Dogs ... what to do during elk season?

[Vanish]

My wife and I really want to get a dog (or two). Its been almost 5 years since we had one, and we both really miss having them around. One of the concerns we have is, since we both elk hunt, what do we do with them?

What do those of you with dogs do with them during elk season?

[montanabrown]

i take mine to camp if were doing a base camp. hes kennel trained so its easy if your gone all day. if no base camp there's always family and friends to help.

[Vanish]

Thanks montanabrown. I'll consider that.

I'm surprised there aren't more dog owners around here!

[mtnmutt]

When I started hunting, my hearing dog (service dog) was still alive. She was used to being with me close to 24/7. It would have stressed her out more leaving her in camp.

For my non day hunts from home, I put her in a kennel. The vet told me they have no sense of time regarding days. The kennel still stressed her, but less than putting her in a cage at camp. They do well in cages with a cover because they are cave animals. They feel more safe in a cave like enclosure. While flying, she would wedge herself under the seat in front of me and she was a 50 lb dog.

I won't get another service dog until I give up hunting. I just can't deal with leaving one and kennels are very expensive.

As for as regular pet dog, I do not have any experience.

[Indian Summer]

It's a tough problem. They aren't like cats and need daily attention. I used to take them to my mothers but since she's not well that's not an option anymore. I have two 25 year old neighbors with a dog and 2 little kids. They'd watch them if I asked since they owe me a thousand favors but they're lucky if they remember to feed the kids and take the garbage out.

Kennels are expensive.

Not sure what I'm going to do either. I guess that's not the answer you were looking for.

[WapitiTalk1]

I just have little rat dogs (Boston Terrier, Mini Schnauzer, and my wife's pug mix). Have a fenced yard and a pet door and usually just ask a neighbor to come play with them a few times each day, refill food water, etc., if my wife and I are both gone for more than a day. I think they'd have a heart attack if we put em in a kennel for a week. I remember even having a Soldier from post come out and house sit years ago if again, both wife and I were gone for more than a day. Good luck on your game plan. I'm sure you'll figure somethingout.

[LckyTylr]

How well behaved is Fido . . . some labs are so well trained (notice I didn't say intelligent) that they will hold statue-still in a duck blind until a hunter commands a release. It would be really cool to take my dogs with me Elk hunting, but I'm not that much of a trainer and my dogs are pretty high strung. I'm lucky that my Wife doesn't want to Elk hunt with me (which kinda sucks), so she watches the dogs and my Son.

[Vanish]

Its a good question, but one I cannot answer yet, because we don't have Fido yet.

Its kind of a grey area in Colorado law, as far as I am aware. You cannot USE a dog to hunt elk, but nothing says you cannot have a dog with you elk hunting. I think it would come down to the warden's interpretation of whether simply having a dog with you while elk hunting is using the dog to elk hunt.

[>>>---WW---->]

We have a deal with the neighbors. When we are gone, they watch ours and when they are gone, we watch theirs.

[Migolito]

I have a Brittany. He's the most intelligent/trainable dog I've ever had or been around. He goes bird hunting and is my wilderness backpacking partner. I'd have no problem with taking him in the field while Elk hunting with my rifle or bow. It's a matter of training him. Think about service dogs and how incredibly well trained they are and the environment they work in (Battle, trains, cars, restaurants, zoos, etc). He's also kennel trained, however, leaving a dog in camp in a kennel without a human being there is not a good idea. Way too many things can and do happen.