Feral dog question

[flockbuster]

A couple of years ago there was a big dog fighting ring busted just up the road from our hunting club. Apparently a bunch of dogs were turned loose as the bust was happening. Now it's pretty common to see dogs that are at least part pit running around the club.

I've never seen one be aggressive but I wonder what effect they have on the wildlife particularly the deer and turkeys. Most of them are on the smaller size and they are usually in small groups of two or three.
The landowner also has cows and horses in a pasture on the edge of the club but I've never seen them bothering the livestock.
I've caught several while trapping and the majority of them seem well fed but don't have collars so I'm guessing they are coming from the neighbors but I don't know that for sure.

My question is, what effect do they have on the deer and turkey population if any? Any insights?

I've been told to dispose of them by the landowner but I just can't make myself shoot a dog If they aren't hurting anything.

[murraywader]

We have the same problem and they are 100% running deer on ours, all have a little pit in them.

[Catdaddy]

They will catch and kill a bunch of fawns while most deer hunters are fishing or playing golf. It's year round for them.

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[3 1/2" MAGUM]

They will catch and kill a bunch of fawns while most deer hunters are fishing or playing golf. It's year round for them.

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This and will do it for the fun of it.

[Palmetto Bug]

It would surprise me if these were dogs from the bust that lived completely in the wild for a couple years. Heartworms, at least in the Lowcountry, are almost guaranteed for untreated dogs. Cars and trucks would get the rest. I would bet that there are still dog fight assholes in the area that continue to abandon dogs.

It would be hard for me to shoot them too. I don't enjoy shooting coyotes because they are so dog-like.

[Southernduck]

I have been watching the same dogs for years around Bowman that have never seen a wormer. Dogs in the wild are pretty resilient to everything except mange, cars and bullets.

[ccleroy]

Feral dogs are 10x worse than coyotes.

[Swift Strike]

Fat feral dogs are eating something .

All I got to say is this ....... Bang !!

[Gourmet Gobbler]

A bullet is more merciful than heart worms or starvation. I have to admit, I have given many a pass.

[MolliesMaster]

Doesn't sound like they are starving.

[acebasinman]

We have the same issue in Orangeburg county. Most of the dogs look like they have some pit in them and are most concentrated on the corner of the farm bordering a small trailer park. Mostly no collars and they haul ass if you run across them. We have found several deer that appeared to have been killed by dogs, one of which was a doe with two grown fawns ripped out of her. We put a trail cam on one dead doe and 9 different dogs fed on her. I've caught two trying to catch coyotes and released them both. One of them really wanted to bite me; the other wagged it's tail when I pulled up. I hate them but I don't want to lose any sleep at night.

[BugBuster]

You are better off without them.

[ShortMagFan]

SSS

[Calibogue]

Don't think some of them don't have it in them to jump on a hunter either. We have had it happen on our place.

[centurian]

Don't think some of them don't have it in them to jump on a hunter either. We have had it happen on our place.

Had it happen twice to me. I would never approach a strange dog in the woods.

[Dog Man]

A couple of years ago there was a big dog fighting ring busted just up the road from our hunting club. Apparently a bunch of dogs were turned loose as the bust was happening. Now it's pretty common to see dogs that are at least part pit running around the club.

I've never seen one be aggressive but I wonder what effect they have on the wildlife particularly the deer and turkeys. Most of them are on the smaller size and they are usually in small groups of two or three.
The landowner also has cows and horses in a pasture on the edge of the club but I've never seen them bothering the livestock.
I've caught several while trapping and the majority of them seem well fed but don't have collars so I'm guessing they are coming from the neighbors but I don't know that for sure.

My question is, what effect do they have on the deer and turkey population if any? Any insights?

I've been told to dispose of them by the landowner but I just can't make myself shoot a dog If they aren't hurting anything.

They are a lot more destructive than chayotes. Silent killers.

[Glenn]

So we're good to shoot trespassing dogs again?!?!

[flockbuster]

I don't shoot dogs but I was questioning that practice when I started this conversation. When I saw the judgement against the knucklehead that shot the deer dog, I decided to continue to let them go when I caught one. I could just see some asshole saying that skin and bones cur dog I just shot was his prize million dollar squirrel dog he's been searching for for months

[buckpro]

Feral dogs are 10x worse than coyotes.

Exactly, i'd take 10 coyotes over 2 dogs running around.

Don't think you won't have to legitimately defend yourself against wild dogs, been there got the t-shit.

[Model12]

As said........SSS