Hound deer hunts in Ont.
- Thread starter SuperCub
- Start date
I don't use dogs personally, but it's very popular around here. It depends which WMU you're in; the southern shotgun only units are no dogs, while dogs are ok for the northern 2/3 of the province during the rifle season, also legal for moose which I've always found odd.
I've always had better success without them, but a lot of guys like the excitement. Seems to me you spend as much time hunting for lost dogs as you do for deer. I've picked up worn-out dogs that were from camps 15 miles away.
I've always had better success without them, but a lot of guys like the excitement. Seems to me you spend as much time hunting for lost dogs as you do for deer. I've picked up worn-out dogs that were from camps 15 miles away.
Yes - Our camp does it, with mixed results. We spend a lot of time chasing hounds that have left the county. Last year I volunteered to dog myself, and our results were comparable, if not better. The lads at the camp have suggested I work on a few things:
1) Improve my traversing skills a bit
2) Work on my yelp
3) Learn to lick my genitals
1) Improve my traversing skills a bit
2) Work on my yelp
3) Learn to lick my genitals
There are many in this area that hunt with dogs, and if you read the papers, it's the same people that usually end up being charged with several wildlife and hunting violations.
Personally I wish they would change the laws and make it illegal. I have been around hound hunting my whole life, and have never once seen a reason for it, other than greed.
\flame suit on....
Personally I wish they would change the laws and make it illegal. I have been around hound hunting my whole life, and have never once seen a reason for it, other than greed.
\flame suit on....
I'm typically a solo still-hunter but I did participate one day with a group that had a couple of dogs because a few of their group had left earlier in the week. It's not really for me but I will say that it was an exciting experience. I chuckled at myself getting eager when the baying started coming my way then getting bummed out when it turned away from my direction. It depends on the terrain you hunt in and your personal ability to hoof it around the bush yourself, but I'm not so decrepid yet so I'll stick with my pussy-footing through the bush and be able to claim any "prize" as strictly my own. HOWEVER, I WOULD NOT CONDONE PEOPLE SAYING IT SHOULD BE BANNED! Maybe crossbows and use of ATV's and trail cams and baits and calls and, and, and should also be banned?? See how this insidious this gets!
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our camp has hunted with dogs off and on for over fifty years. We have run Walkers, Plott, Black and Tan and lately beagles.
In all that time we have never been charged with anything. I don't know how you can relate using dogs with wildlife violations.
There is nothing like hearing a few good hounds on a hot deer track. These dogs are licenced and are not your garden variety dogs that chase anything.
As well you mention greed being a factor in running hounds. You truly have no idea.
I stated "around here", I didn't say "everywhere" or "over there" lol
I understand why dogs were used, and why they still are, but IMHO, and it's just an opinion, where does using dogs fit into "fair play", "fair chase" or "sporting". What's the difference between chasing them out of the bush with dogs, that can hear and smell them where we can't, and chasing them out with motorized vehicles? Be it atv's, boats, planes, etc.... Just because its traditional? Because the dogs can chase deer where we can't chase with motorized vehicles?
I understand why dogs were used, and why they still are, but IMHO, and it's just an opinion, where does using dogs fit into "fair play", "fair chase" or "sporting". What's the difference between chasing them out of the bush with dogs, that can hear and smell them where we can't, and chasing them out with motorized vehicles? Be it atv's, boats, planes, etc.... Just because its traditional? Because the dogs can chase deer where we can't chase with motorized vehicles?
Dogs can move a deer ANYWHERE IT WANTS TO GO!. Like I said earlier, I don't hunt with hounds, and I have issues with the practice, but not on the grounds that it's "not sporting" or fair chase, so I'll stick up for the hound hunters in this case. If statistics were kept, I think it would show that the guys who have the patience to sit and wait are much more successful than the hound men. Opportunities are often fleeting and at moving targets, and there is simply no way to cover all avenues of escape, so a lot of deer get to live another day.
I used to run rabbits with a beagle in my youth, so I can sympathize with the magic of hearing a hound sing. But for me and deer hunting, dogs are more of a hindrance than a benefit.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Yes, you can still hunt in Ontario with dogs. They need to be licensed. Typically beagles, blue ticks & black & tans, although I've also hunted with Plotts & July hounds, as well as a few mixed breeds. One border collie/blue tick female was one of the best hounds I ever hunted behind. Wicked smart dog with a great nose. We've never lost a dog ... but have had to go back the following morning for a couple. They'd invariably be bedded down under a big spruce or hemlock where the "dog puncher" left his coat behind... and be really happy to be "found again" - not to mention the double handful of kibble they'd get for breakfast.
I hunted with two camps from the late 60's through to 2000 that used hounds... and have been still hunting with a third group of guys that doesn't use dogs since. No change in annual success rate as far as can be ascertained ! MNR biologists have concluded the same ... no particular advantage or success differential with hounds or without ...just a different kind of hunt.
Hunting deer with hounds is much the same as hunting rabbits with beagles ... the sport is in the chase, not the kill. If you're on a "stand" or "watch" listening to the hounds start off a cold trail, jump a deer and then bring it around ... is absolute music. The kill is anti-climactic and somewhat secondary. I've killed my fair share of deer over the years, both in front of the hounds and by still-hunting and from a watch. I enjoy it all, but frankly, really don't care if I kill another deer or not. But I do look forward to camp and to deer hunting every November. For the past 12 years it's been "bucks only" as a camp rule, and we limit ourselves to 1/2 a deer per hunter. No shortage of deer and we're usually done by Tuesday or Wednesday of the first week.
I hunted with two camps from the late 60's through to 2000 that used hounds... and have been still hunting with a third group of guys that doesn't use dogs since. No change in annual success rate as far as can be ascertained ! MNR biologists have concluded the same ... no particular advantage or success differential with hounds or without ...just a different kind of hunt.
Hunting deer with hounds is much the same as hunting rabbits with beagles ... the sport is in the chase, not the kill. If you're on a "stand" or "watch" listening to the hounds start off a cold trail, jump a deer and then bring it around ... is absolute music. The kill is anti-climactic and somewhat secondary. I've killed my fair share of deer over the years, both in front of the hounds and by still-hunting and from a watch. I enjoy it all, but frankly, really don't care if I kill another deer or not. But I do look forward to camp and to deer hunting every November. For the past 12 years it's been "bucks only" as a camp rule, and we limit ourselves to 1/2 a deer per hunter. No shortage of deer and we're usually done by Tuesday or Wednesday of the first week.
Used to hunt close to 1000 acre chunk of extremely rough Canadian Shield country.
Nothing like a dog for getting deer moving out of swamps and juniper thickets.
Normally only have time for 2 runs a day.
Sadly the farm got blocked up and sold off.
Hunting a controlled hunt area now, so no dogs allowed.
Nothing like a dog for getting deer moving out of swamps and juniper thickets.
Normally only have time for 2 runs a day.
Sadly the farm got blocked up and sold off.
Hunting a controlled hunt area now, so no dogs allowed.
OneBarfly
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
For someone to says that they have been around hound hunting their whole life, one would think that they would have a better understanding of what it is about. Your ignorance on the topic is very apparent.
Greed? Please expand. Beagles with 4" legs are hardley chasing deer, they just move them. We have never tagged-out using hounds. 11 people doing 2 hunts a day for a week solid and other than last year (4 deer), we went home empty-handed for the previous two years.
well good luck trying to chase deer where we hunt on a ATV.
Over the years we have hunted with and without dogs. Our success rate using dogs is no better than stillhunting, or whatever.
Hearing a old Walker fire up on a frosty morning and you know something is on the move.
Maybe they will swing my way. Might even be the big one.
Anyways hunting is hunting and venison is venison.
I always liked using beagles for deer hounds. They would only get the deer moving, not run them out of the country like the big walkers would. I watched a nice buck just trot along, looking back every 50 yards for the little beagle. Little did he know he was trotting right towards me. I dropped him at 60 yards with my .308.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
So, I guess you are against dogs being used by bird hunters too?
I mean, why should bambi get a fair shake & all those terrified pheasants, ducks and geese deserve a break too?
Dominion Link
CGN frequent flyer
Just got back this morning from Bluetick Days in Holmesville Ohio. I do hunt coon with hounds of my own and have hunted coyote, deer and bear, many times, with friends dogs. There is no older hunting partnership in the history of mankind than hunting with dogs. Thousands of years before gun powder, we hunted with dogs. It is as natural a way for us to hunt as has ever existed and it remains a tradition that many of us love to continue. It's tiresome to hear "hunters" make disparaging remarks about hound hunting, when similar bs comments can be made about any form of hunting.... "Bow hunters wound a high percentage of the game they shoot", "Where's the sport in hunting over bait, or hiding at great distances with a magnum rifle and high magnification scope to shoot an unsuspecting whitetail".
If you don't care for a particular type of hunting, that's your view and you're welcome to it. However, you really ought to be able to appreciate that banning any legitimate form of hunting opens the door for banning the hunting method that you prefer. After all, someone can make an argument that your hunting preference is unsporting or immoral.
And...... I have no idea what you are referring to when you say that hound hunting is greedy???
when first starting out i joined a party that used dogs. was music to my ears,r they coming my way or r they turning. sadley most members left after 3-4 years they split up. noticed dog hunters r just as pasionate about hunting as bickering whose dog is better. traded the four legs for my two and now im the one that ushes the bush. still i love the sound of a dog sounding off when your sitting on a cold frosty morning. kinda gets your blood going. would i do it again, in a heart beat. one thing , when a good dog goes through you know if theres a deer in the bush the dog will bump it. we used beagles and the deer just stayed ahead of them in an alert state .
