This hunting season, Maine saw 3 incidents where dogs where shot and hunters claimed they were coyotes. So, lets take a closer look, shall we?
All kinda look this same; in that ‘I-am-from-the-dog-family’ sort of way. The coloring is maybe, kinda close. More so with the shepard and the coyote. Their faces all resemble dogs and have pointy noses but you can tell the difference. The ears are clearly difference and just the posture of the animals are different. But still, three dogs this year were killed. 3!! Two were German Shepards and one was a Siberian Huskey. You can check out the stories about each shooting here, here and here.
I have never seen a coyote in the woods when I have been out hunting. Honestly, I am a little terrified of them, their group mentality and the way they sneak around. I also have a ridiculous imagination that allows me to make thing way more scary than they really are… but, anyways…
All of the hunters involved claimed that they thought the dogs were coyotes running around in the woods. All three hunters were decent enough shots to kill the animals and yet none of them were smart enough to make sure that what they were killing was a wild animal and not someone’s pet. It is hunters like this that give our sport a bad name with people who don’t like or under stand hunting.
I understand the excitement of having something coming through the woods, but you NEED to know what you are shooting at. As I have said before, I sit in my Sky Condo or tree seat. Dad walks. There have been 2 or 3 times that my Dad has snapped a branch that had me on alert and thinking “It’s either Dad or a deer” I would never shoot in the direction of the sound though because I could have shot Dad.
The comments posted with these articles blame both sides, the hunters and the owners. I do agree that is it the responsibility of the pet owners to ensure their pets are as safe as can be during the month of November and everyone in Maine should be aware of the huge hunting culture we have here and do their part. Know what you are shooting at and know that there are idiots in the woods with guns that will shoot at anything that moves.
I am so happy that I sit in a tree!
While I can't justify someone shooting a dog, I also think blame should be placed on the owner for letting their animals run free. I know where my dog is at ALL TIMES and during hunting season she is not allowed outside without her orange vest. Shame on the hunters for misidentifying their targets but shame on the dog owners who should take better care of their pets!