BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[stillhunterva]

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.

[Moredogsin2008]

18 counties and counting!

[Hokieman]

were getting there :thumbsup1:

[numbnutz]

I just have to know why you need a dog to hunt deer? I live in oregon where you cannot use dogs for anything besides birds. i feel that there is no sport in haveing a dog do all the work and running for you. i can see useing dogs for game like bear, cougar and such but for deer? to me it just seems like if you have to use a dog you have no actual hunting skills. like i said out here we cant even use them for bear or cougar anymore but we still manage to harvest them. as for deer i have had no problem shooting my fill every year useing my skills. to me it lazy to use dogs and not even hunting.

[Hokieman]

I would like to invite you to come out to Virginia and try it and see what the thrill of the chase is actually like. anyone can sit in a tree stand all day and ambush a deer at 100yrds. :=;

[numbnutz]

I might have to try it some time. you say anyone can sit in a tree and ambush a deer and that is true. but out here you WILL NOT get a deer sitting in a tree stand. we hunt blacktail and mulies out here and you cannot pattern them like whitetail, so if you sit in a tree your chances of even seeing a deer are slim to none. you need to get out and hike usally for miles through some of the hardest terrain in the country. once you spot one the stalk begins. i like to see how close i can get. the last time i had to shoot 100+ yrds was about 12 yrs ago. to me its more of a thrill to stalk your game from a mile or so and get within 50yrds without it even knowing your there. to me that is a thrill.

[Hokieman]

Your right I have seen on many hunting programs were they would sit on a hill or ridge with a spotting scope find the game they was after use the wind to their advantage and stalk up on to their query and kill it. I guess I had formed an opinion without much consideration to the way you hunt. :yes:

[numbnutz]

I'm sure there is some sport in how you hunt, but before reading this thread i didnt know that people used dogs to hunt deer. I'm sure if we could use them out here people would. good luck

[Moredogsin2008]

Numb, ever heard a pack of trained dogs run? When I say "run" I mean chasing, barking and flat out hauling butt.

To me, at my age, it's more about the chase than it is the killing. I will never kill a deer any larger that what I have on the wall now.

It's all about hearing the dogs run.

[numbnutz]

If useing dogs works for you then great more power to you. If you want a real rush and great chase come out here and stalk a deer that is a mile or more away on terrain that mountains and valleys and rolling hills. I cant really dis on dog hnters because i have never seen it done or tried it myself only because its not legal in any state out here, besides birds and water fowl. but like i said if it works for you and gets your blood pumping then great. to each his own.

[numbnutz]

right now i wish i could use dogs because its spring bear season and it would make hunting alot easier,as of 1994 we cant use dogs or bait for bear or cougar and our number in both animals have skyrocketed and more sightinsgs of both in residentail areas. kinda scarey if kids are out playing. a couple years ago a kid was attacked while playin in his back yard by a cougar.

[hunter777]

"right now i wish i could use dogs because its spring bear season and it would make hunting alot easier"

If your planning on following those dogs through the mountains. I bet it won't be any easier but if you have a well trained pack (or a friend with one :thumbsup1: ) your odds will be much better.

[VaScout]

I as a hunter in VIrginia am against dog hunting with deer. The three farms I hunt are closed to all but 5 of us. But every year we have dogs released to run across the farm and i have been told by the dog hunters that they do it on purpose since they lost permission to hunt that land. I have also had incoming rounds hit the tree i was sitting in by some dog hunters shooting from the road. when i yelled to let them know i was there they started laughing. i am not as anti dog hunting as some people i know who shoot the dogsbut i will tell you if i get rounds coming in this year i am not yelling i am returning fire. are dog hunters bad people? i would say no not all of them as friends of mine use dogs for hunting wild pigs and take good care of their dogs. but with every group there are some bad people. as example there is a person who raises dogs and admits to having over 100 dogs, all running lose, all year round and half starved. I saw one slashed by a pig to where you could see its intestings and told the owner and he could care less, he said if it heals it heals. my county has a leash law and i did the law abiding thing and reported him for lose dogs and probley could of reported animal crulity but our local SPCA said they couldnt do anything about it cause i do not live in the are just work and hunt. If you want to hunt with dogs do it safely and leaglely. i am tired of seeing dead dogs by the side of th eroad and in the fields.

[Hokieman]

Va scout thanks for your comments and you are correct. If you care to visit our website at www.vahda.org and click on the news link, you will see some updated information concerning the complaints DGIF based the hound hunting survey on. I agree if everyone can't respect another out in the feild and hunt ethically then we as sportsmen have a problem.

Help protect Virginia's Outdoor Sporting Heritage!

:

Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance
P.O. Box 657
Powhatan, Virginia 23139

Corporate donations are welcome and appreciated!

[gittrdone]

I have been following the deer dog issue for quite some time now. In my younger years, I took more than my share of deer via 'dog hunting'. I have matured into a more skilled hunter, with a son who can carry the outdoor abilities on to his son. We have acquired a fairly substantial amount of land that we manage for MATURE whitetails, turkey, quail. bear and rabbits. I do not get any government money i.e. WHIP, EQUIP, etc. by choice. my young son harvested his 3rd buck on the 2nd afternoon of the general firearms season by stalking. His smallest buck was 18 1/4" inside, a 10 pointer.
Now, let's get to the point. The 'dog hunters' are crying foul over the VDGIF, PETA, anti's, and 'trolls trying to take away their tradition. Please give me a break. Look in the mirror for once; have you messed up someone's opportunity at a big deer who still-hunts? Have you trespassed on someone's land who doesn't want you there? Do you have land of your own, or do you put your money into a hunt club of mostly non-landowners? Have your deer dogs spooked gobblers in the spring and ruined the only morning a young boy can hunt since he's in school evry other day of the week? Do you throw trash out on the guy's land who doesn't give your club permission to hunt? Does your club turn dogs aloose beside the tract that has food plots planted by a non-dog hunter? Can you be successful in the deer woods without a dog? The Indians did, I can, and a great number of Virginians can.
I would advise all of the dog hunters to examine their own issues, their co-club members, and acquire some respect for your non-dog hunting counterparts, because the shakedown is coming. There is enough money, enough true CREDIBILTY, and political respect against you. It's sad, because I have many friends that dog hunt and we respect each other's positions completely. But there are a few bad apples in any club, whether they poach, trespass, litter, cut fences, shoot from the road, or just laugh in people's faces. Everything will come out in the wash. :yes: