Hunting Forum

Just finished watching a cool show on deer hunting with dogs.  The show was "Destination Whitetail" on the Sportsman's Channel.  It featured the Alabama Hunting Dog Assoc.  Reading stories about hunting with dogs is ok, seeing video is better.  I also liked how they got their kids involved in the hunt.  Guess its another way of deer hunting I'm gonna have to try!!

JBURING, If you've ever read many of my deer hunting posts, you know that I am huge advocate of deer hunting with dogs. I've been hunting that way since I was 8, and I started Travis at 5. Although he killed his first deer with a rifle from a ground blind, I can't get him to go sit; but mention running the dogs and he is gung ho to go. He's 15 now, and has killed many deer in front of the hounds and at our club we have a bunch of young boys/men who have been hunting with us for many years now. We also have a few women who come occasionally. There is something magical about the sounds and excitement of hounds that becomes contagious and affects the hunters. Many people don't understand the complexities of hunting deer with dogs. As opposed to sitting in ambush with a rifle, the deer are on high alert, running wide open, and seem to be aware of where the standers are located. A lot of folks believe the dogs are right on the heels of the deer and are almost nipping at their heels, when in actuality most of the time the dogs may be 5 10 or even 15 minutes behind the deer. It becomes an even harder task, down here in the lowcountry swamps of SC, where the woods are thick, choked with briars, full of water, and the playground of 'gators and moccasins. This past Wednesday (our opening day in my game zone) I was sitting on a log with my feet and legs in about 3 feet of water, and I'll be in the same spot in the morning. Keeping alert for the sound of a deer while listening to the dogs and keeping a watchful eye out for the dangerous critters like the big moccasin I spotted Wednesday!

All I can add is that when I've taken people dog hunting for the first time, they always say not only is it not what they expected, but also that they would like to do it again.

BTW, like "Destination Whitetail" showed, dog hunting is a family affair.....often including a meal time get together. Our club is small, with only about 15 members, but we also have special cook-out nights, joint deer processing, and socials where friends and families come together at our hunting camp.

Tomorrow morning, we'll be loading the dogs into trucks, as well as just opening the gates and letting some of them go.......Travis and I will be down in the swamp waiting for a chance to kill a good buck that the dogs jump and run our way!!!!!!!!!!

RThomas,
Yep, sounds like a good ole time. Thanks for the reply. My son is born & bred in NC. His grandfather-in-law has 2 nice 10 & 12 point bucks taken with dog hunting. It was cool listening to him tell the story about the hunts. And yes, I liked the sound of the hounds when I was watching the tv show.
Here in NY, hound hunting is not allowed. We do 2-legged drives instead. Like I said, I'd love to try out a hunt with the dogs. 
Good luck to you & Travis!  BTW....I do believe your season opens every year on my birthday...August 15!!  Good luck...

I have never hunted deer with dogs but have used dogs for hogs and bear in East TN and quite frankly there is no more exciting hunt in my books unless of course doing the Big-5 in Africa.  The usual gripe I hear from the anti-doggers is "it's not fair" or "it's not sporting."  The only people that woudl ever make these comments are the un-informed ones that have never done it.  I have yet to meet 1 person anywhere that was in on a hound race and came away declaring it was not sporting or too easy.  It is probably the hardest hunting you'll do and since the quarry wins 9:10 times it is certainly sporting.  And there is indeed no sweeter sound in the mts. than bawling Plotts and chopping Walkers heading off up a distant hollar - and no more nerve-wrecking sound than the sounds coming right at you.  Dern it, I am now in the mood and my bear-hunts won't start for 3 mos.

Yep, if I had killed every deer that came by me on a dog drive, I'd probably have some sort of world record!!!!! Saturday, I had one I could hear in the water, but never could see it for the thick brush and trees.