Comments on: Releasing the Hounds http://skinnymoose.com/moosedroppings/2007/06/07/releasing-the-hounds/ Hunting, Outdoor Photography, Wildlife, Fishing Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:50:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Phillip http://skinnymoose.com/moosedroppings/2007/06/07/releasing-the-hounds/#comment-2366 Phillip Sun, 10 Jun 2007 17:16:34 +0000 http://skinnymoose.com/moosedroppings/?p=438#comment-2366 Good one, Moose. This was always a hot topic back in NC, and probably still is. While we have to be careful not to lump all dog hunters in with the bad ones, it's pretty tough to separate the crowd sometimes. One of the most common and abused aspects of hunting with hounds is exactly that described above... the houndsmen appear to have no respect for private property rights, and often use the "range laws" as a subterfuge for tresspassing. By law, the houndsmen can (and do) pursue their dogs onto private property. The law, however, is only intended to allow them to recover their animals...not to allow them to kill game. The houndsmen's tradition is pretty old, and in general it's a great and storied thing. Reading William Faulkner, Robert Ruark, and other great Southern writers, it's easy to see how steeped in tradition this sport can be. It's how I was introduced to deer hunting, and I participated in this method for many years. Unfortunately, the tradition came from a time when huge properties were the norm, and neighbors often joined together in the hunt as it crossed from one farm to the next. The southern landscape isn't like that any longer. With suburbs and sprawl, it's not unusual at all to see the hounds chase deer right into people's backyards and driveways. As a result, not only dog hunting, but all hunting is getting a huge black eye. I hate to even contemplate curtailing the houndsmen's sport, but it's time to start taking a long, hard look at how it is to be managed for the future. Good one, Moose.

This was always a hot topic back in NC, and probably still is. While we have to be careful not to lump all dog hunters in with the bad ones, it’s pretty tough to separate the crowd sometimes.

One of the most common and abused aspects of hunting with hounds is exactly that described above… the houndsmen appear to have no respect for private property rights, and often use the “range laws” as a subterfuge for tresspassing. By law, the houndsmen can (and do) pursue their dogs onto private property. The law, however, is only intended to allow them to recover their animals…not to allow them to kill game.

The houndsmen’s tradition is pretty old, and in general it’s a great and storied thing. Reading William Faulkner, Robert Ruark, and other great Southern writers, it’s easy to see how steeped in tradition this sport can be. It’s how I was introduced to deer hunting, and I participated in this method for many years.

Unfortunately, the tradition came from a time when huge properties were the norm, and neighbors often joined together in the hunt as it crossed from one farm to the next. The southern landscape isn’t like that any longer. With suburbs and sprawl, it’s not unusual at all to see the hounds chase deer right into people’s backyards and driveways. As a result, not only dog hunting, but all hunting is getting a huge black eye.

I hate to even contemplate curtailing the houndsmen’s sport, but it’s time to start taking a long, hard look at how it is to be managed for the future.

]]> By: Rex http://skinnymoose.com/moosedroppings/2007/06/07/releasing-the-hounds/#comment-2300 Rex Fri, 08 Jun 2007 15:29:10 +0000 http://skinnymoose.com/moosedroppings/?p=438#comment-2300 This may be the #1 problem with hunting that we have in the south. The idea of bugling dogs and the excitement as the hounds move through the woods pushing deer is an old idea that has practically disapperared. Today the so-called hunters fly up and down the roads cutting off the deer as they cross roads while they communicate by CB radio. They will know a deer is heading to a crossing and line up. God help us if a deer crosses a field or road in front of them. They also monitor the game wardens and will have their rifle bolts open and no bullets when he checks them. If a deer passes they can throw a bullet or two in and blast in the blink of an eye. If you see them lined up and ask what they are doing. They ALWAYS reply, "trying to catch our dogs". Take the CBs' away, fine them for trepassing or hunting public roads and it will be a start to ending this problem. This may be the #1 problem with hunting that we have in the south. The idea of bugling dogs and the excitement as the hounds move through the woods pushing deer is an old idea that has practically disapperared.
Today the so-called hunters fly up and down the roads cutting off the deer as they cross roads while they communicate by CB radio. They will know a deer is heading to a crossing and line up. God help us if a deer crosses a field or road in front of them. They also monitor the game wardens and will have their rifle bolts open and no bullets when he checks them. If a deer passes they can throw a bullet or two in and blast in the blink of an eye. If you see them lined up and ask what they are doing. They ALWAYS reply, “trying to catch our dogs”.
Take the CBs’ away, fine them for trepassing or hunting public roads and it will be a start to ending this problem.

]]>