Oh Man Oh Man Am I, er, STEAMED!

[troy2000]

On one level, I'm a strong believer in property rights. A man's house is his castle and all that. On another, I can understand how some of those dog hunters feel. Their dogs don't recognize property lines, what they're hunting doesn't either, and they just go with the flow.

I have a pair of beagles I'm trying to turn into good rabbit hounds, and as far as I know I'm the only guy within a hundred miles who's trying to do anything with dogs but birding. Yeah, it's frustrating. There aren't any other dogs around for mine to learn from.

But if I lived in an area where hunting with dogs was common and I had some land, I'd start making the rounds of shooting clubs, road houses, even churches. I'd join any club or range I could; I'd admire guns and dogs; I'd buy a few beers and play some pool; I'd toss a little in the collection plate. I'd do my best to make sure everyone with a dog knew me. With a little luck I'd wind up knowing most of the guys who were likely to come barging across my land after dark. And they'd be more likely to let me know beforehand, or at least acknowledge me when I called out to them.

I'd let most of them do it as long as they didn't get stupid, and maybe even join them now and then. And I might even get some support from them against the inevitable local idiots who try to ruin things for everyone.

[Seabeescotty]

T2K, you're alright! Got more'n little Okie in ya. Ya need to pack up the family and come visitin' when the weather gets better. Maybe we can get some ok. and ark. members together and give ya a right good time. Dogs don't bother us where Ilive, maybe 'cause the rocks hurt their tender tootsies. But I don't even shoot dogs that got into my garbage, I just made it dog proof. Got a soft spot in my heart for animals, even the ones I hunt. If I don't have a clean shot, I won't take it. Maybe I've learned some good stuff from my cousins out here. Scotty

[SPOCAHP ANAR]

Originally Posted by troy2000

On one level, I'm a strong believer in property rights. A man's house is his castle and all that. On another, I can understand how some of those dog hunters feel. Their dogs don't recognize property lines, what they're hunting doesn't either, and they just go with the flow.

I don't buy that excuse Troy.

If you don't own the land and you are on it without permission then you are tresspassing. No ifs, ands or buts. There are exceptions when you may cross a line or get a little lost by accident, but the plain truth of the matter is that those dog hunters know well enough before hand when they drop their dogs off that they are going to start at point A and end up somewhere around point B. Its no different then letting my dog run across the street to crap in the neighbor's yard.

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by SPOCAHP ANAR

I don't buy that excuse Troy.
If you don't own the land and you are on it without permission then you are tresspassing. No ifs, ands or buts. There are exceptions when you may cross a line or get a little lost by accident, but the plain truth of the matter is that those dog hunters know well enough before hand when they drop their dogs off that they are going to start at point A and end up somewhere around point B. Its no different then letting my dog run across the street to crap in the neighbor's yard.

I'm not "excusing" them, SA. I'm describing the way they are. There's a difference.

I wasn't born down South, but I've known a few of those old boys who run dogs. Some of them don't give a damn about property lines any more than their dogs do; they don't figure they're hurtin' anything just by leaving footprints across someone else's land; and you aren't going to retrain them. So you either get used to them or let them drive you crazy; put up a fence strong enough to discourage them; or try to get to know them and work with them a little.

Originally Posted by Seabeescotty

T2K, you're alright! Got more'n little Okie in ya. Ya need to pack up the family and come visitin' when the weather gets better. Maybe we can get some ok. and ark. members together and give ya a right good time. Dogs don't bother us where Ilive, maybe 'cause the rocks hurt their tender tootsies. But I don't even shoot dogs that got into my garbage, I just made it dog proof. Got a soft spot in my heart for animals, even the ones I hunt. If I don't have a clean shot, I won't take it. Maybe I've learned some good stuff from my cousins out here. Scotty

I have a lot of Okie in me, Scotty. Even though my people homesteaded out here over a hundred years ago, there's been a steady flow of Okies, Arkies and Missourians marrying into the clan. Matter of fact my Dad was born in Oklahoma, although he was brought back and raised here.

[SPOCAHP ANAR]

Originally Posted by troy2000

Some of them don't give a damn about property lines any more than their dogs do; they don't figure they're hurtin' anything just by leaving footprints across someone else's land; and you aren't going to retrain them.

You are right about that!

Troy I was referring to the mindset of the dog hunter who'll trespass on land to recover his dog or to catch game.

In NC the law used to be(not sure if it has changed) that the land had to be posted. If it wasn't posted it was free to hunt, however, I was always leary of doing that. Regardless of its posting status if I hadn't bothered to get permission to be there than I had no business out there as it was not my land.

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by SPOCAHP ANAR

You are right about that!
Troy I was referring to the mindset of the dog hunter who'll trespass on land to recover his dog or to catch game.
In NC the law used to be(not sure if it has changed) that the land had to be posted. If it wasn't posted it was free to hunt, however, I was always leary of doing that. Regardless of its posting status if I hadn't bothered to get permission to be there than I had no business out there as it was not my land.

In California, there's enough land to hunt on in most areas that you can stay off private land anyway. But I believe that technically, out here you're supposed to have the owner's permission in writing if you do hunt on private property.

[Seabeescotty]

Troy, my Dad was born in Elk City, my Grampa was born in Westville, about 35 miles south of me, and that's where my great-grands settled in 1896. I was born in Az. during the migration, and ended up in California, with no complaints. It used to be a great place to live. Now, I really feel the roots out here, and if I don't need to deal with folks, I just stay up here on the hill. People out here are real finicky about trespassers, so I just stay on my own land to hunt. I've already heard stories of shootings, taken with a grain of salt. They sure do like to story-tell around here, and in some ways I guess it rubs off. Except I try to keep my stories on the true side. Anyway, I try to work with the local law folks, and was pretty astonished when they told me to disable the car. I think I'll just try to get a picture, including the plate, and not take the law into my own hands. Got enough ghosts to carry without adding to the burden. You all come and see us sometime, we live on old Cherokee land, which suits me 'cause I'm part Cherokee. Good talking to you. Scotty

[ArkansasHunter]

I'll be there next friday Scotty can I bring Herbert too ??? LOL...A.H

[Seabeescotty]

AH, I'm gonna send you personal directions PM to get here from Ft. Smith, as I know where that is. If you can find that town, you can find my place! And don't be late, and don't forget the possum pie. My wife hasn't had a bite of that yet. Scotty

[ArkansasHunter]

LOL I'm at a loss for words can you believe it LOL....LOL
Thank You Scotty though I was kidding I know you meant it.
Maybe someday some of the members within a couple hundred miles can meet someday.
Some of the members here in Arkansas tossed it around not long ago about meeting maybe in Hot Springs, AR. But thats as far as that went.
Thanks feller and I'll be sure to have a Possom pie when I come and I'll bring yall some Armadilla Burgers too.
By the way do you know how to clean an Armadilla ?

[Seabeescotty]

I had a transplanted Texan offer to teach me, and I told him he could just take the ugly b*st*rd home with him! I have eaten some strange stuff in my life, but I had to finally put my foot down. I ain't eatin' nothing that's uglier than me!LMAO Scotty P.S. The directions are on the way. Anyone else want to come out, give a holler, and I'll send a map. This is too public for that sort of thing, so I'll PM it.

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by Seabeescotty

I had a transplanted Texan offer to teach me, and I told him he could just take the ugly b*st*rd home with him! I have eaten some strange stuff in my life, but I had to finally put my foot down. I ain't eatin' nothing that's uglier than me!LMAO Scotty P.S. The directions are on the way. Anyone else want to come out, give a holler, and I'll send a map. This is too public for that sort of thing, so I'll PM it.

Possums aren't pretty either, Scotty. And have you ever gotten a good whiff of one?

[ArkansasHunter]

Whats yall mean ? All you gotta do to clean an Armadillie is raise it's tail and wipe it's arse with a paper towel .
And a Possom only smells bad if they've been around road kill !!!

[Windwalker]

My Grandmother used to fix possum and sweet taters. Meat's a little greasy but not bad. Course there warn't no road kill for them to eat on those old wagon roads.

[Seabeescotty]

I stand corrected! I ain't got no paper towels to spare, the way we're overrun by them Texas tanks! And yes, I know what a possum smells like, had one for a pet 'til the b*st*rd bit me. I turned it loose, and let my Dad put it down, after we knew I didn't have hydrophobe! Hey, I hear armadilla tastes a bit like pork. I think I'll just stick to eatin' hog meat!LOL Scotty

[samuel]

Troy2000:If you are unwilling to get down on all fours and get your nose on the track and demonstrate to those dogs how to hunt rabbits dont tell us you are trying to teach those dogs.They sell heavy knee pads at walmart but you can go faster if you learn to keep your feet under you.Also I find knee pads wear out too fast. sam.

[Seabeescotty]

Sam, you know That ain't gonna happen! Heck, Troy's older than me, probably in better shape, but what you're suggesting is too much for senior young men!LMAO Scotty

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by samuel

Troy2000:If you are unwilling to get down on all fours and get your nose on the track and demonstrate to those dogs how to hunt rabbits dont tell us you are trying to teach those dogs.They sell heavy knee pads at walmart but you can go faster if you learn to keep your feet under you.Also I find knee pads wear out too fast. sam.

If they have to watch me to get the idea they're in big trouble, Sam. Somehow, I'm not as spry and ambitious as I used to be...I don't run over the hills that fast anymore on two feet, much less on all fours.

They're doin' pretty good for being mostly self-taught, though. They'll jump a rabbit on their own, and switch from sight hunting to tracking him with their noses when he gets ahead of them. They'll cast around until they find the trail again, if they get checked and lose him.

I'm not claiming they're experts, but they've figured out the basics. Now if I could figure out how to keep them on one rabbit to the bitter end, instead of switching onto a new every time they turn around, they'd actually be useful. Apparently the main thing they haven't learned yet is that they're doing it for me, instead of just for their own entertainment. I think that'll happen the first time they run one long enough to send him past me, and I make a big fuss over them after killing it.

[neophyte]

Chasing the hounds for a very long time has and is enjoyable.
Problems arise when the 'dog' can't read.

NC law now requires "have in your possession WRITTEN permission" from any landowner whom you and your dogs are on. ?$350.00 fine?. Now it's a little more vague about "no hunting' signs.

Recently "I" was told: NC you do not have to put up signs.
Seems right: when you refer back to "possession"

Hunting outside is coming to an end. Disappointing

Yes I ask permission, Man says No and NO it is
I don't get a burr up my behind, just go somewhere else.

[Seabeescotty]

Neophyte, you're a true southern gentleman! Getting to be a rare breed! Scotty