Domestic dogs and deer habits

[steiny]

I leased my neighbors 40acres for this coming year.  I've hunted it for years, but wanted more control over what happens on the property to increase my odds of shooting a mature deer. 
I put in a nice food plot and trimmed and mowed is "fire" lanes.
Now that I have the lanes trimmed - I made it into a walking path for his wife and thier dogs.
I have asked him to keep her on the trails bordering the west side of the property (bordering a development and opposite of the deer activity and my food plot.
She's mad!  He doesnt' think the dogs affect the deer "coyotes are all over the place" he says.

What do you guys think?  Will the traffic affect the deer movement?
I already know the answer - just need to throw it out there for other points of view.

Thanks

[BiggA]

Not real sure here, but unless it is specified in your lease they cannot walks dogs on their property I think your SOL here.

[HD]

Depending on the frequency of travel by the dogs, it may effect the deer movements.
Just like any deer, fecal matter and urine from a K9 will change the pattern of deer.
Well used trails by wolves, yotes and dogs will be avoided.

[deadeye]

40  acres of undesturbed land near developements could be a great place to hunt and would hold deer.  The same place frequented by people walking dogs, not so much.

[proangler16]

To me it sounds like you need to renegotiate your lease contract.  Put the following in it, print it out and both parties need to sign and date it.
1. Lease Date Ranges with Leasee and Leasor and $$-ammount
2. If you can post property durring your lease?
3. If you can erect stands, cut trees down, build any stands etc..
4. Who's Insurance is liable for any hunting accidents, and or if somebody else trasspassing on your leased property including the owners gets hurt durring your lease period, who's insurance covers these accidents?

More can be added but these will get you started, if your leasing the property, you legally are renting the property from the owners and it's your land durring the lease period--, as far as the dogs go, a 40-acre parcel with yotes and dogs on it won't hold much deer but will frequent them from time to time.

Good Luck!

[beeker]

not sure how this would apply.. but I hear people mention it all the times as a excuse to not allow someone on their land. and since the issue of insurance came up here I thought I would point it out and you can determine how it would apply to a leasee.

one other point is to determine if you leased just the hunting rights or leased the land.


Landowner Liability (Minn. Stat. 604A.20-604.27)
An owner who gives written or oral permission for the use of the land
for recreational purposes without charge does not, by that action:
• extend any assurance that the land is safe for any purpose,
• confer upon the person the legal status of an invitee or licensee to
whom a duty of care is owed, or
• assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to the
person or property caused by an act or omission of the person.

[proangler16]

Nice find, all I know is that one good lawyer can get around anything especailly when John Doe's son (trasspassing by the way) crawls up into your deer stand and falls out of it and breaks his ???  Who's liable?  Land owner?, leasee, owner of the deer stand?  Most homeowners policies can add these ryders for cheap for the few months of hunting season.  Cheap Insurance?

[Go Big Red!]

Some good things to think about since I am considering leasing land for waterfowl hunting.

[Mayfly]

Deer do not enjoy being harassed while on their beds just like we don't. Simple as that 

[bowhunter73]

I did not even hunt a property last year for the same reason. Now the dogs are getting old and don’t travel around as much (farm dogs) I am seeing a lot more deer. But DAD still defends his dogs saying the deer don’t mind they get used to it. BS. When the dogs are dead I will get some good hunting on that property and not a day sooner

[BiggA]

not sure how this would apply.. but I hear people mention it all the times as a excuse to not allow someone on their land. and since the issue of insurance came up here I thought I would point it out and you can determine how it would apply to a leasee.

one other point is to determine if you leased just the hunting rights or leased the land.


Landowner Liability (Minn. Stat. 604A.20-604.27)
An owner who gives written or oral permission for the use of the land
for recreational purposes without charge does not, by that action:
• extend any assurance that the land is safe for any purpose,
• confer upon the person the legal status of an invitee or licensee to
whom a duty of care is owed, or
• assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to the
person or property caused by an act or omission of the person.

Notice the "without charge" phrasing in this statement. If you are leasing then  this may not apply as there is probably a charge.

[HUNTER2]

I talked to the DNR about a snowmobile trail that runs threw my land and he said if they go off the trail and get hurt I am not liable. He said it also pertains to hunting. He said there is a law that protects land owners.

[dakids]

I did not even hunt a property last year for the same reason. Now the dogs are getting old and don’t travel around as much (farm dogs) I am seeing a lot more deer. But DAD still defends his dogs saying the deer don’t mind they get used to it. BS. When the dogs are dead I will get some good hunting on that property and not a day sooner

When the dogs are dead will only mean that they will be replaced by new, younger dogs.

[Dotch]

I don't think there's any question that dogs mess with deer movement. The more important question might be have you upset them enough so that you're in danger of losing your lease? Keep in mind that unless it's specified and agreed upon in a signed lease, since they own it they can pretty much do whatever they darn well please when it comes to traipsing around on their own property, dogs included. Don't know who (I don't think I do anyway) you're dealing with but in general once you peeve people off especially a Mrs., good luck continuing the lease no matter how long you've been leasing it. Would keep your communication and diplomatic skills sharpened to the nth degree.

[steiny]

Definitely not pissing anyone one off and don't plan to.  I've hunted the parcel for a couple years know just by asking permission.
This year (knowing the landowner better) I opened the topic of lease and offered him some $.  This family needs all the help they can get and I want to have a peice of land that I can maintain for years to come.
I am on good terms with them, as I help them as much as possible (non-hunting related).  I am just going to see how the year goes and slowly approach the situation when times are right. 
It's a verbal lease that involved money, but nothing is drawn up.
I can always go back to hunting his land next year w/ no funds involved if I can't have more control.  That's why I gave him $ was for more control.

Thanks to everyones opinions - Happy Hunting!

[Dotch]

Thanks for clearing that up steiny. When you wrote "She's mad!" one might've concluded that there was a potential problem. Seeing the relationship of landowners and hunters from both sides of the fence personally, there is no substitute for good communication and understanding from both sides. Think it's great you're assisting them on the non-hunting related front. That never hurts.

[bowhunter73]

I did not even hunt a property last year for the same reason. Now the dogs are getting old and don’t travel around as much (farm dogs) I am seeing a lot more deer. But DAD still defends his dogs saying the deer don’t mind they get used to it. BS. When the dogs are dead I will get some good hunting on that property and not a day sooner

When the dogs are dead will only mean that they will be replaced by new, younger dogs.

all clear on any new dogs. one young one left and he is more of a house dog not a prob dog

[dakids]

Does house dog translate into ankle bitter?