Illegally using Dogs for Deer

A lot in my area shoot more deer than they have tags for. And hunt at night on atvs. And use crossbows. It ticks me off. But i wont snitch. Some of these guys are bad news. And wont hesitate to put you in a mine shaft.

wolf695 said:

Wrong is wrong, if they can't hunt legally then they shouldn't be hunting at all!

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Ah....the bane of all responsible hunters, having to deal with the unscrupulous. Trail cams on my son's property are there for more than seeing game. It has given us the identities of trespassers during hunting and foraging seasons along with dogs that should not be there. The problem we have with dogs is not from those running them on deer on purpose, but those neighbor's dogs running loose or packs of hounds put out for raccoon or coyotes. Those running 'coons or 'yotes are for the most part appreciated, even if they do run the deer out for a day or two. The neighbor's dogs are another story and are harder to address, unless you don't like your neighbors at all. Sometimes, you just have to be the jerk. Been having n issue with one neighbor's dog for a coupla years. First was he was just coming over and bothering us at the cabin. Getting in garbage and getting the other dogs upset. Basically we saw him every time we were there. Got so I shot a gun in the air to spook him off and then followed him home. It was almost a mile away. Owner swore up and down it wasn't "Otie" I was seeing. "He would never go that far!". Few pictures later and I was told he "would take care of it". Seemed he was for a while till this bow season. Had a food plot that had deer coming in every night. "Otie" was showing up every night too, many times before the deer and would hang around until they showed up. Got him several times on my cell phone camera chasing them off along with multiple trail cam pics. Called the local sheriff, showed him all the pics, and the owner was given a $90 fine for having a "dog running at large" and was told he would be fined again plus for trespassing the next time he got called. End of "Otie"....at least for now.

Are you sure someone purposely set those dogs out at night?

My problem with dogs , is they run them at night about a month or two before the season comes in . They have gps collars on them and turn them loose and then go home and go to sleep and to work in the morning . When they get off work , them look for them . More than a few times one ends up at my house and won’t leave and making my dogs bark all night and we can’t sleep . I called the number on the collar late one night . I woke up the owner . He said that his son was running them and then got nasty and said that I woke him up . I got nasty back and told him your dog did the same thing to me . In my county , we don’t have a leash law , your dogs can run loose . It is unlawful to run deer dogs at night , but they get by that , saying they are coyote dogs . I know it’s not the dogs fault and it’s the selfish , uncaring owner , but I have been thinking about getting some of those rubber shotgun shells , or loading some rock salt for the ones that hang out here making my dogs bark all night and day . But how can you shoot this sweet hound that doesn’t know better and just wants some rest and companionship .

Yeah, it's not the dog's fault. I suppose if a person was to rescue the dog and then take the gps collar and attach it to...oh say a cross country semi's bumper..?
But that would be wrong I guess.

Shanghai McCoy said:

Yeah, it's not the dog's fault. I suppose if a person was to rescue the dog and then take the gps collar and attach it to...oh say a cross country semi's bumper..?
But that would be wrong I guess.

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Over the years I have found several dogs "lost" in my backyard or in the woods when hunting. The local Animal Shelter charges $95 for an owner to retrieve them. I have them make the call to the number on the tag instead of me, unless I personally know the owner. Seems when there is a cost involved, folks are a tad more responsible.

We had a huge problem with packs of feral dogs killing calves and sheep decades ago. The Sheriff's Dept. sent out deputies with rifles to try to kill them. Several that the deputies or I killed had collars. They were "pets" that were allowed to run free and they would join up with the feral dogs.
I don't blame the "pet" dogs, I blame their owners. If one is too lazy to build a pen or lock up his dog at night, the dog is who suffers along with the animals he pursues.

Patocazador said:

I don't blame the "pet" dogs, I blame their owners. If one is too lazy to build a pen or lock up his dog at night, the dog is who suffers along with the animals he pursues.

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Growing up hunting in Wisconsin back in the 60s, it was a rule of thumb, if you saw a dog running deer, you shot it. Period. Nowadays, you shoot someone's pet and you're in more trouble than you'd even want. So, the solution is to get the authorities involved. This applies not only to irresponsible owners that think it's fine to let their dogs roam, but in the instance of the OP, if he has the evidence the dogs really were put on the property to push deer.

Dogs will be dogs. Many dogs were bred to chase and hunt. They are doing what comes naturally. They do not know about laws or property lines. That is the responsibility of their owners. Unfortunately, not all states/counties have the enforcement/time needed to seek those responsible out. I'm not saying one needs to report every dog they see not on a leash, because as a lifetime dog owner, I know how they can occasionally get loose, regardless of how responsible you are. But those times when it becomes the norm and not a single occurrence, either having to pay money or lose the dog is the only option that works on some folks.

If the owners can't be responsible with their dogs there is one quick way to end the problem so it will never happen again.

buck460XVR said:

Trail cams on my son's property are there for more than seeing game.

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^ This.

Highland Lofts said:

If the owners can't be responsible with their dogs there is one quick way to end the problem so it will never happen again.

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Yup, put a shock collar on the owner... Every time you see the dog, lay on the collar button for a good minute or so

Muh Great Granpaw run deer with dogs, muh Granpaw run deer with dogs, muh Pappy run deer with dogs, and I run deer with dogs and you aint gonna stop me.

Actually, running deer with dogs is legal for part of the season, some areas, here in Alabammy. There is not only the famous Coon Dog Cemetery in this area, there is also a Deer Dog Cemetery with headstones and all.

Highland Lofts said:

If the owners can't be responsible with their dogs there is one quick way to end the problem so it will never happen again.

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...as I said in my previous post, this used to be the standard. Now, at least around here, getting caught means jail time/fine and your name trashed on the news. I suggest one know the laws in their area BEFORE they take the law into their own hands.

buck460XVR said:

Growing up hunting in Wisconsin back in the 60s, it was a rule of thumb, if you saw a dog running deer, you shot it. Period. Nowadays, you shoot someone's pet and you're in more trouble than you'd even want.

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Jim Watson said:

Actually, running deer with dogs is legal for part of the season, some areas, here in Alabammy.

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...and with that, I have no issue. It doesn't seem tho, that's the scenario here. What's the regulations as far as running dogs on private land without permission there? I know regs run a wide spread as far as dogs and hunting are concerned. Here, dogs on private property without permission are considered trespassing by their owner.

In Virginia it is a felony to kill a dog . Also in Virginia , a dog gives you permission to go on posted property , anytime of the day or night to retrieve your dog . You can’t posses a firearm or drive a vehicle on the property unless you have the landowners permission , but you could walk right through my front yard at 1:00 am in the morning and come on my porch to get your dog and there is nothing that I can do legally about it .

I think in Pa were allowed to shoot dogs chasing deer. Im a dog lover. And if the dog(s). Have a collar i know they are a pet to someone. If they appear to be ferral. I might shoot. Defiantly will shoot yotes.

Well, sorry to hit the bias point, but fellas, other than that from a legal perspective there is nothing 'wrong' about hunting deer with dogs....it's done in Europe and is still practiced in parts of the U.S. and in at least one Canadian province that I know of. In point of fact, and I've hunted from Alaska to the Appalachians and Florida, it is truly the most difficult way to take a legal buck that I know of. From what I've gleaned it was legal in N.Y. till about 1894....in W.Va til about the early 20's. From what I've read it was originally conceived as a conservation measure in the wake of uncontrolled market hunting. Those rules became custom and are now regarded as inviolable and the practice has been labled as both unsporting and destructive.
I have personally witnessed deer feeding in an unconcerned manner while a really hot chase was going on by...repeatedly. Mostly a buck when jumped will find a bunch of does and yearlings and the dogs will head off on them. I've had sighted really good bucks suddenly stop dead and let the dogs run past and then run a back trail and totally confuse that 'race'. One must fully know that area when dog hunting, one must know the drive patterns and every crossing, even then it's an absolute tossup as to whether anyone even see's the quarry. In short it's anything but a sure thing just because you are doggin' it....hell, if I want to just kill a deer I could sit on my back deck and ambush the 9 that raids our garden. What I'd miss is the fellowship and social contact that dog hunting provides in a manner that I have never experienced in Alaska and my Appalachian home country..........and killing deer in the latter is an absolutely sure thing!
Do as you will, but truly you are ALL missing something that was a piece of American tradition lost to most of our country!!

wolf695 said:

Just yesterday, I took my wife hunting on family land. For the first time in my lifetime there were no deer anywhere, after waiting all day and hearing dogs around us. We checked all the hiding spots, Nothing! After a good look, found dog prints claw marks on rut spots. The lack of good honest hunting has always been a problem on the west side of this state! Found that some of those so called good people ran dogs through at night an chased the deer out and away. Now this is a old crook trick brought back by another generation, Like a big buck shot while trapping! Wrong is wrong, if they can't hunt legally then they shouldn't be hunting at all! Deer always come back to where they live! So minis a few, we should have a chance few days left.

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What state are you in?

This isn't about legal dog-hunting. It's about illegal dog-hunting. Dog hunting is legal in Florida but the state put many restrictions on it due to abuses.

All dogs must be equipped with tracking collars. All dogs must have collars with the owner's name, address and phone number. The hunters must have written permission from the land owner. No shooting from any road or shoulder is allowed.

I have dog hunted and realized that I would do better still or stand hunting. Before the tracking collar rule it really was dog hunting. The standers were put out and the dogs and drivers were started. After the 'run' all the dog owners would go and hunt their dogs. Articles of clothing would be put out on the roads so the dogs would smell their owners' scents and stay around the shirt, vest, etc. until they were picked up.

The way they hunt around me , they use gps collars on the dogs and radios . It is legal to stand in the ditch of the road . They see where the dogs are running and they call on the radio where they are running . Then you hear the trucks flying up the road trying to get ahead of the dogs . Then they jump out of the truck and shoot . IMO , it borders on the line of unethical hunting , but it is perfectly legal in my county , so who am I to say .

red rick said:

In Virginia it is a felony to kill a dog . Also in Virginia , a dog gives you permission to go on posted property , anytime of the day or night to retrieve your dog . You can’t posses a firearm or drive a vehicle on the property unless you have the landowners permission , but you could walk right through my front yard at 1:00 am in the morning and come on my porch to get your dog and there is nothing that I can do legally about it .

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A suspicious person might think that would be a convenient way to case a location for criminal acts.

This isn't about legal dog-hunting. It's about illegal dog-hunting.

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This doesn't sound like hunting at all. More like harassing wildlife.

I've hunted with dogs once (legally) in Mississippi. It wasn't what most people imagine, certainly not what I was expecting. We were hunting on an island. Shooters were spread out in a line near one end of the island. The dogs (beagles) were released on the other end.

The dogs weren't chasing the deer, but slowly walking toward the other end of the island yapping as they walked. To my knowledge none of the beagles or deer ever saw each other. But the deer were moving, slowly, instead of holing up in thick brush.

I saw probably a dozen doe, but I wanted a buck or nothing. The deer casually fed as they walked, often staying in one spot for several minutes. As the dogs got closer, they simply moved on at a walk.

This was done mid-day in a steady rain. We stand hunted morning and evening but using the dogs mid-day in the rain was an effective way to keep them moving. In many places the same technique is used with other hunters instead of dogs. But it is a lot safer to use dogs.

There are lots of ways to hunt that may not be technically illegal but aren't ethical. I saw one example years ago in Colorado. Ranchers would lay down sections of fence making it easy for the elk to cross from public land onto their ranches. This also funneled the elk into specific areas of the ranch. Later, the fencing was put back up making it a little harder for them to move back to public land. The fence won't stop the elk, but most any animal takes the easiest path.

I was told that it was legal. What got some in trouble was when they started having ranch hands riding the fence line 24/7 on ATV's during hunting season to discourage the elk from leaving the ranches.

That is standard practice by trespassers in north Florida.
When they show randomly in your driveway or you catch them on your land they always say
“I’m looking for my dog”

Cfish said:

That is standard practice by trespassers in north Florida.
When they show randomly in your driveway or you catch them on your land they always say
“I’m looking for my dog”

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IMO , it should be against the law for anyone to come on your property if it is posted . They should have to use gps collars with a tone and shock function and call them to the road with that . I use those collars on my beagles . They are trained to come to the tone and me calling and if they don’t come they are trained to come to the shock . It has different levels of stimulation . I don’t have to step on your property to get my dogs .

A friend had a problem with a neighbors dog. He loaded it up and drove it close to fifty miles away and had a friend take it to his local dog pound as a found lost dog.
There are ways to end the problem.