Introduction from Roy Sparks - Sparks Hounds

[Roy Sparks]

Hi to all hound enthusiasts,

I reside in the Eastern Cape, Republic of South Africa.I was given my first hound pup - a Beagle at the age of nine years old.My father and his buddies traditionally hunted Bushbuck and Bushpig with hounds and he brought me this pup as a present from one of his hunting buddies after a hunt one day.

Well that started something, a fire of passion was ignited immediately and I have devoted the rest of my life to hunting with hounds, terriers and sight hounds.I am now 44 years of age and have a 12 year old son who shares my life with hounds.

When I left the military I started a team of hounds for predator control work, after having read books on the stories of the Lee brothers from Arizona and the Slash ranch hounds.We currently still hunt predators for ranch owners, at the moment mostly Caracal ( African Lynx ), and Black Backed Jackal.

I have guided 233 successful hunts for Leopard with paying hunters from all over the world, but mostly the US.The original hounds I got from a good friend who imported his stock from Richard Holcomb and Therol Shelly in the South West of US, I think Arizona and New Mexico.

The hounds are a mix breed type, but we have been breeding them true to type for over forty years now. They are crosses between Blue Tick, Red tick , Treeing Walker and Black and Tan, with new injection of Black and Tan Bloodhound.

I will send a few pictures for you to view.I am really looking forward to making aquaintence with fellow houndsmen and hope to meet some of you in the future.

Kind regards - Roy Sparks - Sparks Hounds.

[Benny G]

Roy- welcome. I believe I used to have a video of a leopard hunt where you or someone in your party was attacked by a wounded leopard. The cat was knocked off of the man by two rounds from a twelve gauge. In case you don't know, both Richard and Terrel still hunt. I talked to Richard's wife Karen just yesterday evening. I look forward to some of your stories in the future. Benny

[Roy Sparks]

Hi Benny,

Thanks so much for the reply.What hounds do you run with down your way?I am looking to import sometime.I really like the Cameron Hounds but dont know how they will do in the dry country !!

Yes the authorities in Namibia where I hunted most my leopard posed a ban against us houndsmen taking effect this year so I really have a problem as far as income goes.I am trying to get guys over to join me here in South Africa and hunt over my hounds this end.We can hunt smaller cats, jackal and bushpig.Of course we have abundant other antelope species to hunt as well.

If you are intersted to follow the debate on leopard hunting issues to see what really happened in Namibia you can go to africahunting.com where I sent a lot of posts to inform the hunting public of why the hunting with hounds was actually banned there.

I would really like to get hold of contact details for Richard and Terrel if you could help in this respect I would really appreciate it.

I am also looking for an agent that can work with me to get hunters out here to hunt over my hounds.You guys are sitting right there where most our hunters come from, would be keen to learn if anyone out there in the US would be interested.

Yes that was me that got rolled by that leopard in Zimbabwe.Thanks Benny, looking forward to your reply.

Roy Sparks.

[Benny G]

Roy, My dogs are crossed between Larry Hendrix, Steve Smith, Richard Dickerson, Terrel Shelley, with some lines that go back to Richard Holcum, Charlie Leeder, Floyd Greene, and a touch of Van Johnson. Most of my blood is from generations of dry ground lion dogs. Let me dig up Terrel's phone number and I will PM you with contact information for him and Richard.

[liontracker]

Roy, good to see you on here.

I went to the site you posted. Very nice pics.
I must say though, that when I saw the hunting babe pics, I got lost in them.
If they are part of the team, you should have a waiting list!

[DerekE]

Hello Mr. Sparks,
I'm really glad you could join us. Some of the most enjoyable posts and pics for me are from fellas in other countries. It's nice to see different game and hear of different methods used. It would be nice to see some pics or videos. I wish someone over there would sell a video of hounds on leopards, serval, caracal and even jackal. Most of us here will never get to have those experiences so it would be cool to watch.
Take care,
Derek

[Roy Sparks]

Benny,

It sounds like you have the type of hound I am interested in looking at.Could you email me some pictures to sparkshounds@isat.co.za . I'm not necessarily looking for pure bred dogs I want something that will be better than what I already have or at least equal to what I have.The idea is to improve on what I have,and believe something out of the South West is going to fit the bill.I mate Trev Filmer and I have not imported new blood for a long time now.

Hell man I wish I could meet all you fellows and just look at hounds, and hunt and swap stories.I am so overwhelmed by all your posts.I think I must make a trip out your way at some point.I spent about a month I tuscon on my way to the SCI convention and saw one lost Redtick on the road with clueless motorists trying to catch the poor hound, they just made the hound wilder than the devil himself.

What is a well bred pup worth - from a proven hunting strain ?

Look forward to your reply,

Roy Sparks.

[Benny G]

Roy, I sent you a PM. Benny

[bearman3006]

Hi to all hound enthusiasts,

I reside in the Eastern Cape, Republic of South Africa.I was given my first hound pup - a Beagle at the age of nine years old.My father and his buddies traditionally hunted Bushbuck and Bushpig with hounds and he brought me this pup as a present from one of his hunting buddies after a hunt one day.

Well that started something, a fire of passion was ignited immediately and I have devoted the rest of my life to hunting with hounds, terriers and sight hounds.I am now 44 years of age and have a 12 year old son who shares my life with hounds.

When I left the military I started a team of hounds for predator control work, after having read books on the stories of the Lee brothers from Arizona and the Slash ranch hounds.We currently still hunt predators for ranch owners, at the moment mostly Caracal ( African Lynx ), and Black Backed Jackal.

I have guided 233 successful hunts for Leopard with paying hunters from all over the world, but mostly the US.The original hounds I got from a good friend who imported his stock from Richard Holcomb and Therol Shelly in the South West of US, I think Arizona and New Mexico.

The hounds are a mix breed type, but we have been breeding them true to type for over forty years now. They are crosses between Blue Tick, Red tick , Treeing Walker and Black and Tan, with new injection of Black and Tan Bloodhound.

I will send a few pictures for you to view.I am really looking forward to making aquaintence with fellow houndsmen and hope to meet some of you in the future.

Kind regards - Roy Sparks - Sparks Hounds.

Hi, my name is Dwaine.I live in Northern Wisconsin and am an avid hound hunter. Bear,coyote and a some bobcat hunting.Do you have any of your cat hunts posted that I could check out?I all so have a Black N Tan Bloodhound cross named Razor.He has turned out to be quit a good hound despite what most people think about Bloodhounds as hunters.
" YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CANT HIDE "
Good luck hunting, Bearman3006

[Benny G]

Roy, just a note regarding PM's - in case you don't know (it took me a little time to sort all this out) on the top of the page next to "home" is your PM notice. It should read "new message". Click on this. I look forward to your reply. I will be in Swaziland from July 15 until July 26.
Benny

[Benny G]

Roy, haven,t heard from you. Thought perhaps you missed this. We all get busy.