Why can't dogs be used to hunt antlered game in most US States?

Answer 1

I don't know why that is. Maybe the other guy had a point about a dog getting hurt from an antler, but I'm pretty sure getting bit by a bear is a pretty dangerous, too. :) Maybe because it's just not effective. You would just get the deer running, and shooting at a running deer is pretty hard to do (or at least hitting a running deer is pretty hard to do).

Frankly, I've been deer hunting for 20 years, and I don't know why you would want to use dogs to hunt an antlered animal. Whatever happened to actually stalking and hunting? Of course, I haven't ever used a dog for bird or bear hunting either. I can see sending a dog to retrieve a bird as handy, but still a bit of a nuisance to have to have the dog with you.

Answer 2

danger to the dog is not a reason for a law. You are trying to kill the deer after all anyway...

Not sure what your particular government came up with for that one.

Generally gun laws do not make a lot of sense or are incomplete,whether you are for them or against them.

The reason is they represent a constant battle between anti-hunters and pro-hunters.

For example the anti's might want to ban all hunting in a state and put forward 10 different laws to cover all gun types and hunting styles.

But they might only win five of those 10., so then you have a situation that doesnl;t make sense. Like some types of hunting being banned but not others.
And that's the way it goes on, back and forth.

Deer hunting with dogs was probably part of general humane laws that stopped people being allowed to pit animals against one another. Like bullbating, dog and cockfighting last century. However in some states you can still use dogs to hunt big cats, so there you go again...

Answer 3

Here in the southern US, dog hunting is a tradition. We know that the purpose of the dogs is not to run the deer but just to stir them up and get them moving. It can disrupt other hunters in the area, but not much. Other areas of the country have different traditions and some misunderstanding of what dog hunting is about. They also have different circumstances, and dog hunting in some of those areas may be more disruptive of other hunters.

Answer 4

A very good question, which I don't have an answer, except perhaps it would not be sporting to corner the animal with dogs and then shoot it. However in medieval times dogs were used to corner the prey, then the sportsmen would kill it with their knife. Try that on a bull elk, and see who comes up on the short end of the stick.

Answer 5

well i don't agree with using dogs to hunting deer i ve seen it done in north Carolina doest seem like much sport in it of course i am the kinda person that likes a challenge if i could catch a great white on a snoopy rod i would try it now coon hunting hell yea burn it up use all the dogs you want that's fun

Answer 6

Really? Dogs are used here in Ontario for deer hunting alot.

Answer 7

Because dogs would give a huge advantage to any hunter because of dog's superior sense of smell, tracking and ability to point or even corner. They do that to ensure large populations of game and to limit how much game is taken in by hunters each year.

Answer 8

In Indiana they give the (poor) excuse of wanting to encourage "fair chase".

When people use dogs for hunting, the success rate goes WAY up. If everyone were successful, they'd (DNR) have to resort to draws for tags, or really shorten the season to control the harvest numbers.

Answer 9

I don't know anything about the rules and regulations regarding hunting; however, the question you ask seems to me would have something to do with the welfare of the dog.
What if the antlered animal were to fight the dog.
the dog could get pierced by an antler and I doubt any dog could survive that.