Just to run the deer doesn't seem like hunting ,but if they used it for a jump dog like a bird hunter I could see where it might be interesting .Just isn't legal here .

I do dog hunt deer with beagles.we have about 26,000 acers.I have hunted this club for the last 16 years,and have only had my dogs off the property one time in all those years.
yes I do have control of my dogs,the rest of the members call my pack the children,because they listen better than some kids.now that is my dogs,I can't speak for anyone else.
if any one would like to try a deer hunt with dogs,give me a call next year when the season rolls around and I will take you with me.you will not be able to hunt just ride along.that is a club rule.
if you try it once you will never condemn it again.
if it is legal it is ok by me.we have enough people tring to stop hunting now,we don't need our own people fighting and causing fuel for the anti's fire.
just because someone doesn't do it that doesn't make it wrong for someone else to.
THIS IS THE U.S.A. a nation where you have a right to be different.
thanks for listening,thats my 2 cents,there are 98 more.



I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest

remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.

Most people who condemn it never have experienced it. I am stillhunter but I do go doghunting every once in a while. There are a lot of big hunting clubs here who try to do the right thing. But there is also a lot of people who abuse doghunting. But to outlaw doghunting, if people give in to that what about people tresspassing? Will they outlaw hunting period? I just wish all of us hunters could stick together. If someone doesn't think they like dog hunting I would suggest them take tree climber, and shorthair up on their offers. I would be willing to bet you would want a second trip. I hope they never ban doghunting, if that what next?

In Southhampton Va it wokrs out great for us because we have alot of land that bumps up against other huntclub land. We have a good deal worked out and some time coordinate hunts so we are hunting the areas back to back and get more dogs in the woods and move more deer. It is fun and everyone if everyone does what they are supose to do we can keep our good relationships with the other clubs.

johnny there are basically 3 different types of deer hunting dogs, the one that a lot of people have an issue with are the hounds, hounds can easily outrun their handlers even though they could not catch a deer if they tried. The second is beagles which push the deer, but are much slower and a lot easier for the handlers to stay within range of them, and last, but not least, beleive it or not, a bird dog that hunts deer! The guy whos owns one of the properties I hunt used to use them to hunt deer, he says they work deer like they work a bird, as you are walking with them they circle out wide in front of you and then work thier way back to you and repeat that pattern until they jump a deer. Once they have jumped a deer they do not take off running them, but instead they track them and jump them again, he says they don't even bark unless they actually see the deer. He says the best thing about using them is that the deer never really run, but instead keep trying to double back on the dog, which basically means they will be coming right at you. I have never hunted deer using a bird dog, mostly I hunted in front of beagles, I quit hunting with dogs years ago, but enjoyed it when I did.

The Tazman

I'm with Tazman in that I enjoy running hounds on rabbits. The great thing about beagles and their prey is that the rabbits seldom stray further than 200-400 yards in their circles so you're always right on top of the action. And a good brace of dogs lends itself to some awfully fun times. we usually run them in groups of two, be it 2, 4 or even 8 but hunting them in pairs is the key. it makes for better dogs I think because the competitive nature between them. I've never hunted deer with dogs but could see how they'd be advantageous for perhaps driving deer out of hard to hunt spots (i.e. grown over bedding areas) but I think as far as running them like you would a rabbit, I think it would be hard to stay ahead of your quarry. WR