Pack Dogs in Alberta

[sheephunterab]

We are just entering year three of a battle to have pack dogs legalized here in Alberta. We are gaining ground despite the government utilizing every bureaucratic trick to slow our progress. Some of the pack dog users on this messageboard have graciously sent letters of support and shared their experiences. This anecdotal evidence from current pack dog users is critical to our fight. If anyone would be so gracious as to share their experience and support I'd be very happy to pass your letters on to our Minister of Environment Sustainable Resource Development and to Alberta pack dog users. You can check out some of the letters of support we've received here http://outdoorquestblog.blogspot.ca/

[BiG Boar]

Why can't you can't use a pack of dogs to hunt cougars? What do they expect you to run it down? That's garbage, I'll be the first to write a letter telling them hunters will just be to tired to run down a cat.

[adriaticum]

Why can't you can't use a pack of dogs to hunt cougars? What do they expect you to run it down? That's garbage, I'll be the first to write a letter telling them hunters will just be to tired to run down a cat.

Pack dogs is about dogs used to carry backpacks.
I can't believe we have a law against that.
Although a horse or a mule could carry a lot more.
I would think that a well behaved dog would be invaluable while hunting to detect predators and alert especially at night.

[BiG Boar]

I'm pretty sure hounds are a pack animal.

[Moe.JKU]

Yes but not all of them wear backpacks with gear in them. I think pack dog is relating to dogs with backpacks on used as gear haulers.

[sheephunterab]

The pack dogs we are trying to have legalized are those that carry a pack on their backs. Cougar hounds are permitted in Alberta. Check out the link I posted and it will give you a better idea of what I'm talking about.

[1899]

I can't believe they have a ban on them...what is the reasoning?

[sheephunterab]

It's been that way since 1908....near as I can figure the law was poorly written and was never meant to include pack dogs and there's lots of historical use but it seems as COs get more removed from the backcountry, common sense is removed too and now it applies to pack dogs. Even the head of enforcement told me the law was never meant to apply to pack dogs but sadly it does. They seem just too lazy to do anything about it.

[Everett]

Like these guys
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/goat_hunt_2011_001_resize.jpg (http://javascript<strong></strong>:;)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/North_trip_2011_102.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/bushy_and_Gwen.jpg (javascript:;)