What would you consider justifiable self defense on firing on with intent to kill an animal? There are obvious ones like if a bear is charging you full on. But how about if a bear, lion, coyote, etc is in your yard after your dogs? Are you justified in killing that animal? It doesnt have to be a predator. Even an aggressive deer, elk, or moose can pose a major threat. A lot of people have been charged and fined with killing bear, moose, etc claiming it was self defense. Where do you draw the line and when do you pull the trigger? Has anyone actually shot and killed an animal in self defense? If so what were the repercussions? If anyones heard my story before they know i personally have fired on a bear that broke into my backyard and went head on with my husky only when all other attempts to chase him off failed. Unfortunately it was before i was familiar with proper shotgun loads and i used 00 magnum buckshot and didn't do the job i needed it to but it did get the bear to leave. Anyways I want to know if anyone's had to take an animal in self defense.
Justifiable predator self defense
- Thread starter Irish B
- Start date
I have never shot an animal in SD of another human but did kill two neighbors pitbulls in my yard in defense of my small dog.
However, another neighbor was coming out of his house with his g-daughter in his arms and was met by a dog at the end of his porch digging in the trash. He tried to run the dog off. Dog snarled at him and he went in, grabbed a pistol and shot the dog. He then took the dog down, dumped it in the yard of where it lived, knocked on the door and told the guy what happened. The dog owner called the sheriff and when it was all done, my neighbor had to pay just under $2000.
Judge asked neighbor "was dog attacking a human or any animal owned by him". He answered "no".
Ironically , the two pits I shot were from the same house as where the dog my neighbor shot was from. Animal control went to that residence and found several unlicensed dogs running lose, dog houses , water/food bowls all over but couldn't cite the resident as he told animal control the dogs didn't belong to him.
...animal control rounded up all the dogs.
However, another neighbor was coming out of his house with his g-daughter in his arms and was met by a dog at the end of his porch digging in the trash. He tried to run the dog off. Dog snarled at him and he went in, grabbed a pistol and shot the dog. He then took the dog down, dumped it in the yard of where it lived, knocked on the door and told the guy what happened. The dog owner called the sheriff and when it was all done, my neighbor had to pay just under $2000.
Judge asked neighbor "was dog attacking a human or any animal owned by him". He answered "no".
Ironically , the two pits I shot were from the same house as where the dog my neighbor shot was from. Animal control went to that residence and found several unlicensed dogs running lose, dog houses , water/food bowls all over but couldn't cite the resident as he told animal control the dogs didn't belong to him.
...animal control rounded up all the dogs.
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Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Opinion: Common sense and "rational and prudent person" is how I judge. Next is circumstance. I myself might be in less danger than a small child or an elderly woman, so third-party defense can be quite rational.
IMO, defense of my property, such as my pet in my yard under attack by any trespassing animal, is quite justified.
The mere sight of an animal in my very-rural yard, however, does not alarm me. I have no pets. I have coyotes, foxes and bobcats traipsing through from time to time. Mostly, I take pictures. I'd not be surprised at a cougar coming through at night. No harm, no foul. A stray but apparently not-feral dog is annoying, but not harmful.
IMO, defense of my property, such as my pet in my yard under attack by any trespassing animal, is quite justified.
The mere sight of an animal in my very-rural yard, however, does not alarm me. I have no pets. I have coyotes, foxes and bobcats traipsing through from time to time. Mostly, I take pictures. I'd not be surprised at a cougar coming through at night. No harm, no foul. A stray but apparently not-feral dog is annoying, but not harmful.
I can talk of only Wyoming (where I live now that I've retired) and Alaska (where I lived for 22 years and was in LE).
There is nothing that I know of that prevents you from protecting yourself or property from wild or domestic animals.
Everyone talks about Bears and such, but you can bet you booties the most dangerous {wild} animal in North America is a Cow moose with Calf, plus, moose get territarial in the winter when heavy snows force them into towns for food.
The most attacks you're going to run into is dogs.
There is nothing that I know of that prevents you from protecting yourself or property from wild or domestic animals.
Everyone talks about Bears and such, but you can bet you booties the most dangerous {wild} animal in North America is a Cow moose with Calf, plus, moose get territarial in the winter when heavy snows force them into towns for food.
The most attacks you're going to run into is dogs.
sc928porsche
New member
Just remember, even with all your NO TRESPASSING signs, the animal cant read. If it is attacking you, then fire away. You might be able to dispose of them if they are a creating damage, but that would depend on the local "leash" laws. Discharging a firearm within the city limits is a different ball game alltogether and you should check your local ordinance.
SilentScreams
New member
At a base level, I feel if it's causing harm to my property (including an animal) on my property and I can't run it off, then yeah, I'd shoot it.
I know of people that have gotten into trouble for killing dangerous animals within city limits. Since the state of Texas considers the killing and or capture of any vertebrate, hunting, I have seen hunting w/o license charges included. There was some kids catching gechos in a Styrofoam cup and got charged and fined for hunting w/o license.
I SD killed a bear in AK.He had already bit my former spouse and was not leaving.
I was offered,and declined,a bear hunt on the same trip.I was traveling cheap and light and did not have the resources to deal with meat or hide.I had no interest in shooting one to watch him fall.
I did encourage this bear to leave,he declined,and was heading toward me.We already had one hurt,and we were 200 river miles from the nearest road,then 7 road hours to Fairbanks.
It may help if you are at the hospital with an injured person as the questions are being asked.
We knew AK required the head and hide of a SD bear shoot must be turned in to Division of Wildlife.We complied.IMO,this reasonable law takes away any incentive to shoot one for trophy.
I can recall some a neighborhood dog that was loose and came into my yard as I was unloading my truck from a camping trip.Some dalmation mix.His hair was up and he was coming low and growling.
My machete handle was right there in the back of the truck.I fenced foil,sabre,and eppe a few years long ago.
I think maybe that dog looked at me in a sabre en garde with my eyes glowing red and saw something .He dropped his attitude,turned and went home.
What I am up against is not dangerous animals,but destructive ones.Mostly diggers.Racoons,skunks and foxes,displaced from open land by development,burrowing under structure.
Sometimes,it may even be a woodpecker working on the siding.
Unfortunately,old school handling of these problems can result in handcuffs.
Almost any action taken can result in "cruelty" charges,.
I was offered,and declined,a bear hunt on the same trip.I was traveling cheap and light and did not have the resources to deal with meat or hide.I had no interest in shooting one to watch him fall.
I did encourage this bear to leave,he declined,and was heading toward me.We already had one hurt,and we were 200 river miles from the nearest road,then 7 road hours to Fairbanks.
It may help if you are at the hospital with an injured person as the questions are being asked.
We knew AK required the head and hide of a SD bear shoot must be turned in to Division of Wildlife.We complied.IMO,this reasonable law takes away any incentive to shoot one for trophy.
I can recall some a neighborhood dog that was loose and came into my yard as I was unloading my truck from a camping trip.Some dalmation mix.His hair was up and he was coming low and growling.
My machete handle was right there in the back of the truck.I fenced foil,sabre,and eppe a few years long ago.
I think maybe that dog looked at me in a sabre en garde with my eyes glowing red and saw something .He dropped his attitude,turned and went home.
What I am up against is not dangerous animals,but destructive ones.Mostly diggers.Racoons,skunks and foxes,displaced from open land by development,burrowing under structure.
Sometimes,it may even be a woodpecker working on the siding.
Unfortunately,old school handling of these problems can result in handcuffs.
Almost any action taken can result in "cruelty" charges,.
I would def. check the laws in your state. Here in Va. if other animals are after your livestock its shoot then call, same with household pets. On the other hand if bears are in your cornfield and they destroy several acres thats not considered an issue......they will trap them, shoot with mace and rubber bullets and release them in the same spot. If you shoot them you may receive high dollar tickets, so you cannot protect your corn which feeds your livestock.....funny how things work out sometimes.
Rifleman1776
New member
What we think is not important. What is important is your locale, attitudes of local LEO, prosecutor and judge.
I have killed dogs for reasons I felt were justified. I try to follow the old, wise, adage of: shoot, shovel, shut up.
BTW, I can't count the number of squirrels, raccoons, possums
and armadillos I have killed because they tear up my wife's bird feeders, garden and lawn. Even a few skunks.
I have killed dogs for reasons I felt were justified. I try to follow the old, wise, adage of: shoot, shovel, shut up.
BTW, I can't count the number of squirrels, raccoons, possums
and armadillos I have killed because they tear up my wife's bird feeders, garden and lawn. Even a few skunks.
In NM, you can kill a predator (wild) in defense of livestock and yourself or another human, but killing a predator in defense of a pet is considered a no-no. That's not the legal term, btw. Now that law applies to all predators, including wolves, but wolf kills must be reported within a different time frame than other predators, given their endangered status in NM. They don't have them up here, but down in the Gila, I hear they reintroduced some. Different states may have different laws, though.
I have killed 2 dogs in defense.
One when I was 16 years old, quail hunting, and a jerk let a Doberman loose to attack me when I was on the other side of the highway from his home, about 400 yards away. I waited until the dog was in the road and off his land (about 7-8 yards from me) and killed it with a load of #6 birdshot from the full choke barrel. He called the cops, and the sheriff said I had every right, and that I could press charges if I wanted to because he let the dog loose. He admitted he sicked the dog on me because I was “too close” and that “all hunting should be illegal”, even though the law was 100% on my side, and I was hunting on land that was open to hunt.
(He was a relocated California liberal, and was too stupid to know he could not sway those cops.)
The 2nd time was only 4 years ago when a very large dog was chasing my horses. I killed that one with a .308 from my up-stair window and I called the Sheriff myself. They came out, looks things over, collected the dog and took it to the owner, again with the message that I could charge her if I wanted to.
I know we have a lot of badge heavy cops in the USA and a lot of bad judges, and I THANK GOD when we have good ones like the ones I got to deal with.
Those that look at what is right and wrong instead of looking at the statutes to see if they "can make an arrest" are the good ones.
Good arrests are always those that traget what is WRONG, not just what they can make a case over.
THANK GOD for GOOD Cops!
One when I was 16 years old, quail hunting, and a jerk let a Doberman loose to attack me when I was on the other side of the highway from his home, about 400 yards away. I waited until the dog was in the road and off his land (about 7-8 yards from me) and killed it with a load of #6 birdshot from the full choke barrel. He called the cops, and the sheriff said I had every right, and that I could press charges if I wanted to because he let the dog loose. He admitted he sicked the dog on me because I was “too close” and that “all hunting should be illegal”, even though the law was 100% on my side, and I was hunting on land that was open to hunt.
(He was a relocated California liberal, and was too stupid to know he could not sway those cops.)
The 2nd time was only 4 years ago when a very large dog was chasing my horses. I killed that one with a .308 from my up-stair window and I called the Sheriff myself. They came out, looks things over, collected the dog and took it to the owner, again with the message that I could charge her if I wanted to.
I know we have a lot of badge heavy cops in the USA and a lot of bad judges, and I THANK GOD when we have good ones like the ones I got to deal with.
Those that look at what is right and wrong instead of looking at the statutes to see if they "can make an arrest" are the good ones.
Good arrests are always those that traget what is WRONG, not just what they can make a case over.
THANK GOD for GOOD Cops!
jager.30-06
New member
the only thing i can speak to is having to shoot my neighbors dog, it simply would not stop trying to eat chickens. we only have a dozen so i didnt want to share lol so out came the .223,i drug it out into the woods and never said nothing about it as the lady is very strange liberal type. that was atleast 6 mo ago and there is still a reward poster @ the bank in town. not to sound heartless but what if it started going after my toddler ? not taking that chance.
I suggest each know the laws of their state on the control of loose dogs. In the state of Missouri, hunting dogs may not be harmed unless actually physically attacking. I've seen grown men ready to kill over the shooting of a hound that was causing no harm other than crossing the shooter's property.
I have no problem disposing of a feral or out of control dog and have had to dispose of several(both my own and others) dogs that crossed the line.
In my area, we have many "imported" landowners who think their land is sovereign soil immune from any sort of trespass despite the law protecting legitimate hunting dogs.
I have no problem disposing of a feral or out of control dog and have had to dispose of several(both my own and others) dogs that crossed the line.
In my area, we have many "imported" landowners who think their land is sovereign soil immune from any sort of trespass despite the law protecting legitimate hunting dogs.
That's very good advice.
Here in Ohio, it's against the law to hunt deer with dogs. The game warden will tell ya, if you see a dog/dogs running deer to shoot them. This area,as with many, is a dumping ground for unwanted pets. The strays will form packs and start running deer/livestock for survival. Most of the farmers around these parts are familiar with each other dogs so if someone sees my dog running deer, I would get one warning. After that, the dog would be shot if seen running them again. Running livestock doesn't get a second chance.
Its illegal to hunt deer with dogs in WI too. Dogs seen running deer CAN be shot on sight as well however we don't often see dogs running deer.
In regards to predators I'm all for their neutralization with extreme prejudice. In the protection of home, loved ones and property it is legal in WI to shoot predators (and scavengers such as coons) that are causing damage to your property. This includes feral cats, feral dogs, coyote and other critters (even including rabbits if they're raiding your garden).
If you're in the country side and shoot a predator/varmint that is damaging your property nobody's going to care. Simply shoot, shovel and move on. Nobody is going to call the police/sheriff.
If you're in a city you'd better be pretty careful about choosing to shoot a predator - most municipalities have ordnances against discharge of a firearm in city limits. If its truly a self defense situation you will most likely not be prosecuted however there's still a chance (depending on your DA and LEOs).
In regards to predators I'm all for their neutralization with extreme prejudice. In the protection of home, loved ones and property it is legal in WI to shoot predators (and scavengers such as coons) that are causing damage to your property. This includes feral cats, feral dogs, coyote and other critters (even including rabbits if they're raiding your garden).
If you're in the country side and shoot a predator/varmint that is damaging your property nobody's going to care. Simply shoot, shovel and move on. Nobody is going to call the police/sheriff.
If you're in a city you'd better be pretty careful about choosing to shoot a predator - most municipalities have ordnances against discharge of a firearm in city limits. If its truly a self defense situation you will most likely not be prosecuted however there's still a chance (depending on your DA and LEOs).
