Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Noem's South Dakota Bragging Rights

I have a little different take on this occurrence, course not being present much is purely conjecture,
as is everyone else’s.
First, I absolutely would not have put the dog down.
The dog was only doing what he was trained for, he knew no difference between s barn yard hen than a than a grouse or pheasant , he was just reacting instinctively .Secondly, I bet he inadvertently bit the governor in the excitement of the moment , I have personally been subject of such reactions with dogs involved in heated engagements, again it’s a natural reaction, especially from a younger dog.
I have first hand experience with a hunting dog and domestic birds. We live in a subdivision out of town, large lots, and livestock permitted, a few months ago new neighbors moved in across the lane , their dwellings are maybe 75 yards from ours. We have an 8 year old red lab, she is a wonderful hunter and very well trained. I knew the neighbors had geese and normally have them penned, but one morning they got out and and came up our lane unbeknownst to the wife and I. That morning I let our dog out the back door of the garage and followed her out into the tree line for her to do her thing. All of a sudden her nose sent up and she took of like a shot around the garage towards the front of the house out of my sight, I wasn’t concerned as we have cottontails all over, and she give chase of all of them for a short distance then turns around and comes back, this time she didn’t come right back so I started around the garage and here she comes with a very large goose by the neck, drops it at my feet and takes off. I hustle around the corner to be met by my dog with yet another goose, she drops it and once again turns to head out and I shouted a firm NO stay, which she promptly did. I and the dog , at heel, walked around the garage and here are 4 more geese, that promptly start waddling off at a rapid rate, and to my great satisfaction my dog watched them go , dancing around obviously wanting to retrieve a couple more, but stayed with me. I was immensely proud of her and never scolded her for a moment. She was only reacting as she had been trained,
I think the governor acted properly in reimbursing the farmer and I suspect apologized profusely. But killing a young dog, for reacting as he was trained, is a terrible lose both for the governor and an innocent animal with tremendous potential to bring years of enjoyment for himselve snd his owner.