Hunting with hounds?
 

Who else here uses dogs to hunt deer? It seems that hardly no one does, but I think this is due to the areas most people hunt. At our camp in northern Ontario (Canada) it is wilderness. I think most you people hunt more in residential and agricultural areas like on Buckmasters etc..Where we hunt if you didnt have dogs you wouldn't see a deer all week, and even if you do see a deer your considered lucky. So before you go hatin', :D you have to realize that I'm hunting the big woods, no fields..

Currently we have 3 beagles and a blue tick, not me myself but other members of the camp.

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

i live in huntsville ont. and ive got a hunt camp not far from my house. we also use dogs here and we have pretty good luck using them. ive got 2 black and tans and a trained july hound. they do all the work lol. whereabouts is your camp?
pat

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

i ahve heard of people using dogs to track deer they have shot but not to see deer

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

I use beagles to hunt deer with (5).my hunting buddy has (9) and another has (6). we only put about 5 at a time out.it is awsom to hear them on a track.
nothing like it.I know some don't like it,but thats because most that don't have never tried it.JMHO;)

I have only taken 1 deer ahead of the dogs in the last 8 or 9 years,just a lot of fun hearing them.most of the deer I take is in bow or B/P season from a tree stand.

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

The club I'm in now does not use dogs, but I have been in clubs that do. We have a neighboring club that uses dogs and last night they ran deer all around me. I still enjoyed a good chase.

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

nope but, each to their own

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

On the second week I hunt not far from my house near a residential area, and although there are more deer, I'd still way rather be at the camp. Theres nothing more exciting than hearing the dogs on a fresh chase. I watch the tv shows and hear people on this board talking about how they seen 20 deer in one day etc. I seen one buckmasters where they were in a box on the ground, and they had like 30 deer 30 yards out feeding. Im sorry but to me this isnt exciting at all, I'd rather fire my gun off at one deer all season and miss than see 30 deer at once..what would be the excitement in that?

Bigbuckfrenzy, our camp is about 20 minutes north of Buckhorn. And then probably another 20 mins farther north is Haliburton. What is a july hound? Ive never heard of those before..

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

I hunted with hounds for over 30 years and loved it. We would still be using hounds if we could afford enough large tracts of land.

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

all of the clubs around here use them, once the regular firearms season comes in and the dogs hit the woods, you can throw out all of your routine deer that you see because those "truck hunters" with the dogs stir up all the woods (even the land they don't own or have permission to hunt)

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

man i hate to see coon hounds be trained to run deer.coon hounds are for coon hunting not running deer.if you are going to run deer get some kind of bassit hound mix or something. i can understand hunting up there with dogs but don't have a coon hound.;)

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had a couple of hunters looking for there dogs,, turns out they were hunting/running deer with them and they crossed the river onto the land i work on, they lost one, it was found dead on the side of the road....i saw the hurt in this man's eyes, he loved the dogs, but he didnt love them enough to have tracking collars....i hope to God he finds them, there were 6, 5 left roaming....i have mixed feelings on this subject , i personally wouldnt do it, but i cant rag on those who do, if it's legal, go for it...but i would like to see these dogs with collars, some kind of tracking device....same with the hog dogs

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

I ALWAYS KEEP TRACKING COLLERS ON MY COONHOUNDS.THIS HAPPENED TO ME ONE TIME .MY COON HOUND STOPED BARKING FOR SOME REASON,WELL I GOT OUT MY TRACKING UNIT,TRACKED HER SHOWED HER ABOUT 1 MILE THRU THE WOODS NEXT TO THE ROAD.DROVE AROUND TO GET HER,PUT THE TRACKING UNIT ON AGAIN SHOWED HER REAL CLOSE,WALKED TO WHERE IT WAS SHOWING MY DOG I FOUND THE TRACKING COLLER NEXT TO THE ROAD IN THE DITCH.SOMEONE STOLE MY COON HOUND,NEVER FOUND MY HOUND.

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

What? A beagle a coon hound? what are you cracked? maybe where your from but around here beagles are for deer. It would take a basset hound a full day to run a 1 mile squared tract of forest. Around here coons are the dirtiest animal around, would never eat one.

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

never ever eat it trap it yes

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

beagles are for rabbits.but you can train them to run deer.if that is the only way to kill deer up there,that is the way to go.not to start anything.i will ship you a 2 year old walker coon hound .he runs deer all the time cannot brake him shocking coller does not fase him.he will be good up there where you are huntin.

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

You guys have really opened my eyes, I had no Idea that dogs were legal in Virginia, And I sure as heck never heard of it in Canada, That would be absolutley awesome to run dogs in Canada. We're lucky here in Louisiana I guess, depending on where you stand on the use of dogs. Our dog seaon starts a lot later than our still hunt only season, unlike the situation Pearl Jam described. Even if we didn't have dog season It gets very very tough around here for still hunting after app. the 10th of December, I really don't think our still hunting would be that much better if they were to cut dog season out the way that some people want it! Besides, changing land use and growth and development has all but killed dog running around here in my neck of the woods anyway.

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

Where I deerhunted last was in northern Arkansas. It had been made illegal to hunt with dogs, except in certain areas. Most all the folks that did use dogs before the law was passed, still do. What I always hated about it, was that they turn them loose, without tracking collers or any way of getting them back. These dogs just ran loose all season chasing deer, starving, and getting into folks stuff for the most part. We would quite often find them outside our door eating from the food we put out for our animals. I have never hunted deer with dogs, but under the right conditions wouldn't mind giving it a try. I did, for the first time hunt hogs last weekend with the use of dogs, and they were on tracking collars. There would have been no way to keep track of them and hunt the hogs without the use of the collers. There may be some who think it is an unethical way to hunt them, but the thrill of sticking a 300 lb. hog with a knife was,, was,, well it was just awesome. Hard to describe the thrill of being that close to a hog that could take you out and send you to the hospital in a heartbeat.

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

Yeah this evening after I posted this, I sat in the woods saw 6 deer walk infront of me, they were listening to the dogs the whole time, but were not spooked by them, the dogs were busy running some other deer across the other side of the cutover. Poor deer today got ran to death, all of the dogs this certain club uses are beagles, they are slow and can't quite keep up to the deer like a hound though. I wish hunting with dogs was illegal in Virginia, it would make the end of hunting season more pleasant

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

Still not sure where I stand on the issue of hunting with dogs. I'm sure it's exciting but still don't know how I feel about shooting an animal that I myself worked to harvest. Don't get me wrong I don't knock anybody who does hunt over dogs. I just don't think I could do it.

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

bobcat, our 2 black and tans are the best deer hounds our camp has ever had. sure they can be great coon hounds but they can be trained to be excellent deer hounds as well.
pat

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

i hunt with deer dogs......mine drive trucks...scout.....shoot deer and everything......i got the greatest deer dogs there are....they will track a wounded deer....help me drag...even help me butcher it if i want.......my favorite breed is american.....i hunt with a bunch of guys and all the ones that shot a buck this year are our drivers....they are my friends uncle and family and their friends.....im not sure how i got involved but they are great deer dogs....me and the dogs will be goin out tomarow about 11am......cant wait.....

seriously......dogs are illegal here.....i think it owuld be kinda fun to hunt behind dogs but then again i dont know..deer hunting with real dogs would be kinda wierd to me....born and raised and taught to shot deer in a thicket right up close and personal.....doing drives with the deer dogs as i call my friends and their family and shooting in fields and stuff is all new to me.....felt kinda wierd for a while.....now i think its alot of fun and a good way to be successful........

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

Pearl Jam... not to start anything but I would like to say that I dislike your way of putting all dog hunters into one group.. Granted there are a good number of poachers who call themselves hunters out there and they hunt from the road and or on property that they dont have rights to but that does not by any means mean that everyone who hunts with dogs is like that. Far from it, I know more hunters that are houndsmen that are more sportsmen and ethical than some a good deal of still hunters I have met or overheard talking. That would be like having one guy who was still hunting trespass onto your hunting lands and you catch them and then start saying all still hunters are trespassers, its just not the case. I do not agree by anymeans with hunting dogs on land that you are not suppose to be on but when done like it should be it is a wonderful branch of this heritage we call hunting.

Dont get me wrong a do alot of still hunting.. everyday from the begining of bow season through black powder(only miss 3 days or so- not whole days all the time but evenings or mornings) and then during general firearms season I still hunt a good deal of the time, but I do hunt with a group that does dog hunt and I love it!!! I have also gone back and still hunted a section of land that we ran dogs on that morning and have seen deer that evening that were relaxed. I understand your being upset about it but do not call poachers hunters or lump a entire group of people into a clump because of any experencies you may have had a few individuals. I also cant stand when someone says they are going to shoot the dogs. In Va its very illegal to kill any domesticated animals ie sporting dogs. They are not trespassing, they are only doing what is natural to them, it is the owner and only the owner that is responsible. Yes it may p*ss you off to have them run though an area where your hunting, but dont take it out on them.JMO

Like I saidI am not trying to push any style of hunting more than another since I love all styles but yes I am on my soapbox when it comes to bashing a style of hunting that you are not use to or personally disagree with. That is what makes this country great is that we each are entitled to our own opinions.

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

Pearl Jam.. let me start by saying that I am not intending to stir up anything but feel I need to voice my concerns as another hunter..I would like to address your use of the term Truck hunters when refering to anyone who hunts with dogs. I will strongly disagree with the lumping of all houndsmen into a sterotype because of a few individuals. I grew up a still hunter and still do a great deal of it. I had alot of friends who hunted with dogs and about 10 years ago I went with them and have been doing it ever since. It is like the addiction of pulling a bow back on your first whitetail. I still hunt a few hours everyday form the opening of archery all the way through black powder. Once general fireamrs season starts I still do alot of still hunting but I also go hunt with a group who runs dogs. I have even still hunted a property that we ran that morning and saw deer that were relaxed.
But back to your statement, I know there are some poachers who try to call themselves hunters that drop the dogs onto someones land and go to the other side and wait for them to come through or drop them onto land that is beside theirs and run the deer onto their land. Those people I have big issues with as they are not hunting they are no better than someone who spotlights a deer (killing it with a spotlight not just shinning and watching them). But there area lot of hunters that run dogs that do it like it should be and on their property and dont hunt off the public roads! I know alot of groups around here have rules that if someone has to leave a section of property to try to catch the dogs that whoever leaves must leave their gun with a memeber who is staying on the land. That way if they were stoped or someone sees them trying to catch a dog in the road and stops and questions them they can not be blammed for road hunting. NOt all of them do it but I know some that do that, but even still I know some that still leave to catch dogs and wont shoot anything where they are not suppose to no matter how big it is.
I also am sickend by the people who are saying I am going to shoot any dog I see running deer. First off in Va it is a felony to kill a sporting dog no matter if its a lab someone uses for ducks or an old hound running deer. It is not the dogs fault at all, I knwo some people say they cant read signs while this is true it is not the argument i have. The dog is only doing what its instincts are telling it to do. It is natural for a hound to run things.. now where that hound is let out to start running is not up to it. It doesnt make the choice to stop the truck and open the dog box doors. Now it does make the choice once it hits the ground to start doing what it is natural for it to do. The owners are the ones who control where they let them out to do it. Yes you can let them out on your land and they run onto other peoples land because they dont know where the lines are at, in this case no one is wrong and the dogs should be caught as soon as possible and most clubs I know do this and have good relationships with the landowners aournd them and the hunters who hunt there so they can retreive their dogs soon as not to disturb others that badly. BUt why shoot the dog??? they are not in the wrong and should not be held responsible... call the sheriffs office or dept of game and inland fisheries to handle it.

I do not mean to stir up anything just trying to open up some eyes that not all hunters are as one bad apple is!! It would be like catching a still hunter that was trespassing on land i was hunting then me saying all still hunters were poachers(trespassers) not very fair huh!! I will get down off my soap box now!! JMO

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

Great posts eng40sqd.

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

eng40sqd - first off, you don't apparently understand what I was saying. I don't care if people use dogs to hunt, I myself hunted with a club for years that used them, I would just rather still hunt and thats all I do now. BUT there are a number of bad hunt clubs in the area I live and they have poor hunting ethics.

And if you were pointing at me about shooting at dogs or whatnot, then aparently you did not read right because I have never and will never shoot at a dog, and I never have said that I would. If I catch a dog, I call the owner so that it can get the heck out of where I am hunting.

you don't even have to reply to this but I just wanted to clear this up. No need to be a total ass about it

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

Eng well said, Pearl he may have misread your statements or he may have been referring to someone else on the issue of shooting dogs.

Although I have not hunted with dogs for years, I would do it again if the opportunity came up. We always used short legged beagles for running deer down home (Northern Neck), a short leg beagle can push a deer all day long, but they never push them hard, their legs are to short, I always prefered using the short legs because the deer normally are just at a trot, and sometimes just a brisk walk. You get some hounds on them and they are flying!!!

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

Pearl.. Let me say that I guess it is my fault for not clarifying the part I was directing at you... the whole post was not meant to be directed at you and I guess I should have been a little more clear on that part. I am truely sorry if you took it directed at you 100% The only part I was directing toward you was your reference to the term truck hunters in regards to dog hunters, I mistook it as a lumping of all dogs hunters into that group!! Once again if I was mistaken then I am sorry on that accord as well. Like i stated I do alot of still hunting myself and also dog hunting. I do not try to push anyone to hunt like they do not wish to, so I am not trying to say dog hunting is the only hunting.. It is one of many styles of the sport we all love and respect.

The issue of shooting dogs was brought on actually by a reply someone put in a similar post on here... and yes unfortunatly once I got on my soapbox I just started about everything lol.....

To anyone who has read my other reply on this post please be aware I was not directing it soley at Pearl Jam.. Just the way I thought he was useing the term truck hunters... the rest of the post is just my feelings on this issue.. sorry for any misunderstandings...

Justin

Pearl maybe we will have ot get togther next year and do some black Powder hunting... I see you had the horseshoe earlier this year... nice deer....

Taz.... I will have to take you into the woods and help bring back some memories of days past... we will listen to the dogs and not care if we shoot or even see a deer!!!

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

eng40sqd - hey I'm sorry about the whole thing, I don't want any enemies or hard feelings on this board, I enjoy coming here talking with the people here. I do know sometimes these posts come off wrong as I am pretty passionate about hunting by the books and doing whats right because I see so much wrong going on during the season and it just burns me up!!!!

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

My first deer was killed in front of a bluetick/walker hound my friend and I had borrowed.
2 boys and one dog. We killed three deer that year including a very nice 9pt that my friend shot. I dont dog hunt now but thats how I started.

RE: Hunting with hounds?
 

I grew up running dogs, we used everything from beagles to red bones, black and tans and July walkers, the best we ever had was a mix between black lab and walker. Its a shame but dog hunting around here is pretty much a thing of the past due to all the large tracks of land being devided up. I have killed way more deer still hunting than I ever did with dogs but there is nothing like hearing a pack of hounds trail a deer and then jump it. I wish my kids could experience it like I did but thats one thing I won't be able to past down.

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Thats too bad man..I hope to always be able to use dogs on deer, theres nothing more exciting.

Thanks for all the great posts guys..keep em coming