Yeah thats a tough one. I wonder though. You said the property is 250 acres right? How much of this do they (dogs and owners) actually trample through on a daily basis? I hunt my bro-in-laws place and he has dogs. Its only 47 acres. The first month or so I would chain them up so they would not happen to walk by my stand while I am hunting. I got weary of doing that every morning. Yes I beleive my deer sightings are down a little because of the dogs but I still continue to see deer. I know where the dogs like to run and have adjusted my hunting to places they do not like to run, hang out, etc. I hunt the outskirts of his land on the side the dogs usually do not run.
I am not saying dogs are fine!!! I think it stinks and especially runs mature deer off but however with you having a bigger area to hunt maybe you can find several hotspots that the dogs do not use. Just an idea. Hopefully you can work that out. Nothing makes me madder than sitting in a stand and having a dog come trotin by to run off some deer. Good luck and welcome to the site.  |