juice
Active Member
- Messages
- 134
I don't post very often but I saw something this weekend that sickend me and all should be aware of. Sorry it's a little long...
After attending the Hunting Expo this weekend, the wife and I headed to Northern Utah to visit the in-laws. The snow levels were deep and thier house is adjacent to rolling foot hills which were absoletly full of wintering deer, elk and moose. While sleding down the hill in the back yard we noticed a lot of deer hair blowing around. When we finishing sleding I deceided to investigate. We tracked the obviously hurt deer to the top of the hill and that's when we heard it......the unmistakeable sound of two dogs. I raised my binos and was shocked at what I saw.
Several hundred yards away two large dogs had taken down a deer and were more or less feeding on it. The deer was still alive and struggling to regain it's feet. As we glassed the surrounding area we spotted three more dead or dying deer.
I couldn't take watching the deer struggle as the two dogs continued to feed on it. I ran to the house and called the F & G. The officer stated by law I was allowed to shoot the dogs. I deceided to capture pictures through my spotting scope unitl he arrived. The two dogs lay on thier prey almost like a grizzly guarding its kill.
A short while later the officer arrived, rifle in tow and headed toward the scene. As he approached the dogs began barking. He tried countless times to get the dogs to come to him. Finally the dogs broke and ran, the officer raised his rifle and ended the killing spree.
He later told me it was the fourth time someone had called about these particular dogs chasing deer in last few weeks. The were several miles from their home. He was very professional and I could see that he deep down he didn't want to pull the trigger.
We later found six deer that had been killed or were in need of killing from that morning's rampage. How many more had they killed in past few weeks?
I didn't write this to stir the pot, only to urge all those that have deer wintering near their homes and also have pets to please keep them leashed or kenneled. Both for the protection of the wildlife and the family dog.
After attending the Hunting Expo this weekend, the wife and I headed to Northern Utah to visit the in-laws. The snow levels were deep and thier house is adjacent to rolling foot hills which were absoletly full of wintering deer, elk and moose. While sleding down the hill in the back yard we noticed a lot of deer hair blowing around. When we finishing sleding I deceided to investigate. We tracked the obviously hurt deer to the top of the hill and that's when we heard it......the unmistakeable sound of two dogs. I raised my binos and was shocked at what I saw.
Several hundred yards away two large dogs had taken down a deer and were more or less feeding on it. The deer was still alive and struggling to regain it's feet. As we glassed the surrounding area we spotted three more dead or dying deer.
I couldn't take watching the deer struggle as the two dogs continued to feed on it. I ran to the house and called the F & G. The officer stated by law I was allowed to shoot the dogs. I deceided to capture pictures through my spotting scope unitl he arrived. The two dogs lay on thier prey almost like a grizzly guarding its kill.
A short while later the officer arrived, rifle in tow and headed toward the scene. As he approached the dogs began barking. He tried countless times to get the dogs to come to him. Finally the dogs broke and ran, the officer raised his rifle and ended the killing spree.
He later told me it was the fourth time someone had called about these particular dogs chasing deer in last few weeks. The were several miles from their home. He was very professional and I could see that he deep down he didn't want to pull the trigger.
We later found six deer that had been killed or were in need of killing from that morning's rampage. How many more had they killed in past few weeks?
I didn't write this to stir the pot, only to urge all those that have deer wintering near their homes and also have pets to please keep them leashed or kenneled. Both for the protection of the wildlife and the family dog.