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Q:
A few years ago I was bow hunting in my tree stand. A large cottontail rabbit ran by the front of my stand. A minute later a dirty looking feral cat walked by my tree stand heading in the same direction as the rabbit. Another time, I heard dogs barking in the distance. The barking dogs got louder and louder then a whitetail doe ran by me with the dogs in pursuit. Have you ever witness game being hunted by other creatures and what would you do if you saw a feral cat or a wild dog in the woods chasing game while you were hunting?
Question by Gary Devine. Uploaded on March 29, 2013
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Answers (22)
If they are for sure feral I would remove them from this earth. Feral cats are a huge problem where I live.
You don't really want to know, you wouldn't like the answer.
The cat would be a goner. I would have a hard time letting an arrow fly on a dog. I have had them come into my turkey dekes a few times.
Don't really have a lot of them round here, how do you tell the difference between them and barn cats?
I will plead the 5th.
Good night to puss-n-boots. The dogs? That's another deal altogether. During NY's first youth deer hunt, my son and I saw two dogs (reddish pit-bull like, collared and with bandanas)cross the dirt road we were taking to our spot. Later, we saw one doe flying by us with one dog about 30 yards behind, the other running in the distance on the other side of a hedgerow.Later, I told the farmer and he(an area where all other farms and property are close family to him) didn't know whose dogs they belonged to.I wasn't armed and I wouldn't have shot then anyway, with more knowledge and under other circumstances, I just may. They didn't catch the doe that time, but I'll bet they have tasted venison before.I hate having to be put in that position with some dummy's pets running wild, shame to those dog owners.
Just this past season in my T-stand, I had a Small Buck flowing a Doe with a Coyote flowing Them! I put a TAP on the Yote made Him Grave yard dead! Two Hours later I put the buck in my truck. The only Cats we have are Bob or Panthers on my lease.
No but I did eat a Turducken once. I guess the Turkey stopped short!
Not every dog in the woods is a lost hunting dog or somebody's pet. Some dogs are dumped on the road side by their owners who no longer want them. These same abandon dogs will either starve to death or they will run in dog packs killing deer or any other wildlife to eat. Wild dogs and feral cats don't belong in the woods, period.
I agree with Greg.
Shoot to kill! I have wild dogs on the property I lease. Rule is, shoot them on sight!
I would shoot the Feral cat but be hesitant about shooting the wild dogs.Many times while squirrel hunting hawks would always soar over the tree tops screeching and one time a hawk almost got a squirrel but the squirrel escaped. Anyway those hawks ruined our chances of getting a squirrel for that hunting trip.
I would hesitate to shoot a dog with a collar, but feral cats would be safe only if a nice buck had my attention.
Bear hunters run their dogs loose across southwest Virginia and West Virginia during the season. While I was in my deer stand I have add a couple bears running by, near exhaustion, and a few minutes later the pack of hounds in pursuit.
If hunting with dogs makes you happy, by all means, but I would becareful about where you run them. I was on public land so although my deer hunts were spoiled, there's no problem. But I have heard around the watering holes, of private land owners whose land is adjacent to national forest complaining about bear dogs crossing their land and that they would take matter into their own hands if it happened again.
So before you shoot a dog in the woods, you better know for sure it is ferral and not someone's $1000 hunting dog, or escaped treasured pet.
Ferral cats are a no-brainer so long as there is no collar.
Driving to camp i saw a pack of dogs, all different kinds, next to the road. When i got to camp a game warden came in and asked if we had seen a pack of dogs. We said yes. He said keep the youngsters close to camp and shoot them if you see them again. I had a handgun with me and could have gotten a couple had i known the warden wanted them shot.
Another time a friend was shooting groundhogs with a bow and he was circled by a pack of wild dogs. He arrowed one and that gave him enough time to make it back to his truck as the others started chasing him.
Actually, I've only seen one feral cat in all the years I've been hunting, but a number of dogs have died for their actions while not wearing collars. Obviously, I'd never shoot what appeared to be somebody's prize Irish Setter, but if they don't think enough of their dogs to keep them up and/or put collars on them, I'll consider them feral.
Just to keep the record straight, I've returned dozens of lost dogs to their owners, but they were obviously hunting dogs or pets---if a dog spots me in the woods and comes trotting up wagging its tail and looking happy to see me, I'll do what I can to get it home.
I've been stalked by bobcats and coyotes while turkey hunting---killed one of the 'yotes, but the bobcat was too quick for me.
If you don't mind extra gear ... .22 (or air-rifle with suppressor built-in like they make 'em nowadays) with laser-sight for the cat. Red paint-balls for the dogs. Stings enough to get the dogs moving elsewhere, and sends back a nice signal on the dogs' coats to warn the owner of what could have really happened if they keep letting them run. It's the same gear I use at home for both species.
If the cat tangles with that rabbit the cat is going to end up on the sharp end of that stick. Check out the claws on the hind legs of those bunnies. And they know how to use them. If a young fox doesn't do it quite right he's going to get disemboweled. I don't think a stupid feral cat stands much of a chance.
I used to live on a ranch that seemed to be a dumping ground for unwanted dogs. Many of them were disposed of by means of a .30-30, .357 Magnum or 12 gauge. I have also kept and returned to their owners a lot of coon hounds, wolf hounds and a bird dog or three. It is fairly easy to tell the difference in a feral dog and some-one's lost hunting dog.
As to the feral cat, he would have been dead just as soon as I could have got a sight picture. Feral cats do more damage to song birds, game birds, and small mammals than any other predator. Also, feral cats multiply very fast.
Honk-Honk, you are very ill informed about the cat and the rabbit. As usual.
Ontario, I did not see anything wrong with your comment. I can not understand why someone on this site would give you a minus one. This is your opinion and your entitled to it. I am giving you a plus one just to remove the minus.
Whoever has an axe to grind, will you please grow up or take it elsewhere.
SSS comes to mind.
I think I'll keep my opinion to myself this time, I learned my lesson from the last one a few years back lol
Bio - Are you from NC,,,, I allways thought SSS was a local phrase? I whole heartedly agree with it though
Post an Answer
If they are for sure feral I would remove them from this earth. Feral cats are a huge problem where I live.
Just this past season in my T-stand, I had a Small Buck flowing a Doe with a Coyote flowing Them! I put a TAP on the Yote made Him Grave yard dead! Two Hours later I put the buck in my truck. The only Cats we have are Bob or Panthers on my lease.
You don't really want to know, you wouldn't like the answer.
The cat would be a goner. I would have a hard time letting an arrow fly on a dog. I have had them come into my turkey dekes a few times.
Good night to puss-n-boots. The dogs? That's another deal altogether. During NY's first youth deer hunt, my son and I saw two dogs (reddish pit-bull like, collared and with bandanas)cross the dirt road we were taking to our spot. Later, we saw one doe flying by us with one dog about 30 yards behind, the other running in the distance on the other side of a hedgerow.Later, I told the farmer and he(an area where all other farms and property are close family to him) didn't know whose dogs they belonged to.I wasn't armed and I wouldn't have shot then anyway, with more knowledge and under other circumstances, I just may. They didn't catch the doe that time, but I'll bet they have tasted venison before.I hate having to be put in that position with some dummy's pets running wild, shame to those dog owners.
No but I did eat a Turducken once. I guess the Turkey stopped short!
Not every dog in the woods is a lost hunting dog or somebody's pet. Some dogs are dumped on the road side by their owners who no longer want them. These same abandon dogs will either starve to death or they will run in dog packs killing deer or any other wildlife to eat. Wild dogs and feral cats don't belong in the woods, period.
I agree with Greg.
Shoot to kill! I have wild dogs on the property I lease. Rule is, shoot them on sight!
I would hesitate to shoot a dog with a collar, but feral cats would be safe only if a nice buck had my attention.
Driving to camp i saw a pack of dogs, all different kinds, next to the road. When i got to camp a game warden came in and asked if we had seen a pack of dogs. We said yes. He said keep the youngsters close to camp and shoot them if you see them again. I had a handgun with me and could have gotten a couple had i known the warden wanted them shot.
Another time a friend was shooting groundhogs with a bow and he was circled by a pack of wild dogs. He arrowed one and that gave him enough time to make it back to his truck as the others started chasing him.
Actually, I've only seen one feral cat in all the years I've been hunting, but a number of dogs have died for their actions while not wearing collars. Obviously, I'd never shoot what appeared to be somebody's prize Irish Setter, but if they don't think enough of their dogs to keep them up and/or put collars on them, I'll consider them feral.
Just to keep the record straight, I've returned dozens of lost dogs to their owners, but they were obviously hunting dogs or pets---if a dog spots me in the woods and comes trotting up wagging its tail and looking happy to see me, I'll do what I can to get it home.
I've been stalked by bobcats and coyotes while turkey hunting---killed one of the 'yotes, but the bobcat was too quick for me.
If you don't mind extra gear ... .22 (or air-rifle with suppressor built-in like they make 'em nowadays) with laser-sight for the cat. Red paint-balls for the dogs. Stings enough to get the dogs moving elsewhere, and sends back a nice signal on the dogs' coats to warn the owner of what could have really happened if they keep letting them run. It's the same gear I use at home for both species.
If the cat tangles with that rabbit the cat is going to end up on the sharp end of that stick. Check out the claws on the hind legs of those bunnies. And they know how to use them. If a young fox doesn't do it quite right he's going to get disemboweled. I don't think a stupid feral cat stands much of a chance.
I used to live on a ranch that seemed to be a dumping ground for unwanted dogs. Many of them were disposed of by means of a .30-30, .357 Magnum or 12 gauge. I have also kept and returned to their owners a lot of coon hounds, wolf hounds and a bird dog or three. It is fairly easy to tell the difference in a feral dog and some-one's lost hunting dog.
As to the feral cat, he would have been dead just as soon as I could have got a sight picture. Feral cats do more damage to song birds, game birds, and small mammals than any other predator. Also, feral cats multiply very fast.
Honk-Honk, you are very ill informed about the cat and the rabbit. As usual.
SSS comes to mind.
Don't really have a lot of them round here, how do you tell the difference between them and barn cats?
I will plead the 5th.
I would shoot the Feral cat but be hesitant about shooting the wild dogs.Many times while squirrel hunting hawks would always soar over the tree tops screeching and one time a hawk almost got a squirrel but the squirrel escaped. Anyway those hawks ruined our chances of getting a squirrel for that hunting trip.
Bear hunters run their dogs loose across southwest Virginia and West Virginia during the season. While I was in my deer stand I have add a couple bears running by, near exhaustion, and a few minutes later the pack of hounds in pursuit.
If hunting with dogs makes you happy, by all means, but I would becareful about where you run them. I was on public land so although my deer hunts were spoiled, there's no problem. But I have heard around the watering holes, of private land owners whose land is adjacent to national forest complaining about bear dogs crossing their land and that they would take matter into their own hands if it happened again.
So before you shoot a dog in the woods, you better know for sure it is ferral and not someone's $1000 hunting dog, or escaped treasured pet.
Ferral cats are a no-brainer so long as there is no collar.
Ontario, I did not see anything wrong with your comment. I can not understand why someone on this site would give you a minus one. This is your opinion and your entitled to it. I am giving you a plus one just to remove the minus.
Whoever has an axe to grind, will you please grow up or take it elsewhere.
I think I'll keep my opinion to myself this time, I learned my lesson from the last one a few years back lol
Bio - Are you from NC,,,, I allways thought SSS was a local phrase? I whole heartedly agree with it though
Post an Answer