Grouse durring the deer season.

[2thepointsetters]

stay out of public land with your dogs

PUBLIC LAND..... THAT MEANS THE LAND IS AVLIABLE FOR ANYBODY TO USE. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TELL ANYBODY TO STAY OFF, OR HOW THEY CAN USE IT.

[BUSHWAC]

Ethics, you have got to kidding me?? Why just rifle hunters then? What about the bow hunters? The muzzle loader hunters? Why don't you throw out the bird watchers.....You better stay out of the woods or you might scare away some Robin some dude is watching.

It's publicland for everyone to use at any time. If someone gets mad thats their F-ing problem. Go buy some private property if you want people to stay out of the woods. Thinking that people should stay out of Public land is just the same old thing you see day in and day out.....I am more important than YOU attitude!!!!!

[Harmonica Bear]

I do my share of deer hunting, but after I've harvested my animal (hopefully), I can't wait to get back out grousin'. But I always wait until after rifle season is over. Although, I know lands are public multi-use areas. I would never put my dog in that kind of harms way. All a deer hunter would have to say is your dog was chasing a deer (which I believe makes them legal to shoot, or it did at one time, thus the mentality), and it’s your word against theirs for legal purposes. Who is to say your dog didn’t push or jump a deer up ahead? It doesn’t mean it was chasing a deer, but from a guy stand hunting, they might see a different scene.

I couldn’t tell you what I might do if someone shot my dog….

That, in and of itself, scares me enough to keep me out of the woods grousin’ with my dog during rifle season.

[JayinMN]

Quote:

All a deer hunter would have to say is your dog was chasing a deer (which I believe makes them legal to shoot, or it did at one time, thus the mentality)

Its it NOT legal for a hunter to shoot a dog in MN during rifle season even if it is chasing deer. People need to read their regulations book before taking the law into their own hands, its stated right in there. People are issued a new book every time they buy a license so there is no excuse to not know the current regs. It is legal for a conservation officer to shoot a dog if there is a problem, not the deer hunter. If this ever was the case its been changed for many years. The only time a person has the right to shoot a dog is if its on their private property and endangering themselves or their livestock. You better have some proof of it too. If you do shoot someones pet you can be charged with a felony in MN. There are a few fairly recent cases in my area that have gone to court and been convicted of this and some that are still on going in court.

[Fish&Fowl]

Originally Posted By: Matt Breuer

because if some (not nice deer hunter) shot one of my dogs I'd be going to jail! I'd rather leave that possibility out...

Thats a very nice way of putting what I was thinking.

That is exactly right. That would be the last thing he ever shot.

[Fish&Fowl]

It's called ethics....stay out of public land with your dogs at least the opening weekend. After that, you should find plenty of room to hunt without getting in the way. Why take the chance of 1. putting your dog in harm 2. making some hunter very angry at you etc... To me this is a no brainer!

Do yourself a favor and keep your opinions to yourself, because that kind of mentality is not welcome here.

[bigsandynorth1]

Ok, go ahead and grouse hunt with your dogs, don't think about the other 500,000 deer hunters that will be in the woods and don't come cryin if some crazy guy shoots your dog. I am not arguing private vs public land, grouse hunter have every right to be on the land too. It's like taking a jet ski or snowmobile and driving through the middle of a fishing contest...but you do what you want, it's your right!

[uplander]

I did not intend to spark a riot.....Can't we all just get along and play nice. On the forum and in the outdoors. In a pefect world I guess.......Not this one..... Why not?

[brittman]

Pheasant hunting maybe more dangerous than grouse. Statistically more hunters are shot on ag land drives than in northern woods.

So you are out strolling with your dog around some cattail slough on a Wildlife Management Area. Hey its public land. Then four trucks pull up and run a 20 man drive across the place for deer (they have rights too), with you and your dog in-between. Have Fun!!

I know people who have been threatened by deer parties on public land, that is why I deer hunt with them on their private land now. Nice....

Talk forums are here to express opinions. I tend to agree ... hunter ethics shoud imply if someone else is hunting there move to another spot or make sure you do not crowd them. Read some other threads on this site ... crowding ruins it for everyone involved.

I kill plenty of pheasants and grouse on November public land hunts, but do not go out on days open to deer hunting.... Lot's of season open behind the deer rifle season.....

[tedl]

Its kinda of like fishing next to someone duck hunting.... or using you snow machine on a trail during a dog sled race.... legal yes ethical no.

[brittman]

UPLANDER. Good discussion. I see no issue in opening this dialog. At least when people do decide to step into the field/woods this weekend they are aware of potential risks, conflicts, etc...

Based on my experience with a few COs I have meet in northern MN, if they grew up in the area they now serve - they will stand behind the deer hunters ...

[Fish&Fowl]

I'm not saying you blindly walk in and start bird hunting on public land. But I don't think you should do that if you're deer hunting either. I don't hunt public land much, but if I was planning on it and saw a truck already parked, I would not hunt. This wouldn't matter if I was bird or deer hunting, someone is alreay in there and I don't want to be anywhere near other hunters when hunting ANYTHING. But saying bird hunters should stay off public land for deer season (or opening weekend) is ridiculous.

[BUSHWAC]

Its kinda of like fishing next to someone duck hunting.... or using you snow machine on a trail during a dog sled race.... legal yes ethical no.

Not even close to the same thing.....What you are saying is if someone is duck hunting stay off the lake!!

Just show a little common courtesy for fellow outdoors people!!

[tedl]

Originally Posted By: tedl

Its kinda of like fishing next to someone duck hunting.... or using you snow machine on a trail during a dog sled race.... legal yes ethical no.

Not even close to the same thing.....What you are saying is if someone is duck hunting stay off the lake!!

Just show a little common courtesy for fellow outdoors people!!

It like fishing (NEXT) to someone duck hunting

[KG243]

I think you have evry right to be in the woods during deer season. I know what kind of guy you are talking about because I grew up in Mora. If you and your dog are minding your own buisness and just hunting grouse you are fine.

Isnt there some kind of law that states if a domesticated dog is chassing a deer you can shoot it?

[Surface Tension]

We can get defensive when someone is told their right to be in the woods is superseded by someone else. Respect and common sense goes out the window, soon the topic and talk get overblown. A real juicy opening post can really get us going too as it sets the stage for our emotions to take over.

Lets get back to what is real.

I don't think your dog is in any danger of intentional harm by deer hunters. Sure you might get a few that talk the talk but talk is cheap. You should be mindful that it might not be the best idea for your dog to be running the woods for obvious reasons. I would at least have the dog in a orange vest. Still for the deer season why not leave him home and not worry about it. For what it matters, I grouse, pheasant, deer, and duck hunt in the Fall.

Nothing wrong with grouse hunting during the rifle season.

Just be respectful that there are guys out there for a short season trying to do their thing as well. Do the same thing you'd do if you were deer hunting and you walk up on a hunter in a deer stand. Give him a wave, turn around go off the same way you came.

Now if you go about it thinking its just as much your right to be there as the deer hunter and make it a point to do as you please, well, your beyond reason and theres really no point in talking with your.

Respect, common curiosity, and common sense for each other and there won't be a problem.

[BUSHWAC]

Thank You!

[uplander]

Well put suface tension.(as usual) ..I wasn't trying to fire eveyone up. Just a post to see if others are out there keep bird hunting, curtiously of coarse, durring rifle season. I do and I was just in shock this guy flat out told me he would shoot my dog if he saw it while he was out. As I stated earlier let's hope he is in the minority and that was just a lot of hot gass after one to many. Everyone be safe and respect each other out there this, and every weekend..uplander

[sparcebag]

I agree with surface.I when I lived around Duluth area I hunted grouse from opener to closeing.GOOD EATS!

When deer opened I'd quit for that two weeks, as I had already hunted 7 weeks of grouse,I did hunt deer but even so if i filled my tag I would'nt go grousin,didn't want to hamper other deer hunters,Orange yet required but still could be more dangerous with so many deer hunters and There is yet plenty of grouse season left to hunt when deer closes.

[kkahmann]

We think of our dogs as members of our family--but legally they aren't. They are property. You can't take the law into your own hands and just arbitraily shoot a dog for running deer. You have to report it and I know some CO's who are real reluctant to shoot a dog even if it is running deer. Onus of proof is on them.

You do have a right to self-defense so if a dog attacks you can shoot it then--but you had better have some evidence it was attacking you.

[sparcebag]

kk I dont believe its that way in Minnesota.

[kkahmann]

Sparcebag--1967--Big slough just east of Big Kandi just north of Lake Lillian--Game Wardens name was Carl Stone--lived in Hector--shot 2 dogs running deer--ask the DNR how much that screw-up cost them. Some question as to wether or not the right dogs got shot.--Happened again a couple of years ago around Two Harbors if memory serves me.

[sparcebag]

When I lived by Duluth A CO said Do it? I had a neighbors 2 StBernards eating my deer I draged 1 & 1/2 miles home was tired and left it on the last 40 went home ate came back and the hind quarters were in the process of being devoured.Contacted CO then neighbor.

Around here close to where you speak of COs say the same BUT I did read in the paper of just what you say.People complain about free roamin dogs dead or missing and blame hunters.I say keep better control of your animals!

Oh and that deer I dragged so far was in 1991 44 inches of snow,I was on snowshoes.And I wasn't happy!

Are you the guy who moved DRAFT reasons??

[uplander]

Sparcebag, read your regs....That story is a little different than a guy and his dog grouse hunting. That CO was not only morally wrong he was legally wrong. If we talked to him I'm sure he would say you misheard him.

[Snag]

I'd be just as afraid for my own safety let alone my dog's. I don't hunt during the deer season. I know too many guys that think it's an excuse to drink your body weight, then go hunt the next day.