waiting to shoot across your field and then telling you the road is puplic and i dont have any say so over it to go back in the house would have the same feelings. I love dogs as a house pet but thats all they are good for the people who hunt deer with dogs are just to lazy to get out and scout and sit in the cold like real hunters do. So all i can say is dont turn out by my house if you want your dog back bottom line.

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

I do feel bad for the son for all the hard work and care he had put into the dog,
But I would like to know more about the situation before I condemned the "cowardly killer"was the dog on his property? If so had he had trouble with people running dogs on his land before? Had he already talked to the hunters about it?
Or was he trespassing? If he was then “cowardly killer” would apply. As I see it none of this was addressed in the original post or answered in any that asked?

Johnny

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

I don't know the answer to your question other than what is in the news article. I do believe he left a contact of some sort maybe an email [email protected]. Have you tried contacting him to ask these questions?

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

wow. bowmann you hit the nail right on the head!

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

this guy must have never dog hunted lol, I get 3to4 times the exercise in dog season than I do in bow and blackpowder. I love going out and sitting in the stand all day but get fat doing so. I drop those pounds during dog season.......lol

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

Someone told me therules for dog hunting deer have changed. You must have 1000 acres of continous property to hunt with dogs now.

Is this correct?

RE: Cowardly Killer not Hunter - by Billy Nelms
 

nope. But I think one day in the future they will put some kind of min. acre rule. I agree you dont need dogs to run through a 15 acre piece of woods. unless the other areas were ok with doing it. 1000 is a little much in my opinion.I would'nt think it would be that high IF they do it at all.