Hey guys, I need some advice on how to approach a problem that surely every hunter has encountered at some point. I was hunting this morning, and had two small dogs come in and run off a herd of does. This is the FOURTH time these same dogs have run off deer while I'm hunting since the season began. Keep in mind season has only been in for two weeks here. This is my first year bow hunting and I'm trying to get my first kill with a bow..that alone can be a challenge for a newbie. I'm a senior in college so my time in the woods is pretty limited as it is. I'm hunting on a friend of my family's farm so I'm approaching this as gently as I can. The dogs aren't strays because they both have collars. I know I'm just angry right now, but I feel that if you let your dogs run loose in a rural environment during deer season, you're asking for trouble. What is the best way to approach this problem? I thought about saying something to the property owner but he is a pretty busy man and I don't want to bother him since he was generous enough to give me a permit for his land. Sorry if a similar topic has been posted, I searched but got 15 pages of responses. Any help is appreciated!
Most people are understanding. I would talk to the owner of the property and see who owns the dogs. Then i would talk to the dog owner and explain the issue. Your either gonna get a "sorry I had know idea please let me know when you are hunting and I will make sure the dogs are not a problem" or you may get "I know your hunting thats why I send the dogs out there. What did a deer ever do to you?" If the second answer comes be nice!
Yea I have had that problem ... wanted to stick'em (pretty sure they were strays) but that just ain't right so I moved locations. I think the landowner would be understanding if you approached him politely ... he might even be thankful if they are not his dogs.
here's what you do...go hunting with a low battery on your phone, and when the dogs come by turn the volume up so that "low battery" sounds goes off. my dog runs for hills everytime
That's a tough situation, being somebody else's land. We have some land and a cabin in SE Ohio. Out there, it's pretty much understood that most of us are not permanent residents. We're from cities and other unhuntable areas. Letting you dogs run around on our investments/dreams.... is a good way to "lose" your dogs. But of course in your case, I'd let the property owner handle it!
Being the land owner's dogs, that's tough. I've had the same situation before, and I kinda made a joke out of it to the farmer. Said something like "Yeah, Chopper sure likes to chase those deer off and make it hard on me out there!" <--- (laughing and seemingly joking as not to make him mad). He started tying the dogs up when he would see my Jeep!
Get a grip on reality.............the chances of anyone other then you caring one bit about a blown encounter with a doe are slim to none. Be smart and if the dogs chase the deer away............set your stand up where the deer retreat to because it's where they feel safe. It's not your land, if you don't like the conditions you are free to leave. Why do you assume you have more right to chase the deer then the dogs??
Dont even get me started on the topic. The Game Warden just left my house because of dogs. I have had the neighbors 3 Dobermans run my hunting spot for the past 3 years. I dont own my hunting land, but I have sole permision. The land owners have had the sherriff out several times. The neighbor has gotten citations a couple of times because of this. The last time the sheriff was out, he told my land owner that he has the right to shoot them if they come around again. The land owners have told me that if I want to keep hunting their land, that I WILL shoot if I see them while on stand. Well, last Sunday evening I had a doe with a bad leg feeding 5 yards behind my tree, I needed her to take a couple of steps, and I was going to take her. All of a sudden, she ran off with the dogs in chase. I told the land owner, and he decide to try the DNR route. The Gme Warden called and talked to me about it, and I told him that I also have several different Trail Cam pics of the dogs. He asked if I would put them on a disc so he could come and get them. He just left my house. Told me that he cant do anything about them just running his land, but he can do something about them chasing deer. Told me the neighbor will probably get a $100 citation this time. He has gone out and talked to the neighbor with the dogs, but he wouldnt tell me what he said about it. Only time will tell now. I should add, that this guy with the dogs..... he has spent tome in prison for almost killing his girlfriend.
Your best bet is to go talk to the landowner to see who's dogs they are. It probably is his neighbor's dogs if they aren't his dogs. You have no idea how good he gets along with his neighbors. If something happens to the dogs... you might be looking for a new place to hunt. If word gets around you are killing pets... you will be looking for a whole new area to hunt... plus possibly face charges for killing someone's pet. The next guy who wants to bowhunt that area will probably lose out it account of it... " cause all bowhunters probably like killing pets ". I would check it out before doing something when you are mad and regret later. It's not the dogs fault but the owner. The dogs are just having fun like you. The dogs don't know any better but you do!! Tim
plus those dogs can't run 315 feet per second like my gold tips can.....which gives me the right ask the landowner to keep the dogs tied up. if the answer is no then find a better place for your stand when dogs have the right to vote they can kill the deer before me
I feel like this response was pretty ridiculous. I didn't come in here whining asking for a response like this. I feel like I have more right to hunt deer on this land because...well last time I checked the dogs didn't ask for permission to hunt that land. :D Besides, the landowner told me to kill as many of the deer as possible because they destroy his crops all year long. With dogs, that makes things a little difficult don't ya think? To everyone else, its sound advice. I think I found out who the dogs belong to. I'm going to ride by there this Friday when I get home from college and politely confront them about the subject. Whatever happens, happens. Thanks! Sam
Hey man don't worry about that response. There has been some heated debates (arguments) on this forum about this subject. I would just approach the land owner about it. There's nothing wrong with that. Good luck.
I had the experience with a black lab on opening day here in Wisconsin. I'm not the landowner, so my role is restricted somewhat. I did stop and speak with the dog owner, I saw the dog in that yard when I left. I introduced myself and informed the owner that hunting season had opened, and that I just wanted to make him aware. I explained that hunting with a bow requires game to be closer, but when gun season opens a large dog could mistakenly be taken for a deer coming through the woods. I stayed away from becoming confrontatonal, which worked with this dog owner, but others it may not have. Hopefully he understood where I was coming from. But - a paintball gun was one possible option that I thought of. This would let the owner know their pet was in a place they may not want to be in. WW
Here is my approach to this problem. I went to the owners’ house and told them I was trapping Coyotes, and they should keep their dogs tied up. I do not want to kill their dogs in my traps. Works every time !
