Shooting dogs!

[dub]

I have read about it and hear is what the TPWD has to say about it.

Frequently Asked Questions
Hunting
I have an adjacent landowner who hunts with dogs to pursue furbearers, feral hogs, and bobcats. Can I legally shoot the hunter's dog(s) if they come onto my property?

No! A person does not have the right to kill a dog that is pursuing wildlife; however, a landowner may attempt to prosecute the owner of the dog(s) for hunting a wildlife resource without landowner consent. The local game warden, when called upon, will assist the landowner with investigating this type of illegal activity.

[hogdoggerdude14]

That's right we need to get this message out there for our dogs

[dub]

Shoot my dog and that would be one stupid mistake! They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. A woman scorned hath no fury like me if someone shoots my dog. Even if they try to say my dog was harassing livestock I would just show my dogs were trained to leave livestock alone. Then throw in some pictures of the dogs with my children and see what the jury thinks. I will own at least a few head of cattle when I am done and maybe the whole ranch.

[country man 563]

dud i agree with you but i would be gettin the needle cause sumone shoots my dog, the SOB who pulled the trigger would be layin next to the dog  .....

[SouthsFinestFla]

I just hope that never would happen to me , good lord would it be bad for that person who pulled the trigger .......................

[Easttex]

I just hope that never would happen to me , good lord would it be bad for that person who pulled the trigger .......................

Agreed

[boogie]

just got off the phone with a buddy of mine who sold a dog a couple weeks ago who got shot today. while he was baying, the guy who shot him also took both tracking collars off the dog and destroyed them. he shot the dog behind the sholder in the heart while he was broadsided with a 22, the guy told them he did it, but when the serriff got there he said the dog was running at him barking so he shot him. and to top it off the sherriff took the guys side and even said he would of done the same thing if the dog was on his land. this happend 3 miles outside of quitmen. hopefully this want be the end of it. sure does make my blood boil

[dub]

Destroying property on top. Oh hell no! Go to the Sheriff's office and demand to know why the deputy did not at least take action on the collars. I would make sure that deputy is looking for a new job. Google "who represents me Texas" put in his address and contact the State of Texas representatives because counties enforce state laws so this is a state issue. Do not contact your Congressman it is not federal. State reps respond well. Also contact the local DA and push for criminal charges. I would find a lawyer and file a civil action. This would most likely be a case you would have to pay the lawyer or use small claims court you can sue for up to $10,000. But I would unleash on the @%#& with all legal means possible. When you fight clean you do not have to worry. I figure I want my dogs to work hard for me so I would work hard for them. I am not a lawyer but if he needs help finding information send me a PM I would be happy making someone pay big for shooting a dog!

http://texasbar.com/Template.cfm?Section=Legal_and_Judicial_System&CONTENTID=3869&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm

[LILLWILL]

PUSH THIS ISSUE AS FAR AN HARD AS POSSIBLE! WHEN THE LAW IS NOT BEIN REPRESENTED PROPER WE THE PEOPLE CAN FIX IT! 

[BULLMASTER]

It takes a real coward to shoot a dog,catch the dogs then find the owner if they have a problem.I would still give him a good whippin .I have been lucky with the hog dogs but had many a deer hound shot.They would shoot the dog and then haul but off off thier stands with the dog laying nearby.I have heard of leases catching on fire during the summer when its really dry.One lease got burned up the night before opening morning while all the deer hunters were in the camp getting drunk,they went to go hunting and almost everthing was burned up.They all had to pay for the cowardly act of one person.

[BoarBuster67]

same situation 2 yrs ago, 5 dogs shot they were my friends dogs he headed that way game warden was waiting , coached the people into saying they were afraid for there life . arrested my friend for trespassing . Then had the balls to come and harass us on the property we were hunting. I told him he could tell them I wont be getting a trespassing charge if he shoots my dog . it went to civil court and trespassing charge was dropped . But killer got away. I have no pioty on the soul of the shooter or the piece of number 2 game wardens in walker county that did nothing.

[jerryg]

I will start by saying, I do not condone shooting dogs, but as responsible dog hunters, it is our responsibility to have landowner consent prior to trespassing on anyone’s property.  If you don’t have permission to go into the neighbors land then don’t drop your dogs close to their property line…. period.  Your dogs may get shot!  You want to argue that you have long range dogs and you cannot control them, well get short range dogs or hunt large tracts of land or get landowner consent.  Look at it from the landowner perspective, he doesn’t know who you are and if it is a constant issue, hell yes he will be upset.  I have permission to retrieve my dogs on 3 sides and we hunt close to those sides only.  One person does not give us consent so we don’t hunt by his property line…I run blood tracking dogs,  I request the person who called for my service to get landowner consent of neighboring ranches prior to me dropping my dogs, if they do not get consent, I don’t drop my dogs. IMO all it comes down to is communication and respect.

[BoarBuster67]

In that case landowners permission was granted on one side , got on a runner A hunter in may , which is after deer season shot all 5 dogs in side  or ass with a 30-06 . so they were not attacking and a blind man can see that . A dog killer is what he was and deserves to have his ass handed to him. Period.

[dub]

That was the story I thought about when I found it on TPWD. I would never post online anything that may push any law. But there is a recourse for the land owner that does not involve killing a dog. I personally have no sympathy for any body that would shoot a dog that is not really attacking or that is not a repeat offender that is causing damage. I know I use a shock collar to break my dogs from horses, cows, and chickens. If I had a deer in a pen I would make sure they did not bother the deer too just to be sure. I do not want my dogs wasting time and effort. I also want to be land owner friendly. Of course the dogs have to be people and dog friendly. So if someone shoots my dog I only hope I could keep calm enough not to do something stupid. But I figure a dog from good parents is worth $500, if it goes to bay it is $1500, if it finds pigs it is $2500-$3000. That is per dog. If it goes over $10,000 then it is time to move from small claims court and get a lawyer. I will hurt a dog shooter where it really hurts. Any accidents I had nothing to do with but I would not be upset either. Even if it is not my dog.

[LILLWILL]

Dub , i agree with you the value of my dogs is high,i had a jam up pit/cat cross a neighbor had something to do with his death he was on chain i could not prove him guilty but he was only one had problem with my dog.my dog never left my yard but he defended my livestock from my neighbors strays he collected,they took several a$$ whoopins a week . after i found my dog poisoned i approached this guy and told him becarefull somebody in area was poisoning dogs, he stated"I DIDN'T TOUCH YOUR DOG" i told him if you are the one you need to give your soul to god because your a$$ is mine! he called the law an the law told him they knew me an my dog no bad actors on my part

[Bump]

I will start by saying, I do not condone shooting dogs, but as responsible dog hunters, it is our responsibility to have landowner consent prior to trespassing on anyone’s property.  If you don’t have permission to go into the neighbors land then don’t drop your dogs close to their property line…. period.  Your dogs may get shot!  You want to argue that you have long range dogs and you cannot control them, well get short range dogs or hunt large tracts of land or get landowner consent.  Look at it from the landowner perspective, he doesn’t know who you are and if it is a constant issue, hell yes he will be upset.  I have permission to retrieve my dogs on 3 sides and we hunt close to those sides only.  One person does not give us consent so we don’t hunt by his property line…I run blood tracking dogs,  I request the person who called for my service to get landowner consent of neighboring ranches prior to me dropping my dogs, if they do not get consent, I don’t drop my dogs. IMO all it comes down to is communication and respect.

x 2 Good point. Communicate with neighbors.

Obviously there are situations that could occur where you may not be covered but anyone who shoots a dog needs to be delt with accordingly.

[dub]

The land owner should call the law and I get in trouble for hunting without permission. The dog goes not understand a fence or trespassing. Throw the book at me but leave my dogs alone. My dad has dogs come on his land all the time. BB and pellet guns are for the repeat offenders. Horses have kicked a few.

[LILLWILL]

YES I AGREE THAT TOO A LOW POWER BB GUN TO GET THE GET OUTTA HERE MESSAGE, BUT SOME PEOPLE GO OVER BOARD.IF THEY DON'T WANT ANY OF MY DOGS ACCIDENTLY GETTIN ON THEIR YARD OR PROPERTY,THEN THEY NEED TO KEEP THEIR KIDS OUT OF MY YARD AS WELL! IF THEY DON'T WANT MY HELP IN GETTIN THE HOGS OUT OF THEIR PROPERTY THEN,DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THEM AN DON'T KILL'M N WAIST THE MEAT BY DRAGGIN OFF.I HATE THEIR PET BUZZARDS!DON,T SHOOT MY DOGS THEN TRY TO JUSTIFY YOUR EXISTANCE OR REASON FOR BEIN A USELESS PERSON. WE GO BACK TO EYE FOR EYE ,TOOTH FOR TOOTH PEOPLE WILL REALIZE THAT COLLEGE EDUCATION I PHYCOLIGY JUST GOT THE BEARING BEAT OUT THEIR BUTT, AN DR . PHILL AN OPRA HAVE BODY GUARDS.

[txmaverick]

No! A person does not have the right to kill a dog that is pursuing wildlife; however, a landowner may attempt to prosecute the owner of the dog(s) for hunting a wildlife resource without landowner consent. The local game warden, when called upon, will assist the landowner with investigating this type of illegal activity.
[/quote]

This is not entirely correct either, for one wild hogs are not a considered a "wildlife resource" and unless the land owner can prove he has made every effort to control the range of the hogs including hog proof fencing to keep them on his property and marking them he can not bring charges against you for your dogs running or killing one. What the land owner can do, in Texas (or at least the way I understand it) I can be filed on for tresspassing if my dog crosses over a property line even if I dont set foot on that property. This is the only criminal charge that can be filed on any hunter as long as he/she is abiding by all other laws.

The only law that allows for shooting a dog is when livestock or a person is in danger, wildlife and or exotic livestock are not listed in that law, granted your dog is after a $10k exotic and your dog gets shot I wouldnt try to fight it.

[dub]

If my dog is actually doing something beside chasing hogs there is a problem. But I had my dog on a small piece of land and the dog started after a pig. There where no fences but I saw no trespassing signs. The dog was out in front of me so she was trespassing. But I stopped and called my dog off. I am glad she came back. I have no problem if I break a law then let the cops or game warden do their job and it can be settled in court. I talk to neighbors I am hunting on. The case I just said he said if the dogs chase a pig onto his property I could not go after it. He said he would shoot the pig if he saw it. But he did agree to not shoot my dogs as long as I was calling them off the pig. He stopped short of giving permission to go get the dogs but did not tell me not too. But I can respect his position. He wants to hunt his own land. I do think you should watch your GPS and keep your dogs off other people's land to do your part of protecting your dog. But when your hunting stuff happens.

I was asked for the TPWD site http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/land/habitats/faq/law_enforcement/hunt23.phtml