I got to interact with a wounded deer dog handler Wednesday. About mid-day I was outside at the grill and thought what I thought was a dog barking, down on the south part of my property. I hauled butt down there, shut off the engine and listened. Nothing. Then I decided to drive up the fence line going back, just to be sure. 10 seconds later I see a guy, older than me, climbing the fence to my side as I drove up. Sure enough he was a dog handler that had been called on a wounded deer. He said the deer was hauling azz and he didn't believe they'd catch up to him. They'd found blood, but it sounded like a belly graze to me (arrow ). He got in the truck and we proceeded to drive around, following his gps, to try to get to the dog. We finally got to my little tank and there was the dog, but no deer. The guy said he's glad I had that tank 'cause the dog woulda died without it. The dog apparently has suffered two heat strokes previously. Black-mouth cur. Cool dog.



We were talking and, after the dog had cooled off, I noticed he started trotting north! "They forgot to put the quit in that boy!" He did NOT come back to his master's call and we had to get back in the truck, drive to the center of the place and he was at the windmill with water troughs. 'Never saw hide 'nor hair of the buck. I drove him and the dog back next-door. 'Neat old codger. We had a good conversation.

Sorry but if some random dude with a dog was climbing my fence he’d been taken straight to the front gate to meet up with the GW. I’d gladly gave permission if they’d asked prior but it’s a no go asking for forgiveness rather than permission. People have no respect for fences and they need to learn the hard way,

I also would have preferred a call to ask, but know that the dog doesn’t know that fences mean stop. I appreciate the way you handled it.

I don't think I "caught" him climbing the fence, I think he decided to climb over when he saw me. I believe he was so worried about his dog that he was willing to risk meeting a pissed-off landowner rather than wait around for the neighbor to find my phone number. I get that. (The neighbor was supposedly trying, but who he knows doesn't know me. He owned his place before we owned ours but has never reached out. Other neighbors have.) He now has my phone number, and I have his, so there's absolutely no excuse for anybody traipsing around on someone else's property without at least a phone call or message. 'Not saying I won't ever discover this guy's kin on my property (), but I will, if and when it happens, have more evidence to conduct a lesson in the TEXAS definition of private property rights. Then, definitely, the Game Warden should be involved.

I completely understand what your saying and I pretty much agree with you but his dog should have been on a leash trailing a deer. He’s no different than a hog dogger letting it chase after the deer like that in my opinion however opinions vary.

My "deer dog" insisted on choosing a different career path...

He and the dog meant no harm to anyone, just trying to locate wounded game. People now get sooo bent out of shape if someone hangs a toe on their property. It sure ain't like it used to be.

Common sense and decency, or lack there of. Too many town people buying “ranches”. I don’t blame them for not liking the town life, but most have a different outlook on things.

100%

Just consider the possible liability for the land owner. That alone should be enough reason for you to keep people from "climbing over."
Plus, in NC any dog used to track a wounded deer must be kept on a leash.

Now, I have never said no to someone who came to me and asked permission.

Unfortunately, many deer hunters hate dogs that will run and track deer until they desperately need one.

I've worked with guys running black mouth curs after wounded deer, and I've run my setter after wounded deer. Those dogs' prey drive kick in, and they're gone as long as they're on the trail. They sure don't care about a fence. And if you leash them up you're not going to find a wounded deer that can still move. I'd just be generous with them and hope they can find the wounded animal.

Yeah...I've never heard of keeping a wounded deer dog on a leash. They're not gonna work out the trail that way.

Pretty common and mandated in a number of states. Its not the leash your taking your dog on a walk on, its a 50-100ft check cord.

That said, a short leash is an impediment but not something that will not let your dog work. I've had my dog on a short leash and she has done 1200yd tracks on moving animals so definitely not something that means you won't find the deer

All depends on the dog and training, I have seen and worked with some that were dang good working on a leash others not so much.

50'-100' cord wouldn't last 2 minutes in my country.

Creek I'm surprised you have not met your neighbor until then?

To me, that neighbor should have knocked on your door a long time ago and introduced himself especially since he has a deer tracking dog that does not recognize fence lines.
What if you were in your hunting blind and you saw that dog that you do not know and it is chasing a deer? If you shot it, which you would have every right to do, it would have been a tough way to meet your neighbor!

Last year we had a problem with dogs chasing deer, the mutual feeling by the all of the LO's in the area was to on site.

'Not the neighbor's dog. The neighbor apparently has to call this gentleman...a LOT; so much so that the dog handler/owner told me he wasn't coming back out anymore. The dog handler thanked me over and over for "getting him out of there." I better not say much more about it publicly.

Although I read your original comment, it did not sink in for I was still on my first cup of coffee Understand now!

Most problems involving dogs are a people problem, not a dog problem. Dog is just doing what comes natural to him. Dogs do get out sometimes and will go where their nose leads them. A dog that is continuously out is a people problem and those people should not own a dog. A cow that is continuously on the neighbor's land is not really a cow problem. The problem is the owner is not taking the proper precautions to keep the cow at home. Maybe beef up your fence or feed your cows a little better.

New fence. No cows. I didn't have a problem with the dog.

As stated, some people shouldn't have dogs, or cows...or children.

In this case, the neighbor has an arrow placement problem.

Both worth repeating. A tracking dog that sure enough knows its business and had the nose to go with it is something to behold.


A few comments on tracking dogs: I own two. You can work them on a leash but it severely hamstrings the dog. In rank cover the handler trying to keep up will repeatedly stymie the dog. The handler often pays in blood for trying. If you run your dog off leash you need a reliable recall.

I'm curious about the liability comment. Could you explain? A brief search turned up the following.

Key points about Texas property owner liability and trespassers:
Minimal duty of care:
Property owners owe the lowest level of care to trespassers, essentially only needing to avoid intentionally causing them harm.

No inspection required:
Unlike with invited guests, a property owner does not need to inspect their property for potential hazards that could injure a trespasser.

"Attractive nuisance" exception:
If a child is injured by a dangerous feature on a property that could entice them to trespass (like a pool), the owner may be held liable.

Gross negligence still applies:
Even with trespassers, a property owner cannot engage in gross negligence or willful conduct that causes harm.

Further:
The Texas Supreme Court made it clear in a 2014 case that trespassers who found themselves injured or even killed on a landowner’s property would have no cause for action against that property owner as long as said owner was not actively aggressive to the trespasser.

So...I'm guessing putting a round in the dirt in front of him would be considered "actively aggressive."