EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

  Deer season is over,lots of dogs in the woods.  In order to preserve our sport please watch what You do. There seems to be more dog hunters jumping fences.  We have no good reason to be where we don't have permisson to be. It makes us all look bad and it will be the end of dog hunting. Dogs don't know fences,we do. In Texas you don't have the right to jump a fence to get your dog. It sucks, but a landowner or their agent can shoot a dog to protect livestock or exotic animals. Hogs are owned by the landowner of the land they are on. I don't agree with that but it is a law.
 Also, hurt and dogs in piss poor shape shouldnt be on display to the public when you pull into a has station.
It is really time for is to police our own,folks. There are bad apples in every bunch. I am tired of being lumped to together with the pos people in this sport. Many people are fed up with dog hunters. I see a thread bashing us every week. Sad part is,the poster of said thread as a viald reason to be pissed.
  I don't have a good way with words, my intent is to make others see that we are our own enemy. I
I like running my dogs, if they ban it,I will have to stop.

X2 Mike.

well i just hope nobdys dogs get shot for doing there job

I couldn't agree anymore, but what about our dogs not knowing the difference??? If the dogs are out on a hog.... what then? The only thing I know to do is try to find the landowner, or call the GW to come help... if you can't do either of those, I get my dogs, and get off the property ASAP. It is also not legal to shoot a collared dog that isn't messing with livestock or anything else... As I understand it, that is a felony. There needs to be a law or something that states the rights of dog hunters. If you are not chasing game, and do not have any lethal wepons on you I don't think it should be against the law. This is too vague for me, and makes all dog hunters uneasy. I'm going to look into this a little further... We might just need to start a new bill. ;D

That why i love LOUISIANA

Things are different here boys us dog hunters are very protected by the law! If you shoot someones dog that is a hunting or working dog you will loose more then you could imagine not to mention possibly loosing your life if u shoot the right mans dog because i know many people that will shoot you dead in the woods over their dogs! In Louisiana you can WITHOUT permission go retrieve your hunting or working dogs on private property if the cross borders as long as you DON"T have any weapons or vehicles! Just a lil FYI i had posted the actual law on here last year for some ppl who didn't believe me but i keep a copy in my truck for cases like this because believe it or not even the sheriffs officers do not know about this law! I had to show a deputy the law once when a land owner called the cops on me for going on his land the deputy started to write me a ticket and quickly made phone calls after i showed him the law to clear it up! End of the story I WAS IN THE RIGHT and the land owner couldn't do anything!

but the same time those Bad apples depend on the good apples when they sorry azz need help, get in a bind, or need somebody to back them up

I've read a bunch of the threads cantexduck is talking about. "My dog don't know what a fence is, or my dog can't read etc.." that is the number one thing they bash dog hunters about using that excuse to tresspass. Just because your dog can't read doesn't mean you can go get him. If you see your dog heading towards a fence where you don't have permission call them back or cut them off. And your right it isn't legal to shoot a dog unless it's harassing you or livestock, BUT it's going to be your word against theirs. That don't make it right, but thats going to be the way it is.

A friend of mine even caught some hog doggers tresspassing on their land, found their lost dog and everything one weekend. The following Monday they posted up a story about it on here with all the names of the guys who were there and pics of the hog they killed. Why would you knowingly take a hog illegally and post it on a public forum? I've also noticed where people tell a story about "we were headed out to hunt and saw some hogs in the bar ditch and dumped the whole box on them, 500 yards later we caught a good one" now this could be your land on both sides of the road, but if it is at least say that in the story so people who lurk on here because they don't like us won't have anything against us.

I'm not saying I'm perfect, there has been times where it's 1 in the morning and a dog is across a fence, but most times we try to call them back til we are blue in the face. And if we do have to cross a fence it's always been a situation where the landowner I am hunting for knows his neighbor really well and will let him know we got the dog, or I know who owns the land and they didn't have a problem with it after I told them about it. That didn't make it right at the time, but I have the permission now.

The mentality of I go where my dogs go, or I am doing you a favor by removing hogs, doesn't cut it with people who are against us.

Like I said I'm not perfect, but I HATE getting lumped into the same category of the outlaws when we try to do the right thing.

"If you are not chasing game, and do not have any lethal wepons on you I don't think it should be against the law."

This would never happen in Texas, do you know how many people would be using this excuse to tresspass? A bunch.

Mike , I think this is very important. I work hard at it. And think others should too,
I had to pass a thread on Texas bow hunters Caiden sw it would chap me up at ow hunter or dog man

One of them was wrong and the other didn't know it or care

Oops no glass can't spell

That is why I don't understand people wanting long range dogs. How are you going to stop that dog from crossing a fence? I have stood at a property line calling dogs. I have also dropped everything but dog leads and gone after one. But if I am caught I am not going to give excuses. It is wrong I know it wrong but I also think letting a dog roam around someone's land is wrong. If I get caught I get a ticket my dog may get shot. But be clear that does not mean you can just go get your dog.

And let me also say, that I make it a point to talk with neighboring land owners as well. I do not dump my dogs out on land that is not mine. All of the land I drop my dogs on I have permission to be on... BUT there is that chance that they will start a hog on this land, and finish it on another... so like I said, if that happens the best way to deal with it is go talk to the landowner if you can, and we have gotten a couple spots this way; if you cannot, call the GW and they will more than likely be helpful because you are trying to do the right thing. But if all else fails what then?
There are some bad apples, I agree, but... if you do everything in your power to keep a dog on a piece of land and they still go onto another piece of land, are you the bad apple for trying to get your dog??? I don't think so... and anyone that owns a pet would do the same thing. I understand that it’s all hearsay in court, but that doesn't make it right. We have rights too, and I think that since Texas is one of the biggest hunting states, our rights should be written into law as well. You would think with all of the laws in Texas about hunting and fishing that this would already exist. I battle with this a lot because of the plots of land out where we hunt. We don't have a choice but to talk with the surrounding landowners... but the fact of the matter is still that the dogs will go where the hogs are.
The reason I am so adamant about this is because one of our spots where we have a good 600-1000 acres is right in a honey hole bottom. BUT on the back side of the land and the side of the land is owned by a guy that doesn't want it dogged or hunted at all. We were hunting it because the land manager gave my buddy permission to... but when the landowner called the GW on us for being there, that turned out to not be true. So we got a ticket, I was in the wrong, I admitted it, and went on my way. BUT I tried to get in contact with the landowner through his business, and through the land manager. The land manager doesn't want us to talk with him because he doesn't want them to know he gave us permission, and loose his rights. So we asked if we could just have permission to get our dogs off his land... The guy told us that if we are caught on this land again we will go to jail. So this is all from one time being caught on the land, and that was because of a misunderstanding. He will not let us retrieve our dogs, so what to do then. 1000 acres is a big piece of land, but if the hogs run off of it my dogs will follow. So tell me… is this piece of land not to be run because they “might” strike a hog and run onto another part of the property? For now, that’s what we have done to let things cool down, but I do want to run it again.

Sorry for babeling but this is a subject that really pisses me off... We should be able to do something.  >:( Even if you take every precaution, and take short range dogs, and try calling em out, ect... there is still that chance they might not come or hear you esspecially if they are looking at a hog... Then what? Are all ya'll with these priceless dogs telling me that you are not going to get your dog? I don't think so... So I do everything in my power to do the right thing, and if that fails, I'm going to get my dog and get off of the land As fast as possible. This makes me a bad person?

Give me the land managers number. I call him up and ask about removing hogs. I ask for the landowners number. Then you can get things starightened out with the land owner.

You have to have permission from the land owner or his agent. Try to get permission in writting if they can't ask for them to send a text. GW shows up you say you have permission from the owners agent. You oull out the paper or show them the text. If they turn out not to be authorized it is on them not you. I have heard to many stories of some person giving permission then someone else say they don't. If you had permission and a LEO shows up and someone else says you don't they can tell you to leave because your permission has been removed but you should not get any ticket or anything because you entered legally. But even if confronted and asked to leave you better leave and then straighten it out.

I was wonderin if you would mind postin a copy of this law? I myself was not aware of it....thanks!

we used to have the same law in Texas at one time...

Wether you like the laws in a state or not, you have to obey them.  If you are not willing to obey them, try to find a place that you can hunt where you dont risk your dog crossing a fence.  If you cant find a place like that, you may want to ask neighboring (fenced) places if you cen get your dog.  Centex is exactly right.  One of the problems is we do fight with ourselves....but that is history.  Democarts and republicans are neighbors..but they fight.  Even though I live in Louisiana and I know the law, I dont abuse it.  If I am hunting a place where there are fenced areas, I am less likely to turn out my hounds.  We have to be smart about what we are doing. 

Ryan TBH...if they all thought like you...we would have so many problems.

All I have to say about any of this, is that ya'll have some well trained dogs if you can stand at a fence and call them off when they're looking at a hog.

Written permission to hunt a property and written retrieval authorization from all adjoining land owners. That solves the problem.

90% of the places I hunt are at the land owners request because they have a hog problem. I have the land owner contact the neighbors and request that his hunters, who are working on "his" hog problem, be allowed to retrieve dogs. Written permission is preferred but I will go on a verbal agreement.

If the land owner has a problem neighbor and I am not sure I can stay off of that neighbor, I DO NOT HUNT THE PROPERTY.

We are all ambassadors of this sport every time we load dog for a hunt. Be professional in your approach and leave a good impression. Respect the laws and respect the fences, demand the same from the men you hunt with.

We need to do all we can to improve the image of dog hunters.

X2 and if they ever ban it looks like me and my wife will have our bail bondsman on speed dial.

This is the law in Louisiana maybe y'all get get a bill passed in Texas like it!


Read section 6 at the bottom it's all the exemptions to the trespass law!

http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=78584

well said...

Just wondering how to go about contacting land owners....I see a lot of places I'd like to hunt but have no clue how to contact the owners.

If they are looking at a hog that is when I will go get the dogs. The barking may get a land owner to shoot them thinking they are barking at his animals. Plus if they are on the pig they could get hurt. I can call dogs off a track but looking at a pig is different. Just know if you jump that fence you are wrong. That is why I drop any knife and mule tape. Because I know I am wrong but I am choosing what I feel is less wrong. But if a land owner or the law shows up I will show respect and admit I am wrong. I don't have GPS but I start calling them when they get too close to a fence. I have been lucky and never had a problem by the grace of God.

I understand why you drop the tape and knife, but when you get to the bay, if they are in fact bayed up.  How are you getting your dogs if you're alone.  I could see flipping and holding the hog until the dogs are off if you had help, but I can't think of a way to do it by yourself unless you kill or tie the hog.

Also, I believe trespassing carries a simple (cheap) fine if prosecuted.  Then again, you've got to be caught first, then prosecuted, then convicted.  Most people I know that own land and have been on that side of this situation are reasonable people, and wouldn't go through all of that if you're honest and forthcoming as to why you are on the land.

Thank you! That's great, I'm going to print that and keep a copy in my truck also!

First of all, the place that is a 1000 acres we have written permission to hunt from the CEO of a Children's home. The piece of land has a training course on it that is used for training Police officers and other law enforcement as well as multiple homes that the children stay in. They use the land that hogs frequent for recreational purposes. I would not want my daughter to walk up on some of the animals that we have caught out there. We have a deal with them to provide free removal, as well with other reputable references. I was "trespassing" because the "permission" WE had was false. This was my mistake for not meeting the landowner of the neighboring property. Even so, considering it is a children's home, and the course, why would he not let us remove the hogs when we have done no damage to his land? and already have written permission with the children's home??? It's a sore subject. Anyways, most, if not all of the properties we hunt we have talked to the surrounding landowners and have either written or verbal permission to hunt. And I say again, if you can call your dog off when he/she is looking at a hog in the woods I'd like to see video of it.  O0

;D

You can keep some mule tape I drop the knife because it is a weapon. I only run one bay dog when I am alone because I don't want two bays. It still gets tricky getting the dog but I can do it. I am mostly saying that you do not want to look like you are hunting but mostly do not carry a weapon or instead of a fine you go to jail. I probably always have some mule tape in my pocket but when you see me you only see dog leads. I drop my knife and back pack which has the rope for dragging a hog. I guess I could tie the hog if I had to. Leave the catch dog too. Hog doggers get a bad wrap you need to not look like one of the outlaws.

I am saying you should avoid jumping any fence. Take extra precautions so you can improve our image. I don't have many spots and have permission to get dogs from all neighbors but one because it is a company and nobody will say yes or no. But they did say that nobody will ever be there at night and during the day I should let someone know.

Naw, the old man has cattle on the other side of the ranch, and that's 1000+ acres away. He thinks it's inhumane to hunt with dogs anyways is what the GW said, and even the GW wouldn't give me his number. So we haven't hunted the property because of that reason. And Brian, I feel you on the back dooring thing... I do my best not to step on other peoples toes. I'm a pretty stand up guy, and I agree we need to be careful of what we do... I'm just saying I'm gona do everything in my power to get my dogs. JMO

I'm with you Ryan.  I'm gonna get my dogs, whatever the cost.  But, I will exhaust every legal and neighborly way to do it before I just go get them.  Sometimes though, the situation dictates using other means.  And then, if caught, all I could do would be man up and accept the consequences.

Txhogsanddogs:  How did you train that kind of obedience into your superman dog?  Did you do it, or did you pay to have him trained? 

For me, there is no way in he11 I can call ANY of mine off a hog when they're face to face with it.

I've had him since a pup so I would say I trained him. I just use his name like I'm talking to my own daughter. It takes some yelling but he will. Now if I make the hog break before he comes out I will have to start over at the next stopping point. I think what most people are trying to say is under most circumstances there is a way around getting onto someoe elses place wether it's hunting bigger places and laying off the aller places orbjust knowing the layout out of every property you hunt before you hunt it. 500 yards or whatever your dog might range start calling for them prior to gettin to the fence. NOT hunting the all the way to the fence just to see if they will strike or not. Guys I've been there specially when hog hunting is new. I've been in the woods for a while and it took a long time to were off but it today's time it's not worth the chance.