Dog Training

[kurzhaar]

Is there any talk of making the WMA's more open to dog training?

Being in the process of trying to get a training group going here in KY, one of the barriers we are facing is finding suitable training grounds. With almost all WMA's off limits for most of the non-hunting season it is tough. I think it would be great if there could be designated dog training areas on some of the WMA's.

[CanisMajor]

Travis,

A good letter can work wonders if you get it into the hands of the right individual. Here is a letter I wrote in 2001 when I was living in Ohio. In very short order, it resulted in the establishment of one of the nicest public retriever training grounds in northwest Ohio. (DOW = Division of Wildlife)

"Dear Mr. _____________,

I live in Defiance County, very close to Oxbow Lake Wildlife Area. I am a hunter education instructor, and I am a hunter who enjoys bird hunting. I have a Golden Retriever who I hunt with, or should I say, allows me to hunt with him. I strongly believe that a trained dog is the best conservation tool a bird hunter can have. As a conservation tool, a trained dog is a great asset to the DOW and its goals in the area of wildlife management.

A hunter's tools, whether it be a shotgun or a dog, are only as good as training and practice will allow. I can take my shotgun and practice at the Defiance County conservation club, or at the hand trap range at Oxbow Lake WLA. Both of these locations are just minutes away from central Defiance County. However, when it comes to dog training, I have to travel all the way to northwest Williams County, to Lake La Su An WLA, close to an hour away.

Yes, I know that there is a "Dog Training Area" designated at Oxbow Lake, but if you have ever seen it, you realize that this area is a small, flat mowed grass field that also doubles as the hand trap range. Due to its short grass height and small size, this area is only suitable for training puppies and that only if nobody is using the range. There is no water available for retriever training.

What is needed in Defiance County is a real dog training area with a variety of terrain, ground cover and water. In my opinion, the area around Little Oxbow Lake would work well for this purpose. I would like to propose setting aside such an area at Oxbow Lake WLA as a dedicated dog training area, available to all sportsmen on a year-round basis.

With plenty of high quality training, our fair dogs can become good, and our good dogs can become excellent. Excellent hunting dogs will reduce game loss and will assist the DOW in setting accurate seasons and bag limits. Excellent dogs will also enhance all hunter's experiences, since they will increase the likelihood of bringing shot game to bag, thereby leaving more game for all hunters.

There are many of us who want to be good, ethical hunters, and we see our dogs as an important partner in this effort. I, and many people I know, would greatly appreciate it if the DOW would seriously consider this request for a realistic, year-round dog training area in Defiance County. I would be more than willing to lend whatever support I can in this effort, whether it be through advice, physical labor, or in other ways.

I can be reached via telephone at _______________ weekdays after 4:30. I am home most weekends. I can be reached via email at _________________. Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you and discussing this proposal."

[kurzhaar]

Great advice, and thank you for the sample letter.