Hunting Fun

The Basic Retrieving Dog

What I call the basic retriever or deer dog function, is where a dog is walked at heel or very slightly ahead of the hunter, and is stopped whilst the gun takes the shot.

The dog is then used for the more difficult retrieves or for locating the game, but never for the simple retrieves. The reason for never using a retriever on a simple fetch is that it encourages the dog to charge in for every retrieve.

If you cannot control this, you are then in the situation where the dog is a liability and will lose you game when you come across two rabbits rather than the one. Quite often, when using an air-rifle, you will be able to kill one rabbit of a pair and then the second because the weapon is so quiet.

So the rule is, only send your dog for retrieves across water, in cover, or where a wounded rabbit is running. Retrieving a running rabbit should only be undertaken when a dog is well trained on cold game and real retrieves, and is steady to shot. Under other circumstances you will encourage running in again.

The Squirrel Dog

The second way of using a dog when shooting with an air-rifle, (or rifle or shotgun) is when hunting for squirrels. When pursuing these animals, you will often find that they will keep the trunk of the tree between yourself and them.

In this situation, the breed is immaterial, even a terrier will be sufficient to achieve the desired result. All you need is a dog that will respond to hand signals, and that you can send away from you. The squirrel will then tend to keep the trunk between itself and the dog, and present a straightforward shot. Just remember to stay still whilst the dog is doing its job.

After a while the dogs will get used to hunting in this way. Never send a gundog to retrieve a wounded squirrel, the fact that they bite so hard will ruin the dog’s mouth (ie they will become hard mouthed). If you are using a terrier though, let it run in – you are not training it as a gundog.

Rabbits, Pointers and Air Rifles

The third and last way of using a gundog with an air rifle, and one I particularly like, is to use a pointer to point rabbits in light cover. Ideally suited for the air rifle, as you will disturb very few rabbits and the dog can spot them much better than you can.

By: Ken Devonald

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Early settlers in America kept domestic pigs as pets, but provided no pens to house them in. As a result, with a free run of the land, the animals began to scatter and got more and more habituated to following their own instincts. They not only began damaging fences and crops, but also managed to kill livestock. And thus, the wild boar or wild hog was born! Hog hunting with dogs is therefore seen to be the only way to keep their growing population under control.

The entry of wild hogs caused the entry of diseases like triginosis and disease of the foot and mouth. These diseases can be transmitted to the livestock in surrounding areas.

A survey conducted in Florida revealed that wild hogs could fall prey to 45 kinds of parasitic as well as infectious diseases. Among them, eight of them could be transmitted to humans. Additionally, the four species of tics that fed on the wild boar could also be transferred to man.

The animals become sexually active at a very young age–six months. Two litters are given birth to annually, with at least six piglets in each one. Despite the mortality rate being high, the numbers refuse to come down!

Thus, the wild hog is responsible for spreading disease, destroying livestock and damaging the surrounding habitat. And that is why hog hunting with dogs is advocated.

A wild boar can be vicious and will stop at nothing to mortally wound something or someone it considers a threat, especially if it is a mother sow guarding her new litter in the brush. Hence, though seasoned hunters may prefer to go it alone with just the services of a guide, it is still advisable to give a thought to going hog hunting with dogs. Not that there is a guarantee that the dogs will be safe either!

Most hunters avoid the wild boar. They much prefer the milder duck, pheasants, quail and deer. It is only those who are hungering for unique experiences, who come forward to go hog hunting with dogs. For them, it has all the markings of a memorable adventure!

Coming to the qualities expected in this type of dog, it has to be very tough. The enemy is extremely intelligent and ferocious. So the dog has to possess an equal amount of shrewdness and smartness to outwit the boar. A keen sense of smell is essential. By and large, the hunter has to go hog hunting with dogs that are able to stand up to anything and everything without fear. Also, give a thought to the type of environment to be provided for these dogs after a hunt.

Some of the breeds chosen for hog hunting with dogs are–pit bull terriers, Irish Wolfhounds, Blackmouth Cur, Jack Russell terriers, pit bull mixes, hounds, German short-haired pointers and bulldogs.

In conclusion, the Appalachians have an ample supply of food, adequate water supply and can provide excellent cover for the wild hogs. This is therefore the area where the majority of wild hogs love to stay! If the need arises to diminish their population in this region, there is always hog hunting with dogs!

By: Abhishek Agarwal

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