Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum Running Deer Dogs

I hunted with guys that did it right. Was a lot of fun and often very productive. The outlaws ended the practice in my county.

Growing up in Chilton County, we had 2 choices, run dogs with the criminals or fight the dog running criminals.
Not all of them, but the great majority of dog runners were a bunch of reckless drunk poachers who thought they owned all the deer in the county. If you dared try to stop them farm equipment got vandalized, barns burned, cattle shot, gates destroyed, etc.
People who come to Chilton county and lease hunting land today have no idea how hard we fought to put a lid on the rampant organized crime syndicate of dog hunters.

We did it right, walked standers in, didn’t run the roads. Had some great dogs and learned to shoot a running/moving deer very well. Good times with family and friends. Being a driver (as a kid) makes you learn directions. Most grown men will get lost in the woods now without a phone.
I know our property better than most know theirs. I’ve walked every hill, hollow, creek bottom etc.

I remember the “good ‘ol days” of dog hunting. I’m glad they put a stop to that crap.

You were just on the wrong side of it.

Still lots of dog hunting around my area.

In my opinion, it was the best way to get kids started. My kids loved to go listen to the dogs. It was also not the end of the world if they they talked or moved around a little.

I got buddies that do it regularly still. They have bred down long running walkers with bird dogs where they don’t run all day. They literally jump multiple deer in a drive now.
I go when I can. I got two 1100s ready at the chance.

grew up dog hunting. killed my first deer in front of a dog with a 1100
I killed my first 50 deer with a shotgun in front of a dog. good times for sure. like an earlier post said I can remember more of those hunts than I do the stand hunts.

Late 90's I had a jam up black and tan and a pair of Walkers. Got the walkers as coon dogs that a buddy gave up on for running deer. My 1st hunt they jumped hot, then stopped, then hot, then stop. Come to find out they were Turkey dogs. LOL. They were litter mates and I named them Hen and Jake. They finally became great dogs but long winded as hell. They would not stop unless the race ended with a dead deer. Man we had some fun times and there was never a shortage of meat.

Walking the clearcut shaking the empty milk jug with some rocks in it.

I killed my first deer on hatchet creek hc in '92 running dogs. I don't really care to do it anymore but it was fun when I was a kid.

I keep a pack of hounds and take almost 2 months off during deer season to run them. We don't kill a bunch on the public land i hunt in FL, but we kill a few and have fun.

100% except that was the same story in every county. I'm sure there were a few good groups here or there with several thousand acres, but the vast majority in the 1990's and early 2000's were exactly as you describe. And they have only themselves to blame for it ending. I can't tell you how many times I heard the phrase "I can't control where the dogs go."

Started my Deer Hunting in the early 70's in Rabun Alabama running dogs with my kin folk. Does were off limits, but so much fun. Killed my first deer, a spike, with Mossberg bolt action .410. Great memories!

I remember an old guy on a drive in mrtlewood - prob 80 years old - could hardly get around. He was put on stand - shot up the world - shot five times. We go to get him - had 4 does laying around him 🤣🤣🤣

The bad groups were also around. I remember a neighboring club lining the road in the middle of our club with shotguns out. Of course they were "catching dogs". They didn't like it when I asked if they had to shoot the dog to catch it.

There were just as many stalk hunting clubs hunting over corn in that time period( prior to the tax). Nowadays the outlaws are shooting deer out of season, at night and on someone else's place. They did not quit hunting.

Outlaws gonna be outlaws. Yes, there are some who run dogs in unethical ways. There are plenty of people doing much worse without the use of a dog. I have problems with road hunters riding along my property and shooting deer and people walking in from the backside of the property. And Mexicans sitting in my stands hunting my place all year long. I guess we should ban stalk hunting for the whole county because of what a few are doing.

Nothing compared to the fun and excitement of a good dog hunt. A pack of hounds burning one up always got my blood pumping.

Grew up hunting a dog club in Clarke county, in the 80s and early 90s. Man you talk about fun, when a pack turns your way. Really miss it.