Dogs at camp

Mayday_

Mayday_

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Ontario
I have another debate.
Will the smell of a dog back at camp scare away deer? Keep in mind that the kind of deer hunting that is done is pushing the bush with whistles, yelling and banging sticks to push the deer towards the shooters.
Will a dog hundreds of yards away back at camp scare away the deer and ruin the hunt?
 
Why bring dogs, a buddy of mine brings his dog everywhere with him it’s a royal pain. Leave the dogs at home
 
Mayday_ said:
I have another debate.
Will the smell of a dog back at camp scare away deer? Keep in mind that the kind of deer hunting that is done is pushing the bush with whistles, yelling and banging sticks to push the deer towards the shooters.
Will a dog hundreds of yards away back at camp scare away the deer and ruin the hunt?
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It won't be any more disturbing than the smell of the hunters, along with all their general noise and commotion associated with camps. Sounds like a very clumsy way to hunt though, and I've been on my share of deer drives. No wonder your buddy from the other thread wants to sit out by himself with a bow.
 
9.3mauser said:
It won't be any more disturbing than the smell of the hunters, along with all their general noise and commotion associated with camps. Sounds like a very clumsy way to hunt though, and I've been on my share of deer drives. No wonder your buddy from the other thread wants to sit out by himself with a bow.
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I'm the bow hunter lol
 
Grock-co said:
Why bring dogs, a buddy of mine brings his dog everywhere with him it’s a royal pain. Leave the dogs at home
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For a retriever, a dog that loves people and the outdoors, she has more fun than the hunters do at a hunt camp. Most of the hunters I know also love dogs and their company, but some people aren't dog people and I understand that, but for others, a dog is a family member.
 
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When i lived outside of town id have deer walk into my yard with my mastiff. If they got to close to the house or truck theyd get a growl. If that didnt get them moving a quick rush and bark did for sure. The deer would be back several hours later.
The deer even grazed in the fields while we shot flats of shells shooting trap.
 
Some of my best memories of deer camp involve the dogs that were there over the years. Amazing the number of deer that would hold tight up until the dog busted them. None of these dogs were hounds and none would run a deer, just a great tool for the dogger ( usually the dogs owner ).
 
Depends on the dog. A well behaved mutt is welcome at any camp. A PITA dog is just that.
 
In a bowhunting camp, I do not want a dog around. I go to great lengths to minimize scent, which over time, maximizes opportunities. However, if all you do is drive deer, the dog scent won't matter a bit, and could even help, in many traditional Ontario deer camps, dogs are used to push the deer. But if I have your scenario correct, you are a new guy there, so ask the camp guys if they want a dog around or not... not everyone likes dogs, and some dogs are hard to like, usually the fault of the owner, but there are bad dogs.
 
While it may not be an issue for most it can cause some bad blood for the other hunters. Last Moose season a bloke brought up his dogs and while this may not have been an issue it was perceived that the lack of moose being seen was a direct result of the dogs. Right or wrong it can test friendships.
 
holzmeister said:
While it may not be an issue for most it can cause some bad blood for the other hunters. Last Moose season a bloke brought up his dogs and while this may not have been an issue it was perceived that the lack of moose being seen was a direct result of the dogs. Right or wrong it can test friendships.
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^^ best advice so far!

If its a crap year and happens to be the year your dog is there, guess what, its your dogs fault!
Even though it was the 3rd hard winter in a row, logging in the area, more wolves etc. It will be your fault..

Its like being married, but everyone stands to pee....
 
Depends on the hunt & the hunters. Close buddies of mine used to come borrow my black lab if I could not join them on a migratory / upland bird hunt. Speaks volumes for the character of the dog.
I would never bring him caribou or moose hunting but brought him with me several times bear hinting both over bait and spot / stalk hunts. Miss that dog immensely.
 
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Side note,

My family has hunted same land for over 70 yrs.

-First 40 yrs they use the dogging approach you described above (they'd get 1 deer ever 2-3 yrs)

-Last 30 yrs they switched to tree stands and usually stop hunting in the 1st week when the freezer is full (2-3 deer a year but could get 5 if they wanted)


Same number of guys hunting, same plot of land, hell in some cases its the exact same gun being used!
 
If camp is in a semi-populated (rural farmland) area, absolutely no issue as the deer are likely unconcerned by dogs.
If the camp is a remote location where dogs normally are not present, then I would be mostly concerned with the dog smell on the hunter's clothing affecting your hunt.
 
train your dog to be an asset to your hunt or leave it at home
I am a dog lover, all dogs, except the motorized slipper breeds, but most dogs aren't trained enough to be an asset on the hunt.
My last male rottweiller was exceptional and was welcomed by everyone in our hunting group as a pup and he became an excellent hunting companion.
He let us know if anything was coming into camp , day or night he knew what his role was. He learned to become still and silent upon sensing or spotting game and would remain at my side and at the ready even during gun fire and the excitement that would follow. I could tether him with a shoulder harness and command him to pull when I needed a bit of extra muscle dragging out a deer. Loved that dog..... miss him every day.... so do my hunting partners that were fortunate enough to have spent time afield with him.
BUT.... I raised him that way and he met me 1/2 way his entire life..... damn good dog.
 
Grizzly Adams said:
Why do people have a need to take their mutt everywhere ? I look at it as a mental illness, kind of like Linus blanket. :confused:

Grizz
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Grock-co said:
Why bring dogs, a buddy of mine brings his dog everywhere with him it’s a royal pain. Leave the dogs at home
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^agreed. I hope this isn't a shocking statement, but allot of people can't stand dogs. I'm indifferent, leaning towards "I have no time for them". lol If other guys in the camp have/bring them and the OPs are exceedingly well behaved, ask the other guys anyway. Anyone who doesn't HAVE a dog or bring one, assume that's where they stand on the issue of dogs at camp. Like Grock-I can't stand it when I make hunting/fishing plans and one or more buddies bring a dog unannounced. I don't enjoy their company when perfectly behaved, and I sure resent them when they're not.

Granted, I've never hunted grouse behind a dog...so who knows. Maybe my opinion would do a total 180. lol Having just spent most of the holiday weekend at the family cottage (2 family dogs + someone else's puppy I didn't know would be there)...I believe I like dogs even less than I did Friday. lol
 
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