Wiley E.
Thanks for your input. Utahtrapper and I have discussed this very issue. I don't consider my wiener dog indisposable. So, here is what I do when I am using my dog.
In North Dakota, it's legal to use two way radios to stay in contact with your hunting partner. My buddy and I have our headphones on and the rule is that we each call it when we are able to see the dog. (and, I'm a professional dog trainer so the dog is very trained to come when called or whistled). When the dog wanders over to my buddy, he simply tells me "i've got the dog." From that point on, he's calling the shots. If he can't see the dog, he tells me. If I can't see him either, the stand is over and we call the dog in.
When I'm hunting, my main concern is not killing coyotes but rather to have a good time. It wouldn't be a very good time to have my dog become lunch for a coyote. So, we call off the ocasional stand when we can't see the dog.
On the other hand, if we get coyotes that come in too hard, we don't let them close the distance too far before we begin to shout to stop them. And, in the rare event of a really aggressive coyote, (this has happend once) we both get up off the ground and charge the coyote yelling.
I never let my dog range out more than forty yards or so and the stands we make are in WIDE OPEN country so there is almost zero chance of a coyote sneaking in on us before we see it.
As a safety feature, I don't hunt with the dog at night. Too great of a chance of a coyote sneaking in without being seen. Another reason is those darned owls at night. I've had many of them come swinging in on me and I won't risk one of them hitting my dog either.
When I'm using my dog as a decoy, I honestly don't believe the coyote sees him as a dog. He sees him as a small critter that he can eat. I've hunted with John-Henry and have seen how the coyotes react to a real dog. They come in all fluffed up and pissed off. When they come in for this wiener dog, they come in with their salivary glads working. It's a hoot to watch.
I realize that there may come a day when all my best laid plans for my dog's safety fall apart. But, it's kind of like driving out to North Dakota hunting. I may have an accident one day but I'm not going to stop because there is a small amount of risk.
I hope that clears up some of those issues for those who have been considering using the wife's dog for "bait." I definately wouldn't take a dog out there that you couldn't control. And, i wouldn't hunt in areas where you don't have a full field of view in all directions for a long ways. (I don't use my dog here in Minnesota for that very reason.)
But, Wiley E. Thanks for bringing that up so I could clarify.
Randy
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Hunting the Red fox
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