[12-34hom]

I have seen and read much debated issue of shooting of domestic & wild dogs here and at TFL since my being a member of both sites.

While i lived in southern part of the state i now reside in;[Iowa] i had many chances to hunt packs of dogs that had staged and roamed in rural areas where i lived.

These were normally large type farm dogs [collies, shepards, mixes] that would band together with the express intentions of harrassing and or maybe killing any other living creature them came upon.

Make no mistake, this can be a lethal for anyone or thing that happened across these types of animals grouped together with a "pack mentality". In the county i lived they tore up farmers livestock on a regular basis.

Hunting and killing them was on par with hunting coyotes. They are very smart and keen to thier enviourment.

This was @ 12 years ago and at that time i was keen on 243 Winchester chambered in a Ruger Model 77v. I did not reload to the extent i do today and used alot of factory fodder, Remington & Winchester brand in 80 grain loadings.

Any thoughts or experiances on this subject?

12-34hom.

[dakotasin]

i've posted in the past about a group of wild dogs (appeared to be rottweilers) that caused problems on the farm where i hunt (including fighting w/ our dogs, etc). at first i made every attempt possible to not harm these dogs. finally, the last straw came when i was bowhunting deer and became hunted. i was forced to kill one in self defense. the rest i shot so there wouldn't be a repeat of similiar circumstances.

lesson learned.

another time i had some dogs come into my stand while i was coyote calling. i wasn't sure about the dogs and they were no immediate threat so i didn't shoot. talked to a few of the neighbors and spotted the dogs a few days later. i determined that they were wild. a week later i was calling coyotes and they came in again and this time i shot 2.

it can be difficult to say for sure if some dogs are wild, so i give the benefit of the doubt if at all possible. however, once i am reasonably sure the dogs are wild, they are shot at the first opportunity. it pains me to shoot dogs so i'll avoid it if possible... at the same time, i won't permit the dogs to become a threat to me or my kids.

[Art Eatman]

It has always been an easy differentiation for me: There are tame, trained dogs, and there are feral dogs. There are warm, fuzzy house putty-tats, and there are feral cats.

I shoot feral dogs and cats; neither regret nor guilt. (Gripiness, maybe, at the so-called "owners" and their irresponsibility.) The reasons have been posted numerous times by many of us...

Art

[kudu]

Where I live I make it a point to know the neighbor's dogs so I don't PO some one. There have been several times when packs of dogs have been roaming the county side running deer and other things. I've thinned out a few at times. Anymore if I see more than 2 dogs out running they are fair game. Getting more protective now that I have small children playing outside more often.

[dakotasin]

art- your 2nd paragraph is exactly my sentiments.