11/15/2025
🐾🎯 Hunting Season Safety: What Dog Owners Need to Know
It’s officially hunting season 🦌 which means increased noise, gunshots, traffic, wildlife movement, and excited dogs. Whether you hunt or simply live in a rural area, here are some important reminders to keep your dog safe this time of year:
1️⃣ Noise Sensitivity Matters
If your dog is sensitive to loud sounds or has never been desensitized to gunfire, please don’t bring them out into the field.
A startled or panicked dog can bolt, shut down, or become disoriented fast.
2️⃣ Gear Up for Safety
✔️ Wear blaze orange - even non-hunting dogs. Dawn and dusk make light-colored dogs nearly invisible.
✔️ Collar + up-to-date tags
✔️ Microchip info updated
✔️ Always carry a leash, even if your dog has great off-leash manners.
✔️ Consider a seatbelt harness or double-loop safety leash in the truck to secure your dog while driving between fields.
3️⃣ Don’t Rely on Tools Alone
Many hunters use e-collars - but no tool replaces:
• Reliable recall
• Solid training foundations
• Understanding your dog’s limits
If your dog doesn’t recall well, is easily overstimulated, or struggles to focus in new environments, keep safety first.
4️⃣ Increased Wildlife Movement = Increased Risk
Even if you’re not hunting, rural areas experience:
• More traffic
• More hunters in fields
• Wildlife running
• More scents and stimulation
Keep dogs close, visible, and supervised. 🦺
5️⃣ Processing Deer at Home? Expect Resource Guarding
It’s normal for dogs to guard high-value scents - especially wild game. Think of it like humans locking doors or holding onto their purse.
If your dog has even mild tendencies to guard food, bones, or high-value items, set them up for success:
• Keep them separate while processing
• Use gates, kennels, or controlled spaces
• Prevent fights before they happen
Resource guarding is natural - but avoid giving your dog access to something that will overwhelm their impulse control.
6️⃣ Above All: Keep Them Safe
Dogs can have a BLAST during hunting season... but safety, structure, and preparation matter.
Know your dog. Protect your dog. And set them up to succeed.
📸 Tex in his blaze orange sweater - the perfect little safety model.
