How about we agree to disagree and leave it at that as I already know your position on Sunday Hunting and Hound Hunting from other forums you post on. Thanks for your comments and opinions.

Hey Hokieman, I read your post and I must say I agree with everything you have said. I am a long time hound hunter, over 40 years.

I too, see no need in having the Sunday Hunting Ban lifted in Va.

They’re no economic reasons as well as no biological reason to lift it.

I am in the process of joining several groups of HUNTERS that are banning together to keep the ban in place.

Thanks for all you and your association have done for us: dog hunters, REAL HUNTERS!

I'm living in Ireland. I live on a sheep farm and the biggest thing I've ever shot is a fox. In recent weeks there has been sitings of a big cat in the area. Some say it's a black panther and others say a giant cat. I came across its tracks on my farm and to be honest I've never seen tracks this big before. It has to be a panther. Can anyone advise me on what bait to use and how I can stop this cat killing any more of my sheep or even a small child in the future. Should I let my dogs out or will it kill them. I have two collie sheep dogs

Bait with the deed sheep.

After fifteen years with my hunt club the 2007 was the worst year for having dogs and their people coming through our land. We are a small hunt club and still hunt only. We have several nice food plots and club rules state you shoot only six points or bigger. Since the middle of the season I've taken an active role to do my part to restrict the number of days or totally eliminate using dogs to hunt deer. Below is what I wrote to Virginia Tech's Science Department who have focus group meetings to address the issue and the Virginia Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and several other organizations. Below is several of my reasons.

- Dogs are set loose to run through other people's property. The “hunters” will set up several thousand yards or a mile or so from where the dogs are put in, knowing that the dogs will chase deer out from their leased property then chase them out of our property. The dog “hunters” that I have met seem to have no regard for private property.

- Four times this past hunting season we had to chase hunters off our property that supposedly were looking for their dogs (with guns in hand). They said they had the right to look for their dogs but the property owner and club members saw it different.

- We have a six point or better rule for our club members on shooting deer on our property. Dog “hunters” saying, “if it's brown, it's going down” with no regard to sex of deer or antler size. I've witnessed dog “hunters” trying to shoot the legs of the deer to slow them down.

- Deer are running at a high rate of speed and being shot at with “buckshot” wounding a majority of the deer being chased.

- Club members and property owner had to fix cut and destroyed fences that were caused by unauthorized dog hunters going through our property.

- If you drive along Highway 58 from Suffolk to Emporia or any other highway in Virginia during General Deer Season you will find a higher then usual number of deer killed by motor vehicles then are normally killed by motorists. This is caused by dogs chasing the deer and deer trying to get away by any means possible.

- Dogs chasing deer for miles. I've seen deer that were chased like this that can barely run and their tongues hanging out (also the dogs) only to be shot by some kid standing in back of his pickup. When the deer has been killed like this the meat generally is no good to eat because of all the chemicals that are flowing through the deers system created during the chase.

- Dog “hunters” that drive at high rates of speed on country roads, stopping, then jumping out of their truck in order to cut off the deer trying to escape. A lot of the times these “hunters” will stand on the road and shoot at the deer.

- Dogs are not fed or given anything to drink during the hunt because it will slow them down.

- I spoke with one guy who bred dogs to chase deer, that after a year of training and the dog does not chase deer, he will shoot the dog and not waste anymore food on him.

Deleted this due to double post. Thanks

Still, if you don't mind me saying so, I think you are here just to stir the pot and you never witnessed any of what you spoke of. This is only your second post here!!

You have mentioned EVERY problem or "made-up" problem that anti-doggers say exist. Yet, you don't hunt with dogs! Hmmmm

"Dogs are not fed or given anything to drink during the hunt because it will slow them down. " Does that mean a dog will not take a drink out of a creek when he jumps it just so he can run faster?

"Dogs chasing deer for miles. I've seen deer that were chased like this that can barely run and their tongues hanging out (also the dogs) only to be shot by some kid standing in back of his pickup. When the deer has been killed like this the meat generally is no good to eat because of all the chemicals that are flowing through the deers system created during the chase. "

Let me "dissect" this part of your rant.

1) How do you know how far a deer is chased? Are you running beside it?
2) Do you have a problem with a "kid" shooting a deer? If not, why didn't you just say a "person" shot the deer. I ask that also because I doubt seriously you witnessed the shooting personally.
3) How do you know what shape the meat is in since you only still hunt? I have been deer hunting for over 40 years and NEVER threw a piece away because of the reason you described. NEVER!

Show me the statistics that show that more deer are killed because of dogs running them than any other time. That' just another unsubstantiated statement in your quest to discredit those of us that hunt with dogs.

"Deer are running at a high rate of speed and being shot at with “buckshot” wounding a majority of the deer being chased." That's all most, no it is, LAUGHABLE!!!! How long have you been hunting?

"The “hunters” will set up several thousand yards or a mile or so from where the dogs are put in, knowing that the dogs will chase deer out from their leased property then chase them out of our property. " A MILE AWAY? Again, how long have you been hunting? Why would a hunter "chase deer out from their leased property?" Do you know how stupid that statement is? If you don't, then I think it's safe to say you don't hunt. Maybe you are a wannabe hunter!

I could go on but oh, wait, another thing. Your "club" sets the limit at "6 points or better? "

You going to let a 20'" 5 pointer slide by to shoot a 10" 6? That makes sense. LMAO!

I eagerly await your response.

Sir, with all due respect to you, you only challenged half of what I stated. The majority of the things you state are half-truths and make you feel good about justifying dog hunting. I see you didn't have anything to say about trespassing, or breaking down fences..... I wonder why???????

To counter some of your statements let me say this.

Obviously you haven't tasted deer meat that was shot with one shot, one killed without being run by dogs. I have. Let me tell you there is a difference. When your use to eating $1.00 pound steak like yourself, you wouldn't know what $8.00 a pound steak tastes like.

As for our club not shooting a five point with a twenty inch spread. I would say some of our members would, but they would to subject to pay a $75.00 fine.

As for chasing deer out of leased property. You so called “hunters” put dogs in on leased property but have no place to shoot off the back of your pickups on your property so you go to someone's else's property to set up. We had the Game Warden out to the area we hunt and he ticketed about a half-dozen hunters who put dogs in on their “leased” property but were set up on ours.

Sir, I have been hunting over 40 years and have hunted in the Western United States, South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and in Virginia. So please don't say that I want to be a hunter, I am a hunter. You are the person that is “LAUGHABLE” along with all your so called “DOG HUNTERS” that call yourselves hunters that is laughable. You so called hunters talk about tradition, but times change, so say good-bye to dog hunting in Virginia within the next 5 years. Breakdown as many fences, trespass on as much property that you can now, because your “tradition” is soon to be gone.

You will never live long enough to see deer hunting with dogs done away with.

I can eat just as many 8 dollar steaks as you can but what has that got to do with venison? Your temper got the best of ya there!

"You so called “hunters” put dogs in on leased property but have no place to shoot off the back of your pickups on your property so you go to someone's else's property to set up. We had the Game Warden out to the area we hunt and he ticketed about a half-dozen hunters who put dogs in on their “leased” property but were set up on ours. "

What were the charges? What jurisdiction was it? I am dying to know.

A word of advice: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Sir, yes it gets my blood pressure up and I apoligize for being so blunt on the subject. But nothing gets my blood pressure up more then getting to my stand an hour before light, with perfect conditions then hearing the dogs barking about an 1 or so after sun-up and then a pack of them come running under my stand. There has to be a way that both hound hunters and still hunters can enjoy their types of hunting. Maybe limiting the number of days during the work week that you are allowed to run dogs and on every other Saturday. I don't know what the solution is, what ideas do you have so hunters like you and I are both satisfied? Thanks, and once again I apoligize for the ranting.