Roaming Dogs

Over the past few weeks we have had a problem with roaming dogs chasing the livestock, horses and calf. It started out as coyotes in the back pasture doing the chasing, but no shots were taken. Then I looked out last week and saw the coyote coming out of the woods in pursuit of the calf. The .308 with special varmit load (.55gr) was put into action. Just as I was about to dispatch the coyote, with pressure on the trigger I thought something wasn't right. I took the tension off the trigger and clapped my hands. With that the animal stopped and looked directly at me. Using the scope I could see this was a dog with coloring like a coyote. I fired a shot near the creature and it took off running. However that night and the next day they were back chasing the critters. By now there were several calls to the Animal Control and local Game Warden. Then I got a call from the ACO that two dogs matching my discription had attacke a lady in her driveway on the next road over. Then an hour later there was a report of two dead dogs on another road. Upon investigation by the ACO, it appears the dogs were at the end of a driveway. The ACO knocked on the door and the person claimed responsibiilty for the dogs - this person had been warned on at least two occasions regarding the dogs. In fact a few months earlier they had bitten another resident.

So I thought all was taken care of, that is until Sunday when the two dogs were back chasing the livestock. Monday morning they were back again, this time on fresh snow. More calls to the ACO. I put the gear together, including a shotgun, and started a track. I finaly caught up with the dogs, an older dog that had all it could to to walk and a mixed shepard. They would stop, but would not let me near them. I went door to door on Rt 180, Clewely Rd, Route 9, Mill Lane and Molly Road attempting to locate the owner. I had several folks tell me the dogs had been around for a while and were chasing deer and pets. I got back home upset that I could not find the owners, no collars on the dogs could be seen. Then the phone rang, it was a person on Rt 9 about a mile away reporting that she was out with her dog on a leash when suddenly these two dogs came out of the woods and started chasing her. They followed her back home, her husband went after the dogs, but they took off. Are these dropped off dogs or a person that goes to work and lets them run free. What ever is the case it is sad that they will get hit by a car or destroyed for something that the owners are responsible for. But damage to people or to livestock can not be allowed to continue. In fact it is clear from the tracks the dogs have been visiting the local deer yard, however I could not find any blood or injured deer at this time.

Road Conditions

Depending on your location you got between 4 to 8 inches of snow yesterday. Driving the back roads this morning, or at least attempting to drive said, one finds that frost is coming out and we are coming into mud season. Trout streams are looking good and many are ice free. Most beaver sets are pulled by now, but the smart trapper knows pelts are prime and water is open for channel sets and a good chance to get a few beaver, especially the big ones searching for fresh twigs. Most of the roads we travel in search of trout or coyotes belong to other landowners, extereme caution should be used when traveling, no landowner likes find deep ruts across their roads. Please be respectful