Dogs chasing deer. Shoot?

[Granny]

I could see this being a problem on public land but on private land where no one else should be hunting these other animals, I should be able to shoot a dog if its chasing a deer.

Hugo,
I just bought an 80 north of KR. We always see deer along 27 on our way out to Mille Lacs...I think thats 27?? Good luck and maybe we will run into eachother at "the" tavern.

Granny

[This message has been edited by Granny (edited 11-05-2003).]

[Mr. B]

Hey guys just because you were taught something that does not mean it is right!

I have a hunting dog and she has never chased a deer I am thinking that she would not but you never really know. Since I do deer hunt there is not much chance of her being in the woods during the season. Just remember it might be a young dog that is not fully trained yet. Just think how the parties involved would feel if a mistake happened.

Good luck and be safe this weekend.

[Polar Bear]

Granny, I was in the woods last thanksgiving morning when a young doe ran by. Hot on her heels were 4 dogs, they looked like spaniels, all litter mates. I had my .222 Remington along with 4 shells in the clip. Got clean kills on 2, a 2 shot kill on one and one got away.

Like you, I was taught to shoot dogs running deer. But after it was over I felt absolutely terrible. It was the first time I'd ever killed a dog in this manner and to be honest I don't think I'd ever do it again. It actually ruined my whole Thanksgiving day. I told this story to my hunting buddies and they all agreed that I'd done the right thing but it didn't make me feel much better. Polar Bear

[Granny]

I was under the impression that if you were deer hunting and a dog ran by chasing a deer it was legal to shoot it. According to the Minnesota Hunting and Trapping regs, "Other hunting seasons are open before, during, and after the deer season. Many hunters use dogs to hunt upland game, waterfowl, rabbits, raccoons, foxes, and coyotes. Dogs may not be shot during fall hunting seasons, even if seen pursuing big game, except by a conservation or peace officer." Since I was old enough to hunt, I thought you were supposed to shoot a dog if it was chasing deer.

[Hugo]

Granny,
That was what I was taught also. Never had the situation come up though.

[Granny]

Yea, I don't know if I would have the heart to shoot a dog. Its not the dogs fault that it reacts to its instincts, its the owners fault for not properly training it! According to the regs, between January 1 and July 14, dogs can be shot by anyone if seen chasing big game.

[Surface Tension]

This dog chasing deer problem is a result of dog owners that live in the country and think that entitles their dog to run free. Doesn't take long to for a wondering mute to revert back to its instincts to kill. The difference between a wolf and dog is the wolf kills to eat, the dog kills for the thrill then moves on for another chase. Dogs allowed to roam are a nuisance to neighbors also. Hopefully the offending dog will have a collar so you can call or mail the owner, otherwise they'll just replace the dog and let it run like the last one.

[This message has been edited by Surface Tension (edited 11-06-2003).]

[Guest]

I was hunting down in Texas hill country, when I had three dogs (cujo looking german shepard, a blue tick hound, and a chow) chase down a buck. Those dogs where hot on his tail and where gaining ground. I assumed that they where chasing for some time. As the buck ran buy, I shot all three dogs. Only one had a collar (the hound). I wasn't proud of it, but it had to be done.

I'm a huge dog lover. I have a beautiful yellow lab (she is almost white). I don't have a habit of shooting dogs either. But when you have a "bad dog", there is no other option.

Unfortunately, several years ago I had a beagal. Great house dog, loving, caring, sweet. She was my buddy. Great dog. However, we moved from the city (fenced lot) and into the country on 25 acres of woods. She got to run free in the woods and got into the sport of killing. She would get rabbits, squirrels, even pheasants. She got the taste for blood and it wasn't pretty. I tried to break her of it, but it was too late. I lost all control over her and one afternoon, when I was deering hunting, she sneaked up on me and started growling. When I turned around to look, she saw it was me and then was back in her happy spirits again. The problem was that she turned into a killer for the taste of blood.

What went sour, is that I couldn't trust her by my 3 year old daughter. I had to have my neighbor put her down. I don't know who it hurt more, me or my daughter. You can't explain to a 3 year old that her dog is no longer around. It was heart wrenching....I had that dog for 5 years and we were pals.

My point is this.....If you own a dog, it is your responsibility to take care of it.

Gary

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Let 'em go so they can grow!!!

[hunt4food]

Gary, as I read down through these posts, the same feeling came to me. I have two daughters ages 4 and 5. I would never shoot a dog for fear that some child that is not old enough to understand would very much miss their playmate. I might however look for the owner and make him or her aware of the consequences. I hunt with a GSP and it is trained well and I have not worried about this at all. I just hope that hunters think twice before pulling the trigger on someone's potential family pet. I have seen a deer chased by a dog before and I will say that it's not pretty. A deer so tired it's tongue is hanging out, but to me, it's not worth it. I am glad a couple of you guys were bold enough to say you felt bad about doing it and probably wouldn't do it again. It might help others make a good decision if they are presented with the same situation. have a safe hunt everyone!!

[delmuts]

don't shoot! i did a couple of weeks ago. turned out to be a family pet that was allowed to run loose. i have been called everything but a human. my kids have been harrassed in school and i am afraid there will be a law suit. i felt bad in the first place and now even more so. we saw a dog running deer there 3 or four times. doesn't matter.you don't want to go through this. del

[Steve Foss]

Gary, that's a tough story. Hard to hear about that happening.

I grew up in stock country. Any dog running loose and untended through stock was shot immediately. No questions asked. The dog's owners never even peeped about it, as far as I remember, and if they did it was ignored. That was in the dairy country of Wisconsin. It was the same out west when I lived in Colorado, where darn near every country resident with a pickup has a rifle on the rear-window rack.

I would have a hard time shooting a dog running deer. I wouldn't shoot a healthy looking dog that's obivously well fed and wearing a collar, because even though the owner is not being very responsible, it's still someone's pet.

A stray with no collar and in tougher shape (it's pretty easy to tell one from the other), would go legs up from my bullets if I saw it stalking or running deer.

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"Worry less, fish more."
Steve Foss
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by stfcatfish (edited 11-06-2003).]

[Granny]

As posted above, if your dog got shot it was your fault for letting it out during deer season, end of story, no questions asked. I don't know a single person in the area I hunt that would stick up for you if your dog got shot during season. But again all this depends on where you are hunting. I am out in the country where people know to keep their dogs chained up or in a kennel for the deer season.

[Guest]

It does suck. And I tell you what, I still miss that beagal! And, I will also tell you this, as I grow older, I find it hard to shoot any animal. Deer hunting....I have to "not" think about it. Call me a wuss or whatever, but I can't just shoot something just for the fact of shooting it...I guess I have grown a huge respect for animals (fur, fish, or feather) over the years.

But when it comes to a bad dog, it is the owners responsibility to manage for prevention. I know so many people who get a dog, then ignore it, then the dog goes bad and gets shot in my "neighborhood". I also live in farm country. There are still many farmers with chickens and what not. I have a neighbor who has a farm and has chickens running around his yard (lawn ornaments), and if my dog went onto his property, even just the field, he would shoot it. He has shot about 6 of the nieghbor's dogs thus far over the years. He isn't well liked, but then again, he does have a right to protect his chickens. Point is this....take ownership and responsibilities of your animals and don't blame the guy who shoots them for doing something wrong.

Back to my beagal.......With what happened there, I couldn't trust her. She actually got the "taste for blood". No rabbies or anything like that. But I wasn't going to let her by my daughter. It was a risk factor that had no reasonable objection. I wasn't going to give her away either, only to have her hurt someone else.

I'm not proud of what I did in Texas, but I must admit, I will do it again after expirencing first hand what happens when a dog goes bad. In my opinion, the owner of the dog has no ground to stand on. It is his fault, not the dog's for the dog's actions. I'm one who will state people are responsible for their actions, not others.

Sorry for ranting on here, but I get preturbed when people don't take care of their dogs and blame others for the consequences.

Gary

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Let 'em go so they can grow!!!

[fonz58]

I think you need to really think through what you're doing BEFORE you shoot a dog. I've shot 2 of them in 20 years, but could have taken many more. I would prefer NEVER to do it again!!! However, this year we have another dog problem in our 120 acre deer haven. In 10 years, we've harvested at least 1 buck per year, and always see deer at least 50% of the time. This year not a single deer seen! A little investigation has shown us hundreds of dog tracks, which lead directly to a particular home. I could have taken both of these dogs with my bow! I just couldn't. My plan is to visit the homeowner, and tell him of my dilemma. I will tell him that I will NOT shoot his dogs, but I can't keep one of my friends from doing so, and he needs to control them, or they may not return home. FYI, in reference to the 2 dogs I've shot, both of them were ungroomed, un-collared, ferril dogs. In fact one of them was at least 3 miles from the nearest home or farm. Both times they were running in "packs" and I saw the deer that they were chasing. I felt I had a choice to make A. Save the deer or B. Save the dog The dog deserves to lose! Keep in mind the criteria BEFORE you shoot! Is the dog a wild ferril dog? Is it running in a pack? Did you personally see it chasing deer? Yes-Yes-Yes=BANG!

[sheepheadslayer]

for you people training young dogs, this just gives you another reason to invest in a shock collar. If you jump a deer and off he goes zapp and you may have just saved your dog. Protecting your investment and making it a better dog in the process.

[Guest]

Well, I guess I'm a dirt bag.

But read the books and it tells you when you can and cannot shoot a domestic animal. It also states when you need to call the CO to take care of a problem.

However, I'm not the type of person who shoots dogs at will. I'm an animal lover to be honest with you and I've been hunting since I was 11 years old.

I also grew up on a farm, where we would get your local (what I will classify as) dirtbags who drop off animals because they want to "rid" the problem. In general, many of these dogs turn wild. When you come accross these dogs, you will know it. They ain't normal. And when these dogs are packed and running down a deer, I will disolve the problem, before a farmer has problems with their live stock. OR WORSE YET, UNTIL THAT ANIMAL AQUIRES RABBIES AND GOES AFTER YOUR CHILD. If you want to classify me as a dirt bag for doing that, then feel free. The constitution says you have freedom of speeach. However, before placing judgement, you need to be exposed to situations of this nature. It isn't a pretty site. It is actually quite disturbing. Shooting a dog for this reason is not easy and it actually hurts.

Will I shoot your hunting dog for chasing a deer. I highly doubt it. I've seen many a dog out of the clear blue, take off after a deer, just out of the pure fun of chasing. If that dog has actually caught the deer on his own and is mauling it and there is absolutely no one in the greater vicinity to take claim. It is something to consider.

Again, it isn't the dogs fault, it is the owners who fail to take responsibility of their actions.

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Let 'em go so they can grow!!!

[DANR]

Thatis why the law does not allow you to shoot a dog running deer when hunting seasons are open. Who knows how a young dog, no matter how well trained, will react when it jumps its first deer? A dog during hunting season on an accidental chase is very different than a stray or pack running deer for fun.

[Guest]

The regulation regarding this action is pretty clear, so why is it even being considered during hunting season? If there is a problem with dog(s)during the season, call your local CO, or the sheriff's office. Think about this- in certain locales any dog running out in the sticks may run into traps set by a trapper,barbed wire fencing,any other unseen hazards,thin ice on bodies of water,badgers,porcupines,maybe even a timber wolf. These hazards are capable of inflicting damage, or death on a dog.Not to mention a dog chasing a deer next to a roadway and running out into the path of a motor vehicle. Besides, a dog going up against a rutted buck with a full rack is taking a risk,seeing as how a buck can/could kill another buck in a fight.The dog(s) have enough dangers that may be encountered running around after deer without someone lining up the cross hairs on them. Am I exonerating an irresposible dog owner for leaving a dog run loose?- No Way! Use some good judgement before you break the law, or do something you will regret.

[Guest]

I have found dogs in traps I every time I've let them go, I even brought one home once and fixed up it's leg...but in my 12 years of deer hunting a LOT of dogs have died NONE were wearing collers or tags. So a dirt dag I am but the frist one I put down was eating a ten point buck when i found it. no questions asked.
My 9 mo. lab is hunting great this season, but should she get lose and eat a deer ANYONE can use my gun to shoot her. no questions asked!!!

[Ben Nicholson]

If you shoot a dog for chasing a deer your nothing but a dirt bag in my book!

I've love deer hunting, but I'd never even think about shooting a pup. If you have to kill a deer that badly you have problems.

There's my two cents and a little extra.

Ben Nicholson

[First Ice-Mike]

I think its wrong to say any dog chasing a deer should be shot - probably even a little ignorant. I have a yellow lab pup that I've been working a little in the field this fall so she can gain some experience. We've had deer get up and she hasn't chased them one bit, but how am I to know she won't chase the next one that we get up. My dog is pretty smart, but she has a lot of puppy left in here which makes her a bit upredictable. If she started chasing a deer we flushed while hunting or even walking down the road for some exercise and I couldn't stop her right away and then some guy pulled up and shot her I would be [PoorWordUsage]ed. If I found out some guy shot my dog like that over a deer he had better get lost fast. I think it's just like every other situation in life- you need to apply a little common sense. Think before you shoot. There are some situations a dog would need to be shot, but there are also situations where you need to take your hand off the triger and hope the deer outruns the dog. I've seen some well trained dogs take after a deer in the field - it's not worth killing some guys companion.

FI

[First Ice-Mike]

I think its wrong to say any dog chasing a deer should be shot - probably even a little ignorant. I have a yellow lab pup that I've been working a little in the field this fall so she can gain some experience. We've had deer get up and she hasn't chased them one bit, but how am I to know she won't chase the next one that we get up. My dog is pretty smart, but she has a lot of puppy left in here which makes her a bit upredictable. If she started chasing a deer we flushed while hunting or even walking down the road for some exercise and I couldn't stop her right away and then some guy pulled up and shot her I would be [PoorWordUsage]ed. If I found out some guy shot my dog like that over a deer he had better get lost fast. I think it's just like every other situation in life- you need to apply a little common sense. Think before you shoot. There are some situations a dog would need to be shot, but there are also situations where you need to take your hand off the triger and hope the deer outruns the dog. I've seen some well trained dogs take after a deer in the field - it's not worth killing some guys companion.

FI

[Granny]

Obviously there is a judgement call on this issue. I have never had to face the decision to shoot a dog chasing a deer. I think we can assume that most people can distinguish between a "family" dog and a stray dog, but the law doesn't state the dog must be a stray! You can put me in the dirt bag column also.

[Surface Tension]

A dog breaking away on a deer chase during hunting season isn't the problem.
It's during winter and spring. Deer are on a starvation diet as it is that time of year. The stress from a chase leads to death from exhaustion. Even if the deer gets away it has been stressed from the chase. This stress takes its toll later on in the spring. Death and aborted fetus's are a result. Dogs shouldn't be allowed to run especialy this time of year. Feral dogs or the family dog doesn't matter they both will chase deer. That lovable pooch thats sitting at the bus stop waiting for Johnny to come home is the same dog that will spend its days running deer. It's so simple to prevent, be responsible and kennel your dog. Even a kenneled dog will get loose and take off and these cases are hard to distinguish between to habitual chaser, for that reason I haven't shot any dogs.

[Mr. B]

The law states when dogs can be shot. So as long as someone is being legal it is hard to really argue against it.

I do agree that it is the responsibilty of the owner to train and keep their dog under control. But there are situations that come up that make this a very difficult topic.

The shooting of dogs is something I do not think I could do. I am hoping that those who do are using common sense.

Hope every one had a safe and productive weekend.