Need some hunting tips!

[gonefishing600]

I have owned and hunted a 70 acre tract in southeast North Carolina for 2 years now and have not got close enough to kill a deer with my longbow.  It seems the deer in this area are extremely skittish, because the deer are run to death by dogs.

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

[Wudstix]

That's tough.  Plant some security cover and food plots.  (?????)          

[gonefishing600]

I planted 2 food plots. They will only move at night.

[stikbowshooter]

Eliminate the dogs............

[Terry Lightle]

Hunt only the edges,leave the middle for sanctuary,and thin out the dog herd.

[Sam McMichael]

Unfortunately, thinning the dog population may be necessary. Are they wild dogs or free running pets? You may want to talk to your neighbors, and if they don't keep up their pets, then call animal control. Rely on killing them yourself as a last resort or you may wind up in court. Good luck.

[gonefishing600]

They are hunters running dogs, flushing all the dear out of my woods about 2 to three time a week!

[wingnut]

Post you property first and foremost.  Then let it be known that trespass will not be tolerated by man or beast.

Get in touch with the local game officer to share your intentions.

It's your property and others should not be hunting it without your consent.

Mike

[Altiman94]

Sounds like you need to curb the trespassing issue that you have and that will calm down your deer herd.  I would post your land really heavily and alert the CO of the trespassing.  

After that's taken care of I think you'll see a lot better success.  That sounds like a really bad issue you have going, hope you can get it fixed.

[ronp]

Posting the lot is a good idea if you haven't already done it.  Maybe they will chase some deer onto your property for a safe haven.  I can see why they'd be awful skittish, though, even on your property.

[ronp]

Oh, and I don't know how to keep the dogs out.  They can't know where the boundries are...

[katman]

Originally posted by wingnut:
Post you property first and foremost.  Then let it be known that trespass will not be tolerated by man or beast.

Get in touch with the local game officer to share your intentions.

It's your property and others should not be hunting it without your consent.

Mike

x2.

Some dog hunters, and I use that term hunters loosely, can be difficult to work with. Some have no respect for others property. Getting hard nosed with trespassing is about the only way to slow them down. Catch the dogs and take to pound were they have to pay to get them back also helps. Can not condone shooting the dogs as they are only doing what is natural to them. Hitting the owners in the pocket book  may be the only help as well as getting law enforcement involved.

[gonefishing600]

There not really hunting my property. They put the dogs in on one side and intercept the deer on the other side! This whole county is like this, lots of hunters run dogs. They just recently past a law in North Carolina that hunters could no longer trespass looking for their dogs.

Some of these hunters are my neighbors, and have been hunting this area since they where kids. I will figure something out.

[gonefishing600]

Double post!

[katman]

Sticky situation for sure but bottom line they or there animals are trespassing. I assume you already tried the more subtle trying to reason with them. good luck.

[gonefishing600]

Oh yea, I have talked to them. Everyone one of them gives me the same story, they can't control where there dogs go.

[Horn Chaser]

I wonder how well putting up a different fencing would help in keeping the dogs out. Something like sheep fencing.

[Fisher Cat]

Well, I may be talking out of my butt since I am not there, but I suspect you are exaggerating the effect the hounds have on the deer.  I grew up hunting deer with hounds in Virginia.  My bowhunting friends at that time focused their efforts on the earlier "archery only" deer season. Dogs are not super effective at trailing deer.  Their real value lies in getting them moving.  Most of the bucks we killed were sneaking back to their bedding areas while the does ran.  I think you would be pretty hard pressed to get traditional archery-close to deer during rifle seasons even in states where dogs aren't allowed. The larger populations of rifle hunters tend to keep deer moving or hiding just like dogs do.  It may not be what you want to hear, but I recommend hunting the earlier seasons hardest, then focus on working with the other elements at play by hunting swamps where deer tend to hide/evade dogs and hunt natural funnels they will be pushed through by the dogs. It's probably not wise to make enemies of your neighbors.  Good luck - John

[gonefishing600]

Originally posted by Fisher Cat:
It's probably not wise to make enemies of your neighbors.  Good luck - John

You hit the nail on the head! That's the last thing I want to do is piss off the neighbors, they all know each other.

I don't exactly know what you mean by exaggerating the effect the hounds have on the deer! I'm not exaggerating nothing! I'm just telling it like it is, that's why I started this discussion in hope someone can help me figure out what to do, because I don't have that much hunting experience.

[shoothathang]

Ask the law.If it's within your right to shoot the dogs,then shoot the damn dogs.If it was me I'd cut their collars off,tie 'em to a helium balloon n let the owners  gps chase that.I hate dogs running thru the woods yappin' n howlin'.I go to the woods for peace n quiet.If I want to hear a bunch of dogs barkin',I'll go to the city pound.Sorry for the rant,but BTDT.