Dogs and More Dogs
 

I hunt private property in Alabama during the Rut. Last few years you would see the occasional dog running around usually in a food plot. Last year I had a pack 10-12 medium to large dogs run into a food plot I was watching. This year was the first year I have seen young deer in a long time. Regulations as per my Friend in Alabama are that dogs cannot be shot. We have called the local dogcatcher with no results. HOw doI control this problem without resorting to SSS?

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

OEH,the property owner should go to the Court House and see what they recommand for him to do. You as a quest can't do anything,but break the law.

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

I should have phrased it as "WE" instead of me. We are both at wit's end with this problem.

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

ED, has the owner gone to the court house with this complaint?

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

He has called the sherrifs department and animal control a few times. Very rural area and they won't do a thing. Seems like this guy down a road started with about 3 dogs and now has about 20+ dogs running around.unchained or fenced in and they are on their own for food. They are Chow/Labrador/German shepherd mixes and some of them are pretty substantial dogs..I wouldn't want a kid to be in this area and run into a pack of them.

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

I almost wish there were more coyotes in the area to take care of the problem.

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

If they are simpy semi-feral dogs causing trouble, then all bets are off. Tell the local game warden that they have been harassing deer. If that won't work, then start shooting them and dump them in the river.

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

He knows the local Warden pretty well, he doesn't live far from himand he is aware of the problem

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

ED, he needs an injuction or court order to show the Sheriff dept. whenthey show up. Here in Tampa the Sheriff has animal control, but you have to have paper work for them to act.The problem is that from then on there will be bad blood between owners. It's a Catch 22.:)

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

Well, I know I would do. If this guy is not feeding or taking care of the dogs they will become wild. If a stray or wild dog comes through my property chasing deer he won't be doing it formuch longer. The owner of the dogs probably needs to be arrested. Your hunting is going to suffer as long as the dogs remain on the property. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Talking to the owner of the dogs would probably be a waste of time. Obviously he doesn't care about the dogs. I would be starting my own personal dog eradication program. I like dogs, but when they become stray and wild, that's a whole different story. They can become dangerous not only to deer, but to humans also. You and the owner of the property will probably have to take matters in your own hands.

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

We have a problem with deer dogs on our farms in eastern NC...Can't get the warden there when the dogs are dropped off beside our farm(s)....The dog hunters line the road and try to run the deer off our property...If we happen to be on our property then we try to cut the deer off and kill them....This really gets them mad...I have caught dogs and ran their collars through the cable crossing the farm path many times...This has been going on since before we owned the farms (35 years or so)...

I was ready to SSS....Talked to the warden....its a felony in NC to do so...Now I park my truck where I know they will see it so they know I'm there...Sometimes it stops them, sometimes not....I'm betting eventually they will outlaw dog hunting due to the problems with tresspassing and poaching...

It sounds like your problem is more with feral dogs (if neighbor lets them run loose they aren't pets)....I had a problem with a neighbors dogs a few years ago...he said that they stayed in the yard....I got pictures of 4 different dogs in one week, under a deer feeder...evidently they come in looking to trail a deer....I took those pictures to the farmer I was leasing the land from and asked him if he recognized any...He said yep...every one...he took those pictures to the owners and let them know that if he had a nice pet like that, he wouldn't let it run around in the woods...especially during hunting season...That took care of that particular situation....

You might try setting up a pipe feeder...put dog food in and getting some pictures....Then you have proof of whose they are...also the local laws might be more leniant on SSS if they are feral dogs....Good Luck....

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

My thoughts exactly if I can't get help from the local authorities.

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

We know exactly who owned the original set of dogs which were left to fend for themselves and grew into this big pack.

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

Well...sounds like you have a pack of wild dogs running around that are a threat to the environment you have one option.

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

Thats a sticky situation, OEH. I like dogs, but I have also put down a couple that were repeatedly chasing deer on our property. One guy that hunts the neighboring land shoots every dog he sees, whether its chasing game or not, collars or not, he shoots them all. I'm not in agreement with his stance on it, but its his ground, so its his business IMO. Sounds like the dog catcher in your area has the same attitude that ours does. His rule is "I'll pick it up, if you have it tied up or enclosed in a pen." Kind of makes dog "catcher" an oxymoron if you ask me lol. Keep after the authorities, maybe make a stop at the county board meeting. One little blurb about county officials not doing their job in the paper or the radio tends to cause a stir. Just an idea.

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

nchawkeye...Your absolutely right..can't stand by and do nothing..there won't be a deer left in 2 years if it continues the way it has been going. No telling how many Turkeys,Rabbits,Quail they have picked off as well.

Oh i forgot to say that an adjoining landowner to the property shoots them when he sees them..maybe we should let him borrow some semi-autos and buy him ammo. Just a thought:eek:

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

I can guarantee youthat I have never seen a collar on any of them..they hang around his house part of the day and then are gone in the mornings and at night..

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

I would say ferral dogs are 'dangerous', more so than wild animals b/c they have no fear of humans. Here they can be shot, actually on some small towns they have 'dog days', if a dog is seen out of a yard or not on a leash it is shot as 'wild' and disposed of, of course every dog owner keeps there pets inside on that day. I have also seen dogs inside city limits w/hind quarter of deer running down the street on their way home.
Maybe buy some chickens and let the dogs eat one, then you protect your property and knock off 3 or 4 of them. If you are friends w/ the CO then work something out that is legal. The person that owns this pack obviously doesn't care or he would try to keep them closer to home. Have you tried to talk to him/her? Around here you wouldn't shoot another man's dog....... but if you have gone to your neighbour and told them what the problem is and they can't stop their dog from doing it( persistant problems w/ the same dog) then they would eventually tell you to just shoot it.Just my 2 cents........ for whatever its worth.

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

As ar as I am concerned they are trespassing on private property and they would be shot on sight. Feral cats too.

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

All you need is a .22, a shovel, and tight lips. Problem solved!!!

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

I'd put out some bad weiners (timik).

RE: Dogs and More Dogs
 

You could also put out some traps and snares for coyotes; not your fault trespassing dogs got in them...or use conibears so that you don't have to worry about catch and release.;) Seriously, you have deer to protect and your hunting future on this land...snipe them with your firearm of choice,throw them inthe back of your pickupand dump them along a road somewhere so that it looks like they were hit by a car..that way they are not found on your land...I wish I lived closer..I would be glad to take care of the problem...I have no patience for people that don't keep their pets on THEIR own property.