For centuries, humans have relied on dogs as their trusted companions in the art of hunting. In fact, even the first President of the United States, George Washington, had a pack of hounds specifically bred for the purpose of hunting foxes.
In the present day, the act of hunting deer with dogs has garnered a more complex reputation. The use of dogs in pursuit of whitetail deer, the predominant deer species in North America, is permitted in just nine states, with Mississippi being among them.
For years, there has been a longstanding conflict between hunters and private property owners regarding dog-deer hunting. This practice has led to landowners expressing their concerns about hunting dogs trespassing onto their property and causing disturbances.
Although hunters utilize dogs for various types of game, dog-deer hunting specifically covers a larger expanse of land. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks confirms that complaints regarding this issue are received on an annual basis.
In May, there was a dispute that the state Supreme Court addressed. The Dickersons, a couple of landowners in Prentiss County, filed a lawsuit against the Allens, a group of dog-deer hunters who lived nearby. The Dickersons had been complaining to the local sheriff for years about the Allens’ dogs trespassing on their land. The Dickersons used this land for their own “still” hunting purposes.
The Allens were prohibited from allowing their dogs onto the Dickersons’ land by a lower court injunction, a decision that was subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court earlier this year.
Judge Leslie King, in his opinion, highlighted the clash between two longstanding but conflicting interests in this case: the right to peaceful enjoyment of one’s property and the right to engage in hunting and wildlife harvesting.
According to Greg Beard, the attorney representing the Dickersons, this is the first instance in the state where a hunting dog has been deemed a nuisance. Although Beard believes that this case has established a precedent, he also asserts that there is still a regulatory gap when it comes to dog-deer hunting.
“The Dickersons had to take matters into their own hands because there was no other solution,” Beard explained to Mississippi Today. “Legally speaking, the Allens were not breaking any criminal laws. As long as they remained on the public road, their dogs couldn’t be considered trespassing… I believe there is some flexibility for dog runners where obtaining an injunction against them would be unlikely unless their actions became a recurring problem.”
According to hunters in Mississippi, including Preston Sullivan, dog-deer hunting can often prove to be a nuisance.
“We also engage in hunting activities,” Sullivan stated. “However, we firmly believe that property rights should be given higher priority than hunting rights.”
In 2009, Sullivan took the initiative to establish the Rural Property Rights Association of Mississippi. The main objective of this organization was to raise awareness about the sport and advocate for a permit system that would hold hunters accountable if their dogs wandered onto someone else’s property.
Their efforts proved fruitful when they successfully lobbied for the implementation of a permit system in the Homochitto National Forest in 2011. However, despite their achievements in this specific area, Sullivan’s mission has yet to be fully realized throughout the rest of the state.
Lawmakers have made little progress in recent years, including in the 2024 session, when it comes to addressing the issue.
According to the hunter, there is a loophole in the law that allows dogs to enter another person’s property without any consequences, while the hunter himself is not legally allowed to do so. He believes that there should be consequences for dogs trespassing on private property, just as there would be for humans.
According to David Smith, the president of the Mississippi Hunting Dog Association, Sullivan and other critics are misunderstanding dog-deer hunting. Smith argues that hunters are generally responsible and take precautions to ensure that their dogs do not trespass onto private property.
Modern dog collars are equipped with GPS tracking, allowing hunters to keep track of their dogs. In case the dog goes too far, the hunter has the option to send a shock or vibration to redirect the dog’s attention.
According to Smith, dogs may occasionally misbehave, but it is a rare occurrence. He estimates that the collars are effective in managing their behavior about 90% of the time.
Smith believes that it would be unfair to penalize hunters if they happen to be on a large piece of land where dog-deer hunting is permitted, and their dog accidentally wanders onto someone else’s property. In his view, private landowners should contemplate creating designated areas where hunters can safely halt their dogs.
“It’s absolutely absurd,” Smith exclaimed, frustrated by the laws surrounding hunting in a vast 280,000-acre national forest. He couldn’t fathom the fact that if a dog happened to wander onto his five-acre property, he would be slapped with a fine. “I mean, seriously? I purchase my own land, and now I have to pay for the presence of a dog? It’s just ludicrous.”
According to a statement provided to Mississippi Today via email, MDWFP acknowledges the limited measures it can take to prevent hunters from allowing their dogs to trespass on private property. The agency explains that they can only issue a citation if they witness the activity taking place.
According to the agency, one of the factors contributing to the problem is the alteration of land use in recent years.
According to MDWFP, the availability of large undeveloped agricultural or forest lands is diminishing. They emphasized that dogs, when chasing a deer, are not concerned about their proximity to someone’s house. Their main focus is staying on the scent.
However, homeowners tend to feel uneasy when they hear gunshots or witness a pack of hounds chasing deer. The loss of wide open spaces and the freedom to roam without restrictions are unfortunate consequences of societal changes.