Something I've never done before

[Machias]

Here in Virginia they run deer with dogs.  I've never done it before, but tomorrow I'll be attending a dog hunt for deer.  I'll take some photos and let you guys know what it's like.

[h20hunter]

I'll bet you a $1 it is awesome....look forward to the pics...don't shoot a dog!

[JimmyHoffa]

Are you going to be a poster in a stand or one of the dog handlers?  Shotgun?  When they would do it in South Carolina, the dogs could cover a ton of ground in a short time.

[92xj]

It's fun to do a couple of times.  But not a lot for me.
I run dogs in South Carolina most ever Christmas with cousins.  Its fast action and over quick if you run a small block knowing the deer are in there. Hard to judge size while they pop out of the pine plantations and sprint across the roads.  Lead them a little, I hold right below the throat patch while they are full speed and drop them.  The best part is listening and watching the dogs work.  Good times. 

[Machias]

I'll be on stand, these guys don't use hounds they use bird dogs so the deer don't get blown out of the countryside, at least that's the reason they told me.  It's on a little over 1500 acres, got some swamps, ag fields etc.  Should be an interesting day.  I've chased rabbits, coons, bobcats, lions and bears with dogs, but never deer.  It will be fun, but it's not really my cup of tea.  I am looking forward to experiencing it, partly because I've never done it and partly because it won't be too many more years and it will be outlawed.  The land out here is already so chopped up into little pieces it's got to cause lots of conflicts.  I'll be using my muzzleloader.

[deerhunter_98520]

Sounds like fun....are you going to video it? Or just pics? Video would be awsome...never heard a of anyone runnin dogs for deer

[Wacenturion]

When I was in the Air Force in Charleston S.C. back in the mid to late 60's I joined a club where every Saturday during the deer season we would show up at the property in the morning and sit on stands in the morning and afternoon while they ran the dogs.  An absolute blast.  Never knew what was coming out the woods at ya...pigs, turkeys, deer, whatever.  We all used shotguns and buckshot.  Stands were at a distance to avoid shooting someone else.

The limit in the lowlands was one deer a day per person back then....might still be the same.  The old guys would cook up a big pot of chicken and noodles or beef and noodles for lunch.  We would eat and stuff ourselves, then the old timers would take a nap, we young guys would go hunt doves for an hour of so before the afternoon drive.  Some fond memories of those hunts for sure.

Best piece of advice I can give you is ....stay on your stand and focus.  What would happen every week is somebody would get bored, walk down to talk to the closest guy on the adjacent stand and while talking would turn and watch deer go across right where he should have been.  Too funny.

Whatever deer were taken were butchered on site and put into the number of piles equaling the hunters there that day.  You always went home with venison.

Good luck....it's a lot of fun.  Wish I could join you.

[Machias]

 

Mostly just photos, but my camera does do a little video, not real high quality though.  I'll see what I can put together.

[deerhunter_98520]

Awsome...lookin forward to the pics

[quadrafire]

  I've chased rabbits, coons, bobcats, lions and bears with dogs, but never deer. 

And coming from the showme state you didn't add coyote to that list. That was big when I was a kid in the 70'S

Good luck on the hunt. Can't wait to hear about it 

[Machias]

I should have added fox, but nope never did run yotes.

[grundy53]

I'll bet you a $1 it is awesome....look forward to the pics...don't shoot a dog!

  I would love to try this.

[Machias]

Well I gotta tell you all it was a serious let down.  Beautiful day, blue skies, slight north wind, lower 40s.  Nice day out.  I get there at 0700 and we all gather at an old barn.  The land is leased from a Dr and it's about 1500 acres.  There are about 25 guys all total, about 10 dogs, all bird dogs.  It all went downhill from there.  I've had hounds that I broke off of deer that would have done a better job than these dogs.  I think I heard them open about 10 to 12 times all morning.  No races, no one saw even a single deer and the place is supposed to be swarming in deer.  I am supposed to go out a couple more times next week.  If it don't get any better (can't get much worse) my deer doggin days will be short lived.  Sorry no good photos or stories. 

[Machias]

I'll bet you a $1 it is awesome....look forward to the pics...don't shoot a dog!

Do you need me to send you my address?  You know, so you can send me a dollar. 

[quadrafire]

 
Do it at least one more time for us !!!!