Sorry Jamie, I know just how you feel, sickened right to the core.
I think you've received some good advice that I would just like to reitterate.
If there is no immediate and/or apparent damage, you still might want to make a report out in case there ends up being damage. I don't know how much of your buck's skull came out with the antler, but I know an alarmingly amount can come out with no negative future affect on his antlers. Was it like a huge ''root system'' so to speak that was attached to the antler??
If the dog that didn't get away has a collar and tags to positively link him to the owner, then there is no doubt you can prove that dog is responsible for any damages, and the owners are responsible for the dogs, and their home owners insurance covers the dogs.
Concerning the ones that got away, in my county, the dog catcher and the judge wants pictures of the dogs, otherwise it's hard to prove.
Note to all: Pictures, pictures, pictures, documentation, documentation, documentation...that's what we need to proof what needs to be proven in these situations to assuredly receive the compensation we got coming. I know we don't always pack a camera around the deer pen, but it wouldn't be a bad idea. If you know your're heading out the door to erradicate such a situation as dogs, grab the gun, AND the camera!
I dealt with the insurance companiy on an open and shut case, complete with the State Police inside the deer pen taking pictures of dog tracks, dead deer, injured deer, blood on the fence, huge dents in the fence where the deer had hit, eye witnesses to the dogs chasing the deer, caught the dogs at the pen, kept them until the dog catcher got there, the owners got wrote a ticket for allowing their dogs to run at large...AND still I had to fight with the insurance agent WAY more than what I should have!
So like I said...pictures and documentation as much as you can get!
Many have suggested the 3 SSS's. I could not agree more, especially providing there is no damage, ie not necessary to contact owner. Cause we all know that dogs do not have to enter the pen to cause damage and death.
If there is damage then you could do the SSC...See em, Shoot em, Call the owner.
I personally would never shoot a dog unless I had no choice.
Electric fence is the best preventative against dogs.
Another suggestion that isn't as involved as an electric fence is staple barbed wire at ground level all around your pens, providing your pens have the fence stapled on the inside of the poles. I was told this would prevent an animal from digging in, I don't know it it's true, only that in 16 years I never had dogs or coyotes dig into my pens. This of course would only(supposedly) prevent them from digging in, not keep them away from the pen like the electric fence would.
Many of us have dog stories...sorry to hear of yours Jamie.
Hope the best for you and your buck, and your ''case'', should it come to that!
