Dogs on our hunting property

[Seedy Character]

I have 160 acres, 6 miles from town. House is 400 yards from the highway. 2-3 times a month, a car will stop it the corner and dump 1-4 dogs.
We have game cams set up. Sometimes we get a plate number. It goes to Sheriff, who takes the situation very seriously.
90% of the dogs, show up it the house. Hungry, scared, but friendly. D-i-L rehomes them.
The ones that attack livestock, growl at anybody are shot on sight. (12 grandkids, 2 great-grandkids, Wife, daughters walk around the pasture). Do not enjoy killing them, but your safety is most important. Euthanized dog is better off than starved, attack by coyotes or run over on highway.

I have chased down more than one POS when we SEE them dumping. Take a pic and call Sheriff.

Sheriff has a lot of ground to cover and needs help. We have a good relationship and help each other.

One person showed up it the house, to pick up the dogs (2) she dumped. Crying because Sheriff issued a $400 ticket. I wasn't very compassionate.

 

[courtgreene]

I have 160 acres, 6 miles from town. House is 400 yards from the highway. 2-3 times a month, a car will stop it the corner and dump 1-4 dogs.
We have game cams set up. Sometimes we get a plate number. It goes to Sheriff, who takes the situation very seriously.
90% of the dogs, show up it the house. Hungry, scared, but friendly. D-i-L rehomes them.
The ones that attack livestock, growl at anybody are shot on sight. (12 grandkids, 2 great-grandkids, Wife, daughters walk around the pasture). Do not enjoy killing them, but your safety is most important. Euthanized dog is better off than starved, attack by coyotes or run over on highway.

I have chased down more than one POS when we SEE them dumping. Take a pic and call Sheriff.

Sheriff has a lot of ground to cover and needs help. We have a good relationship and help each other.

One person showed up it the house, to pick up the dogs (2) she dumped. Crying because Sheriff issued a $400 ticket. I wasn't very compassionate.

While I think you and the sheriff did the right thing, I feel bad that they went back with her. No real good solution in that one.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

People who care so little about their dogs as to allow them to roam as you describe, without even a hint towards them being cared for as a member of a family somewhere, are classless morons.

Know what the difference is between any given random stray and someone's unidentified pet/hunting dog?

Absolutely nothing that you can see on the outside.

I've always thought of a single dog in these circumstances as a "stray" and two or more as a "pack". And packs can be pretty dangerous.

Dogs running lose are breeding problems, if they're not neutered. Feed one and you'll soon discover you're feeding an ever increasing population, both from supporting additional births and from other dogs finding out about a food source. Next thing you know, you're good natured heart is shelling out bucks for dog food by the 50 pound bag. Cut back on the food and now the dogs have to look for food elsewhere...livestock, pets, wildlife, and even attacking people because hunger can make an animal violent.

Dogs running lose aren't getting vet checkups and shots. A case of rabies ain't a pretty site and can spread to any mammal around pretty quickly from canines, as they're used to associating with people, livestock, and other critters.

Dogs in the wild are often as bad, if not worse, as foxes and wolves when it comes to livestock. A stray dog can clear out a chicken coop as easily as a fox.

I don't live in the country...but significant portions of my family does and I've both seen what these dogs can do and have taken a hand in helping to control bad cases.

The sad part about this is many people who end up having to take drastic actions against strange, free roaming dogs are actually hurt inside by the need.

If the owners can be identified, I say let them know their dog(s) roaming free, especially without any tags and such, is not acceptable. If required, get animal control of some kind involved.

I sure hate "the last resort".

 

[edwardware]

They are killing deer though

Dogs killing deer, chimpunks eating birdseed, fire ants in the garden. Same solution, different tools.

Everyone always blames the dog. . .

I wouldn't shoot the dog because I blame it for chasing the deer any more than I'd shoot the buck because I blame it for chasing the doe. Shoot the dog to protect the deer, shoot the deer to pur in the freezer. "Deserve's got nothing to do with it."

 

[Jack Ryan]

So over the last few years we have been catching more and more dogs on our hunting property. Rarely does one have a collar on but they do show up. We have pit bulls, German Shepard’s, labs and a bunch of mixes I can’t identify. After taking to a neighbor who lives there he said many of the farmers just let dogs loose. Anyone else get wild dogs in their hunting area? What do you do about it? I have a bunch of trail cam videos but have no idea how to add them here

I just about guarantee you farmers are NOT turning dogs loose. The ones with out a collar are coyotes.

 

[Jack Ryan]

only once have we seen the dogs on a deer. The deer was dead and the dogs were eating parts of it. We do find bones all over the property and often see the dogs run off with bones. As for the owner, it’s my father in laws land and that is the main reason I’m looking into what others have done. He doesn’t want all these dogs running around when his grandchildren are all up there all the time. The property is in southern Georgia. I’m going to have to start making some calls about it

I would not call ANYONE or complain to any one. If you want to catch them and turn them in then go for it. But complaining will only make YOU the first person any one thinks of when their dog disappears. You will get the blame for every single one.

 

[GatorHunter]

I pulled a couple pictures out of the videos I have

 

[Patocazador]

I also highly doubt a house dog is killing deer.

Dream on.
If owners let their "house dogs" run loose, they will eventually 'pack up' with feral dogs, strays and other "house dogs" to cause havoc. I've had to decimate 2 packs that killed my sheep and harassed my horses. About half of them were pets allowed to run loose.

 

[Axis II]

Dream on.
If owners let their "house dogs" run loose, they will eventually 'pack up' with feral dogs, strays and other "house dogs" to cause havoc. I've had to decimate 2 packs that killed my sheep and harassed my horses. About half of them were pets allowed to run loose.

And I bet you didn’t take 5min to call the sheriff or dog warden before shooting pets?

 

[Patocazador]

And I bet you didn’t take 5min to call the sheriff or dog warden before shooting pets?

If "pets" are killing my livestock, they are NOT pets.

BTW, the sheriff said that if I didn't manage to kill them, he would send out a deputy with a .30-06 to deal with the "pets."

 

[red rick]

I have more problems with hunting dogs than stray dogs on my property . In my county you can run coyote dogs all year long , you can only run deer dogs during deer season . Those deer dogs turn coyotes dogs right after deer season . A lot of times during the night or day one will show up at my house and not leave , causing my dogs to bark all night or day until they are picked up . These dogs are wearing $250 dollar gps tracking collars , but some people drop their dogs at night to run and pick them up when they get off of work . Those are the dog hunters that I have problems with mostly . There is also a law that allows them to walk on my property anytime to look for their dogs without notifying the homeowner . I also don’t like that they can run these big pack hounds during breeding season .

 

[Terry G]

Too many people looking for an excuse shoot Dog's. I have a fairly large Hunting area that I own and have seen Dog's on the property many times. I've never had a reason to shoot one. Around here you can bet they are someone's Pet or a Hunting Dog that simply strayed. If the Dog won't come to me I call the Sheriff's Department to see if anyone has reported a lost Dog, usually someone has. If the Dog has a collar and tag I just call the owner. "But they chase Deer!" So what? I have yet to see or even hear of a Dog killed Deer. My Labrador chases them all the time for about 50 feet and then gives up. Tread carefully here. You could catch an substantial law suit over this. Don't forget "Chips" and GPS Trackers, my Dog has both.

 

[Terry G]

If "pets" are killing my livestock, they are NOT pets.

BTW, the sheriff said that if I didn't manage to kill them, he would send out a deputy with a .30-06 to deal with the "pets."

Sure he did.

 

[Blue Jays]

Keep in mind shooting somebody's dog…no matter how deserving…can create nasty long-term animosity that might take a decade (or more) to finally calm. Exhaust every other method prior is my advice.

 

[wombat13]

I got into it with neighbors on a FB group because she was walked farther than normal, got in her mood and slipped the collar on my girlfriends 70yo mother. She ended up on someone's porch and because she's and old English bulldog everyone freaked out thinking she was going to drag them to the ground and rip them apart. When we tried explaining that she's a sweetheart and was just confused no one wanted to hear it.

“She’s a sweetheart.” That’s what everyone says. You think this story makes your neighbors sound unreasonable?

 

[scallop]

This guy shows up regularly on our property. Along with another with same radio collar. I get several notifications weekly on my security cams around the cabin. Never comes close when we are there. Also several cats.

If you zoom in on the below pic it looks like he has one of the cats in his mouth.

 

[GatorHunter]

View attachment 1067706

This guy shows up regularly on our property. Along with another with same radio collar. I get several notifications weekly on my security cams around the cabin. Never comes close when we are there. Also several cats.

If you zoom in on the below pic it looks like he has one of the cats in his mouth.

View attachment 1067706 View attachment 1067708

I have never seen one with any gps collar or harness. Only a regular dog collar on a couple I haven’t seen since last summer

 

[Patocazador]

Sure he did.

YES! He did.

Don't doubt what you obviously don't know.

 

[scallop]

I have never seen one with any gps collar or harness. Only a regular dog collar on a couple I haven’t seen since last summer

The collars are what has kept them alive. Obviously they are someone who cares about them's pets. There are several homes close to our property. If they ever acted agrressively to me or the grandkids or my dogs then collar or no they would have to go.
I have had this one save a couple three deer that were in range of a stand and spooked by them, if it would have been a big buck instead of does he would probably have not made it out of the woods that day.

Never seen them bother any deer on cam, and I really don't mind if they eat the cats.

 

[Axis II]

“She’s a sweetheart.” That’s what everyone says. You think this story makes your neighbors sound unreasonable?

Yes it does make them sound unreasonable. We got
A bunch of grown men on here scared of a dog you run and grab a gun and kill it. My neighbors threw an absolute fit calling her cujo, pitt bull, dangerous, call the police. When she came back home after 5min of being gone we advised everyone she was home and still had people talking crap. Everyone who has had at least one dog has had that dog run away at some point in time. Come to find out everyone was scared of her cause of her eye which is a birth defect that can’t be fixed and also her face. She won’t even bark at someone at the door she’s so timid.

but hey you guys just keep justifying killing dogs cause they have no collar or someone’s uncles, cousin, sisters, grand pappys, uncles brother told you back in the 50s packs of 30 dogs used to kill everything in site.

 

[wombat13]

Yes it does make them sound unreasonable. We got
A bunch of grown men on here scared of a dog you run and grab a gun and kill it. My neighbors threw an absolute fit calling her cujo, pitt bull, dangerous, call the police. When she came back home after 5min of being gone we advised everyone she was home and still had people talking crap. Everyone who has had at least one dog has had that dog run away at some point in time. Come to find out everyone was scared of her cause of her eye which is a birth defect that can’t be fixed and also her face. She won’t even bark at someone at the door she’s so timid.

but hey you guys just keep justifying killing dogs cause they have no collar or someone’s uncles, cousin, sisters, grand pappys, uncles brother told you back in the 50s packs of 30 dogs used to kill everything in site.

I’ve got two kids that probably weigh less than your apparently uncontrollable dog. Any possibility that a dog is going to harm my children and it is dead without t a moments hesitation. Do your job as a responsible dog owner and your neighbors have no reason to be upset. But like so many entitled dog owners, you think it’s everyone else who has a problem.

 

[Axis II]

I’ve got two kids that probably weigh less than your apparently uncontrollable dog. Any possibility that a dog is going to harm my children and it is dead without t a moments hesitation. Do your job as a responsible dog owner and your neighbors have no reason to be upset. But like so many entitled dog owners, you think it’s everyone else who has a problem.

Dogs get loose. My dog slipped her collar because when someone pulls on her leash she freaks out from being beat by hillbillies with no regard to an animals feelings. It’s funny you say I’m irresponsible because she gets loose and runs 3-4 yards down and comes right back. She doesn’t chase people, doesn’t bark at people. Sounds like your just scared of your own shadow and wanna hear the gun go off. Now if the dog is mauling the kids it’s dead. Saying you will shoot a dog for being loose makes you a POs.

yeah she shouldn’t get out but you don’t have to call the police because cujo or a pit bull sees you in your patio window and stands there and looks at you. So yes that was unreasonable.

 

[red rick]

I don’t believe in shooting a dog just for trespassing , it can’t read and doesn’t know property lines , but I think the owner should face a stiff fine payable to the landowner every time his dogs trespasses and the landowner catches it or gets a identifiable picture of the trespass . If the dogs chases livestock I don’t fault the landowner for killing it . I have hunting dogs , beagles that I rabbit hunt with . They have been on the neighboring property a few times , but I am there to immediately get them . I don’t even have to step onto his property to get them . My dogs wear training collars , that tracks and corrects them . I hit a tone button and they come running back . I have also had house pets ( German Shepards ) that have never run loose .

 

[alsaqr]

Comanche county, OK does not have a dog warden. Comanche county is 1,085 square miles in size, the size of Rhode Island, There are a total of eight patrol deputies. Two deputies are on duty after normal working hours. Our sheriff says that citizens should deal with their dog problems.

About ten years ago i got a frantic call from a rancher lady whose husband was on active duty in Iraq. Two large dogs were attacking the cattle. Dogs were chasing and biting cattle when i arrived, i killed both. Both pit bulls had recently worn collars.

Our feral dog situation would be much worse without the coyotes.

This game camera photo was taken at our place north of Elmore City. One of the neighbor's sheep dogs apparently had a taste for the pigs that frequent the feeder.

 

[wombat13]

Your a moron! Dogs get loose. My dog slipped her collar because when someone pulls on her leash she freaks out from being beat by hillbillies with no regard to an animals feelings. It’s funny you say I’m irresponsible because she gets loose and runs 3-4 yards down and comes right back. She doesn’t chase people, doesn’t bark at people. Sounds like your just scared of your own shadow and wanna hear the gun go off. Now if the dog is mauling the kids it’s dead. Saying you will shoot a dog for being loose makes you a POs.

yeah she shouldn’t get out but you don’t have to call the police because cujo or a pit bull sees you in your patio window and stands there and looks at you. So yes that was unreasonable.

No, it’s dead before it mauls the kids. I’d rather pay the fine than visit my child in the hospital or bury her. Just read a few stories about maulings of children. Every single owner claims they had no idea their dog would do what it did. Every single killer dog is described as a sweetheart. Feel free to risk your own children with an abused dog. I won’t.