The dissociative ionization of deuterium chloride ( DCl) has been investigated by employing femtosecond laser pulses at 805 nm. The product branching ratio D+/Cl+ of the fragments D+ and Cl+ is strongly affected by the chirp R of the laser pulses. The ratio can be controlled by a factor of 3 ranging from D+/Cl+ = 0.7 at alpha = 800 fs(2) to D+/Cl+ = 1.9 at alpha + 150 fs(2). The observation can be rationalized by a model where negative chirp favors intra-electronic state excitation, and positive chirp favors inter-electronic state excitation in the dissociation of the molecular ion. Complementary experiments on hydrogen chloride ( HCl) are discussed.