This topic always does make for some interesting reading!
Like many responding on here, I like the .357 magnum a lot. Not much muzzle jump allowing for quicker recovery, too. Used to have an old Ruger Blackhawk in .357. But, there's nothing more frustrating than an empty singe action six shooter ...

It could be a bite from a spider or some other insect.

Bob, sounds like you are on the right track or your vet probably would have mentioned it.

Years ago 2 of my dogs developed gum disease and it was caused by tartar build-up. Ever since then I have kept close watch on my dogs teeth and gums. Part of my regiment is to give each dog a large Milkbone ...

Retired now, but before that I worked most of my adult life in a underground mine. Many of those years my work schedule was a rotating swing shift with 5 days off in a row every 3rd week. Between the work we were blessed with strikes, lay-off's, and a 3 year shut-down. Plenty of time to hunt. Back ...

Good stuff. Just a couple small things to add. Those Foodsaver vaccum pack outfits are great for sealing several books of matches in plastic and they fit in a pocket without taking up much space. A couple cans of sardines provides a lot of nurishment. If you have a cup in your pack...a few bullion ...

I second Bear Hunter's support for using a no-bark collar. Based on my personal experience with them...if you leave them on the dog for an extended period of time a dog will develop a sore from the contacts. I would leave the collar on for 24 hours then remove it for a couple of hours then put it ...

My folks wouldn't let me have a dog when I was a kid. After my military obligation was completed I got into bear hunting with hounds at 24 years of age....that was 43 years ago and its still a big part of my life.

Been absent from the site for a couple of years. Bearyooper called me this evening and told me about this excellent discussion and asked me to chime in. Sure glad to learn I'm still registered. Last time I was on here Nolte and I had some discussion about what's going on here in Michigan....and ...

My primary hunting method over the past 35 years or so has been rigging and walk hunting my dogs. Here in Michigan, in the area I live the national forest and commercial forest land is literally saturated with bear baits the first half of the bear season. Nobody has private property rights on this ...

Livetohunt, I appreciate you posting the first two paragraphs of Carpenteri's lead-in to his Bear Hunter Magazine article. I take it to be CYA for what he then writes: here's a couple direct quotes:

"I risk having my house pelted with dog-dodo for saying this, but in my experience over the last 40 ...

Sure don't expect to be reading about those few "bad apples" in a bear hunting magazine...giving anti's more ammunition by pointing out even so-called houndsmen are writing about the problems.

Doubt like hell Bear Hunting Magazine would have ran a story about the "bad apples" hunting bear over ...

Just got the new addition of Bear Hunting Magazine. Mr. Carpenteri's articles on bear hunting with dogs always left me feeling he's not a dyed-in-the-wool houndsman. But his article this month definitely does not sit well with me. It entitled "Hound Hunters Worst Enemy."

In the article he states ...

Been told he has some health problems.

Spruce Mountain, your post made mention of the anti-dog hunters old worn-out claim, shooting a treed bear is unethical. I'm wondering how you respond to someone spewing that crap. The way I respond is to say...its a dog sport, its not a shooting sport, it does not take much skill to kill a bear at ...

Went back and read the article written by Stephen Carpenteri starting on page 51...in the Jan/Feb addition of the magazine. He tells how the guide's dogs ran a coon for several hours! Must have been one bad-ass coon.