Run in with wild dogs

[Press]

So my mate and I had a bit of an experience yesterday...

He has a property north of Melbourne where he keeps cows and sheep, and we normally shoot rabbits and foxes.

We'd camped out after a day of shooting and had set up tent in the nook of a small hill to shelter us from the wind. In the morning we heard some muted growls from the other side of the hill and went to check it out and found 3 feral dogs in a stand off with one of this cows about 20 meters away.

He's never seen dogs on his property before so we weren't expecting them at all. He had his rifle slung over his back just so he didn't leave it unattended but had no ammo, luckily I had mine and a magazine handy because when the dogs saw us they went off the cow and turned their attention towards us.

We had an unspoken moment of panic between us as we weren't sure if a shot this close might shock them into having a go at us. Taking the remaining 2 out of 3 sprinting dogs down as they close the 20 metres between us with a bolt action isn't something I'd like to test my luck over...

After a minute it didn't look like they were backing down so I shot the first of the three and luckily the other two legged it.

Scary couple of minutes though... He's very happy that they came across a cow first that had some size to intimidate with too, and not some of sheep.

Just something for anyone with a property in north VIC to keep in mind.

[Hercl]

I tell ya, we have a moments panic between us as we weren't sure if a shot this close might shock them into having a go at us. Taking a 2/3 sprinting dogs down in 20 metres with a bolt action isn't something I'd like to test my luck over...

Rough story mate

Glad to hear it worked out. They can be amazingly aggressive some of those feral dogs.

You'd think something the size of a cow would be reasonably proof against dogs, but there was a farmer a while ago who had a group of of alpacas who were there for stock protection killed by wild dogs. You never know

[Hercl]

After thought... Good excuse to buy yourself a sweet lever action now

[steyroy]

After thought... Good excuse to buy yourself a sweet lever action now

Way to find the silver lining

[Harts]

I tell ya, we have a moments panic between us as we weren't sure if a shot this close might shock them into having a go at us. Taking a 2/3 sprinting dogs down in 20 metres with a bolt action isn't something I'd like to test my luck over...

I can imagine the adrenaline pumping there

[AusC]

We'd camped out after a day of shooting and had set up tent in the nook of a small hill to shelter us from the wind. In the morning we heard some muted growls from the other side of the hill and went to check it out and found 3 feral dogs in a stand off with one of this cows about 20 meters away.

He's never seen dogs on his property before so we weren't expecting them at all. He had his rifle slung over his back just so he didn't leave it unattended but had no ammo, luckily I had mine and a magazine handy because when the dogs saw us they went off the cow and turned their attention towards us.

Good outcome.

Give your mate a slap though for not taking ammo with him to the "mystery growls" on the other side of the hill

[brisb]

Give your mate a slap though for not taking ammo with him to the "mystery growls" on the other side of the hill

Damn right. I'd have been s**ting myself

[mel]

Glad you are both ok!

[Press]

Glad you are both ok!

We are, thanks.

Not ashamed to say I was s**ting myself at the time though. Ha.

[mel]

I can imagine!! I don't think I would of waited that long to start shooting!! Lol

[Klem]

I can imagine!! I don't think I would of waited that long to start shooting!! Lol

No kidding. I'd have been straight at it too.

[Humir]

I wonder if many people have run ins when hunting wild dogs?

Not my area of expertise, but I suppose it's safe to say a shot will send them running most times? If you came across a large pack they might be bold enough to attack after a shot is fired though?

[Hardcast]

A mate has a large property up in The Flinders and during the Drought several years back, they were alerted to wild dogs by some campers
who were walking the Heysen trail and staying over night in the cabins provided.
They had heard dogs calling all through the night and had actually seen a pair outside the cabin early one morning.
Anyway the owner soon realised he had a major problem when he started loosing more and more sheep.
As he said, in the old days there were 16 people working this Station, always out and about on horseback or motor bikes.
Now there's me and the wife and so the dogs don't see anyone for months on end, if ever.

It turns out that they are a bit niave (the dogs) and at this stage will come to a fox whistle, as he found out one morning.
A pair, and three pups came up close enough to shoot with a Shotgun, (pump) which he did, leaving only one pup to dispatch later.

He hasn't had a problem with them being aggressive at this stage, but are getting smarter having been shot at quite a bit.
He has seen small packs of up to 6 dogs. This is the problem with wild dogs, they don't necessarily leave home like other wild animals, and don't
hunt alone like a fox or Dingo, even though there may be a pair of foxes working the same area, they don't often stay close together.

I've been up there several times now and believe me there are some large, beautifull animals there at the moment.
Seriously, cross bred what appeared to be a Rotty or Mastiff / Husky. Blue and white longish hair with a pug nose and a big chest, probably 40 + klgs.
Another one was tall like a Wolf hound, but a really goldy colour like a Lab.


Just saying.

[inspector]

I'm sure there are some fine specimens of dog out there.

When your in a situation like Press was in though, I'm thinking it's tough to appreciate when they are 40kg of aggressive teeth...