I am a hunter (but I don't hunt with dogs) AND a responsible dog owner. #1 when I hike and my dog is off leash and I see people or other unleashed dog s coming up, she goes on leash immediately. No question. #2- I will defend my dog and won't hesitate to use ANY force necessary to protect her.
I don't give a rat's as if those dogs were "training", hunting, or just out for a stroll in the woods. They attacked her pets, then attacked HER when she tried to protect them.
It seems like you're giving the irresponsible hunters a pass for having unleashed dogs, but heaven forbid, the VICTIM was actually guilty for not having her dogs leashed? Where is the logic in that? If those hunters were indeed in a "Game Management area" where weapons were prohibited, why were they there (hunting is done with weapons, no?). So it seems to me the HUNTERS were 100% wrong, but somehow we blame it on the hiker??? That's like telling a rape victim...no you know what? Maybe it's better that I DON'T say that.
Guarantee- had that been me once they came up to my camp and couldn't be shooed, everything I had would have been thrown at them. Once MY dog was getting attacked and/or the went after me, six dogs would have been pepper sprayed to say the least. Most likely, there would have been six gunshot wounds.
I don't give a DAMN how "unfriendly" those jackass bear hunters may have been.