Hunting
"To me, it would be just as easy to hunt without one [a dog]. I’ve never been a big dog person, and then once I got Ginny--and the way she hunts--it really adds a whole new element to the hunt… It’s just a fun way to hunt, to have her there.”
-Vermont Duck Hunter
Hunting is a popular pastime in the Northeast. The hunting season differs from state to state and is dependent on what animal is being hunted. Some popular game that dogs are used for during hunting season includes ducks, grouses, foxes, and rabbits. Hunters can use dogs that they either trained themselves or sent away to professional trainers. When a dog
Photo courtesy of Sean Teague
is sent off to a training facility, the owners are typically not recommended to visit throughout the training period, but instead come at the end to learn how to use the commands that the dog learned. Dogs are most commonly used to seek
game and retrieve the animal back to their owner. Most hunting dogs can be directed by their owner from a far distance using voice or sound commands. For example, saying "hup hup" or whistling twice tells some dogs to stop and move in the opposite direction. In a lot of cases, dogs are not necessary for
hunting. However, dogs are often preferred because they generally make the hunting process move faster and more efficiently. Plus, their owners enjoy having the companionship while their out in the woods or on the water.
“In the case of my dog, I’d say the primary benefits are that it gives me more opportunities to go out and go hunting, which I enjoy. I think it keeps you connected to the land and it keeps you connected to hunting in general. In my opinion, it’s something that we don’t want to lose as a part of our culture and as a part of our outdoor recreation.”
-Vermont Grouse Hunter
Photo courtesy of Craig
Fast Facts
Some hunting dogs have become important for people's day-to-day survival and recreational/exercise routine. BBC Wildlife Magazine states about 85% of hunting dogs out on a mission result in a kill. Since dogs have this high success rate of kills being made, the rate that which dogs have become helpful for this job is significant.
Hunting Dog Kill Success Rate
Nearly one million hunting licenses were bought in New England and New York in 2018, according to US Fish and Wildlife Service. This population includes people as young as 10 years old in select states. Although this age might seem shocking to some, the culture within many rural areas is defined by hunting.
License sales and age regulations
The use of hunting dogs began thousands of years ago. These dogs were the first type of "working dogs". Today, many different breeds are used depending on the game being hunted. Some typical breeds include Jack Russell Terrior, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and Irish Red White Setter. Each of these dogs has their own unique qualities.