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You will need a hunting permit appropriate for the wildlife or exception when training dogs that are chasing wildlife. Only a pistol with blank ammunition may be used during daylight hours to train dogs during closed seasons.
Here are five things to be aware of before hunting in Missouri with dogs: 1. Off-Limits. Several animals may not be hunted with dogs at any time. These include deer, turkeys, and muskrats, as well as minks, river otters, and beavers.
You may hunt deer, hogs, mountain lions or raccoons with hounds, although it’s most likely you’ll hunt rabbits with beagles. Here’s what you need to know to have a safe, successful, enjoyable hunt with dogs.
Hunter orange is required during the entire black bear hunting season, even if you are bow hunting. Read all the hunter-orange requirements before hunting. Dogs. You may not use dogs or bring them with you while hunting black bears. However, leashed dogs under direct control of a handler may be used to track and recover wounded bears.
- Preparing For The Hunt
- Arriving at The Hunt Site
- During The Hunt with A Dog
- After The Hunt with Your Dog
1. Know your dog’s obedience level
…and be confident in it. A dog that is not immaculately trained for hunting work is not going to excel and will likely end up being a danger at the hunt site, notan assistant.
2. Watch your dog for signs of illness or injury
If your pet has a preexisting issue and you take him hunting anyway, it may hurt him further or impede his ability to perform at the hunt site. This is unlikely to result in a successful or trouble-free hunting experience.
3. Check the length of your dog’s nails
Many hunters completely ignore this, but it's as important as checking your car's oil before a long trip. Make sure that your canine's nails are not so long as to cause injury to your dog. If necessary, trim his nailsbefore taking him out on the hunt. Even gun dogs need to be properly groomed to be most effective.
13. Is the gear secure?
Ensure that your dog’s collar is securely around its neck. Check the fit of your dog’s hunting vest. Fit him with boots or paw protection if those things are needed based on the terrain (and they usually are). Check if you need any other supplies. Know where your first aid kit is located and make sure that it is easily accessible to anyone who may need it.
14. Do you have permission from the landowner?
State and federal laws aren't the only ones to keep in mind. If you're not on public property, then remember to check that you are on the land that you have been authorized to hunt on. Usually, it's fine, but just a few feet off, and you could be facing serious charges both for hunting and for letting your gun dog loose in the area.
15. It's not always about the hunt
Remind yourself that the first few hunts with your gun dog should always be focused on him and building a solid hunting foundation. This hunt is not about your “bagging” game but rather about training your dog as well as yourself on how to work with a gun dog. SIMILAR: Dog Hiking Gear Guide – 13 Items You Need
16. Have reasonable expectations
Keep in mind that this is your dog’s first hunt (and possibly yours with a gun dog, too), so his performance is not going to be perfect, and it’s unfair to expect it to be. Even if you trained your gun dog, you need to incorporate a lot of real-life experience and practice into the first hunt to reinforce what your dog should expect from a day on the job and to refine his skills in the field. Don’t be disappointed if your dog does not thrive on the hunt. Keep in mind that he has a personality...
17. Keep track of your dog
Always keep tabs on where your dog is at the hunt site. It is okay for him to be out of sight, but you must always have an idea of where the dog is. Make sure that other hunters in the area know where your dog is as well. This is for everybody's safety. Use GPS trackers (here are different costs) or other alternative solutions for this. Keeping track of your dog also means knowing his response time. The average response time of your dog, combined with the distance of the hunted animal, will l...
18. Remember to hydrate
Keep your dog hydrated at all times, but do not allow him to drink excessive amounts of water at any one time, or you risk bloating. The best way to do this is to have a special dog water bottlethat you can easily carry with you and hydrate your dog. You can also reinforce good behavior with small treats and have a small pouch for those, too.
20. Perform an after-hunt check
Check your dog over thoroughly for any signs of injury. Make sure to check between the toes, under the tail, in the armpits, and other “secreted” locations as well. Look for ticks and other parasites when checking for injury. If you find any ticks, remove themimmediately to reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases. Also, check how your dog did in the terrain. Pay attention to his behavior after the hunt, look at his fur, his eating habits, and so on. This is important after the first few hunts....
21. Give him a thorough brushing
Brush out your dog’s coat to remove any dirt or dust that can clog pores or otherwise cause skin irritation. This will also allow you to check formats or anything stuck in his coat. Finally, this is a great opportunity for the second round of tick check-ups.
22. Feed your Fido a celebratory dinner
Wait at least an hour before feeding your dog after returning from a hunt. This waiting period will help to reduce the chance of bloatingdue to eating after exertion. Ensure that he receives enough calories to replenish energy lost while out hunting. Provide your dog with any pet supplements or medications he might require after a day of hunting. This includes joint support supplements like specific fish oils for dogsand pain relief if needed. It may also include medications and anti-inflamma...
While hunting, all dogs, except those used by waterfowl and game bird hunters, must wear a collar with the owner’s full name and address, Conservation Number, or telephone number. For training dogs, wildlife that can be hunted with dogs may be chased, but not taken.
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A major part of managing Missouri’s wildlife is regulating what, how, where, and when we may hunt and trap. That’s where the Wild-life Code of Missouri comes in.
