DOGS CHASING DEER

[HUNT,FISH,DIE]

HI YA BOEHR I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE EXTRA TIME YOU TAKE ON THIS SITE, BEYOND YOUR DAY JOB. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH BUTTS TO STATE LAND IN ARENAC CO., IS BEING USED AS A PLAYGROUND FOR A NEIGHBORS' DOG! BUT EVEN WORSE, I SAW THIS DOG CHASING DEER, TURKEY AND EVEN SAW THE DOG ONCE WITH A DEER LEG IN ITS MOUTH!! NEELESS TO SAY I HAVENT SEEN 1/4 OF THE DEER THIS YEAR COMPARED TO YEARS PAST NEAR THE HOUSE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW AND THE LAST STRAW WAS THIS PAST RIFLE SEASON, I WAS HUNTING THE STATE LAND NEARBY, AND AFTER 3 HOURS SAW A DEER RUN BY AND THE DOG 30 YARDS BEHIND IT. MY ? IS, COULD I HAVE SHOT IT?
I DID JUST YESTERDAY, CALL ANIMAL CONTROL AND WILL FIND OUT I HOPE SOON ANY RESULTS. I APPRECIATE THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION, AND ANY OTHER ADVICE TO THE SITUATION. THANKS BOEHR

HUNT,FISH,DIE

[Byron]

Hunt,

I believe you could have shot the dog if you saw it chasing deer, but Boehr will tell you for sure.

Also, it isn't considered polite to write everything in CAPS. CAPS indicates that you are yelling, and it's more difficult to read. I like your posts, so keep putting them up, just turn the caps lock off.

Best Regards,
Byron

[boehr]

HUNT,FISH,DIE...Legally you can not shoot a dog chasing wild deer. Only a law enforcement officer can shoot a dog chasing deer. A citizen can only shoot a dog that is harming livestock or attacking a person. Many officers will not shoot a dog chasing deer because they will lose a law suit, unless it is a last resort, me included. I enjoy giving the owner a ticket for not taking care of their dog much better.

That's the right think to do, calling the County Animal Control Officer.

[Mtnman198]

boehr
thats an interesting post,I know many hunters who think it is perfectly legal to shoot dogs running deer,do you know why this is?did it use to be legal? hopefully our members will read this and pass it along to other hunters so as not to give us a bad name.

[boehr]

Mtnman198...The Dog Law was first written in 1919. If that has been the law since then I can't tell you. The part about a law enforcement officer being the only person able to kill a dog chasing deer has been law for sure since the 70's. Why it's like that I also can't say, I can come up with many guess but they would be just guesses. I know officers who have shot dogs running deer and then been sued and lost. That is one reason a lot of officers will not shoot a dog. I myself have only shoot one dog in my career and that was with the owners permission first, along with court orders and circumstances that left no choice. Everyone else, the dogs owner, that could be found gets tickets. It is my opinion that a dog chases things by instinct, their not doing anything that does not come naturally. It's the owners responsibility to properly train their dog for whatever they choose to use the dog for. Anyone who just let's their dog run is lazy, doesn't care about the dog, and deserves to be punished by the means of the law. Most of those same people are lazy to ever license their dog or get the proper shots for their dog too.

[HUNT,FISH,DIE]

I apologize for being impolite about my CAPS. I didnt realize that they actually meant I was yelling. Sorry Byron and to others. Thanks Boehr, the animal control officer said he was going over to the house to talk with the owners. When I placed the phone call, I preferred to remain anonymous; mainly because I didnt want any neighborhood "wars". But, he told me he really cant do anything w/o a name and phone # where he can reach me if any questions arose. Does this sound correct? I guess if they did find out it was me who called, I dont care if it bangs it into these peoples' heads that you cant, just because you move into the "sticks", let your dog run loose. You are right about the owners having 110% responsibilty of their dogs. It is not the dogs fault, and in turn would be more effective to fine the owners because if you shoot the dog, their next dog will do the same thing if they havent been warned and/or fined. Whats funny though, is that the animal control told me, that he would be ballistic, and recommended the 3 S's.....
shoot, shovel, shutup! No kidding

- HUNT,FISH,DIE

[boehr]

I do not tell people the 3 S's because people are trying to find out the truth and that's not the truth. As far as contacting you with other questions, that helps but doesn't make it a requirement. I guess it depends on if he agrees to keep you confidential.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Hey Boehr;
Along the same vein, what about cats, esp. those on state land with a young cottontail or songbird in its jaws? At my grandpa's place (in the country), shooting stray cats was almost considered a public service. How does the law effect them? Thanx

[boehr]

There is no law on cats, unfortunately. Of course that isn't said to mislead you that a cat owner wouldn't sue you for shooting their cat but no law.