RE: Dog Hunting ...agree or disagree and why?
 

My take on dog hunting is based solely on my experience...

It is perfectly legal in Virginia, but the only folks I know aren't doing it legally or ethically.

The way my property is laid out, I have national park on three sides, and a river/swamp on the fourth. Across the river is a hunt club. These "hunters" will drive through the park and drop their dogs off (illegal) and run their dogs through the park and across my land. They'll usually send one guy (unarmed) through behind the dogs "Yeah mister, I know this land's posted... I'm just following my dogs, ya see." Well, they run the deer through the park and through my land, and across the river where their "members" are waiting. They then unload their magazines at anything running. Usually between 7 and 15 shots per deer.

Now, I'm sure that not all dog hunters are like these bozos, but they are my only experience. I've seen the law enforcement officer for the park service shoot these dogs, and I've seen him arrest the "follower" - but that hasn't slowed them at all. The only saving grace is that they can't run dogs during bow season or muzzleloader season.

RE: Dog Hunting ...agree or disagree and why?
 

If its legal then ok. Here in Indiana its not legal. Personally I think it would be fun to try but the problem that I could see with it is what many of you have already pointed out. I think there would be bullets flying all over the place and dogs running on to other people's property. Seems dangerous to me.

RE: Dog Hunting ...agree or disagree and why?
 

In Texas where I live, it isn't legal, but in Arkansas, where I grew up and hunt, it is still legal. As said before, if they would stay off of my land, I wouldn't have a problem. I have actually had one of the adjacent leasees release his dogs on the corner next to ours and the dogs ran a circle on ours to spook deer out. This is because, unlike this slob, we don't shoot everything that moves, and we still have deer on our property.

Then there are the people that release their dogs on the road, and the dogs circle onto everyone elses' property or leases and drive the deer back to the road. And of course, these guys don't own or lease any land in the area.

This doesn't give me a positive view of dog hunters, and it wouldn't hurt my feelings if it was outlawed in Arkansas like it is in Texas.

Dogs can't be run during bowseason legally, but that hasn't stopped the dog hunters either.

RE: Dog Hunting ...agree or disagree and why?
 

I live in Florida and have ran deer dogs for 3 years now. I own 4 dogs at the present time. I run dogs almost every weekend except for the really hot months. I am one of those deer-dog hunters who just loves to watch the dogs work and hear them run, as most are the people I hunt with. Electric collars have led to far less complaints out of adjacent land owners around our county, asmost land is leasedprodominantlyfordeer-dog hunters.The three deer-dog clubs are 109,000 , 89,000 , and 60,00 acresin size so complaintsare not much of a problem around my area.

RE: Dog Hunting ...agree or disagree and why?
 

Bryant,

Somehow I would imagine that those clubs get their fair share of deer hunters (that don't use dogs) trying to trespass. But, if you generalized about other deer hunters based on that the same way that some of the anti-dog hunters do in these threads, there would be howls of outrage.

RE: Dog Hunting ...agree or disagree and why?
 

It's legal here in Louisiana, but I don't dog hunt. I just wish some (not all) dog hunters would be more respectful to the hunters sitting on stands. I've had too many hunts ruined by dogs running by my stand or even hunters come running in on me trying to cut deer off.

RE: Dog Hunting ...agree or disagree and why?
 

I'm from Texas, and it's not legal here. I'm glad it's not legal here, and I would not support making it legal here. Where it is legal, I guess I don't have a problem with it IF, BUT ONLY IF, the dog hunters keep their dogs restricted exclusively to land on which they have permission to hunt. I also thinkdog hunters should be subject to a minimum $1000 fine for each of his dogs that trespasses where the dog hunter doesn't have permission for a first offense, with higher and higher fines for subsequent offenses.

RE: Dog Hunting ...agree or disagree and why?
 

I can guarantee you that my experience is not based on generalizations, but 20 plus years of the nothing but the same, just as described. I have no earthly idea why any hunter in their right mind would want to sit on any dog hunters land that has been run into the ground and the only way to possibly see a deer is to turn out the dogs again! And, if you lived around it , you would be keenly aware of the constant 'howling' that does go on. It is extremelycontroversial. If it is ever voted out, it won't be by the antis or onohuters, but within the huting community--simply because teh majority of dog hunters act just as has been described on here. I repeat,for those that don' t fit this mold, and I am sure there are, especially within this community, I am sorry, but I have had no personal contact with any but the negative ones.

RE: Dog Hunting ...agree or disagree and why?
 

baiting is illegal here, but when i lived in texas i did it "just like most everybody else" here in a lot of south bama doggin is legal, not my preferred method of hunting but i sure would hate to see fines like that for someone that is trying to do right, baiting, i say hang'em out to dry, for now it is still illegal in bama....and i say the same for JA's that turn their hounds out on others property

but like manuman mentionedi have been with a few of these groups where its "a big joke" to turn out dogs on adjoining property owners, these folks are ther own worst enemy, but for some its all they have ever know, talked to an old man down around columbus miss. he said he had been doggin for 50 years, he did not care what the law was he was gonna keep doing just like he wanted

RE: Dog Hunting ...agree or disagree and why?
 

I am in Virginia were we do dog hunt and it is the only way I have hunted except during bow season. I love to hear the dogs run and after the hunt, my son and I have fun picking up the dogs. My uncle had dogs when I was growing up and now my buddy has a pack so I have been close to it my entire hunting career. I believe that if it is legal it should not be looked down at. I do see that if owners of dogs run their dogs over others property it gives us a bad name. Every one of our dog drivers has tracking collars and when they get "out of the hunt" they go and pick them up. Our land is in big tracks but they are close to each other so most of the time the dogs are on our land or on another hunt clubs land that also runs dogs. We are only allowed to use buckshot and dog hunting is the best method for our area and our limited weapon choices.