BigGameHoundsmen.com

Hey guys. I have hunted with and trained bird dogs my whole life and my wife owns a dog training and boarding business so I am not new to dogs. However, hunting with hounds is something I am just getting started in.
I just bought land and built a cabin in Northern Wisconsin which is surrounded by thousands of acres of public hunting land. Whenever I have been up there recently I see people running bear with hounds and I am really wanting to get into this sport.
I have been having some trouble finding good information on how to get started which is why I joined this forum.
I am looking to start building a pack and have some questions on the dogs to use. I see people are mostly using coon hounds. One of my wifes clients has 2 bloodhounds (small black and tan colored ones) that they are about to breed and we can get picks of the litter. The parents are well bred and supposedly bred for hunting up north, including bear. The parents have not been hunted but come from hunting stock. I was thinking of picking up 1 or two of the pups and teaching them and then adding the faster coon hounds later. Is this a smart move or am I way off base.
Also since I live in Iowa (no bear) can some of the training involve coons as long as I get them up on bear trails for several 5 day long weekends a year?
My land and the land around it (northern rusk county) are crawling with big black bear and I cant wait to get one treed.
Also if there is anyone on here from around that area I would love to get a chance to talk with you about getting started.

Thanks all and happy hunting

Howdy there, always great to hear of a new guy entering the world of the hounds!

I would say your best bet is to research from local houndsmen and from these forums. Before you start getting pups etc, I would recommend going with a local bear hunter in your area. Many are more than willing to take a new guy out, and it would give you a really good feel as to how it works.

Also, the question about running your "bear" dogs on coon, people do that and I feel that would be good in your situation since hounds need all the action they can get. A week or two of running per summer just doesn't cut it for a running hound, they need all the hunting they can get.


If you have any questions shoot me a PM, I do most of my hunting in North Central WI.
-Hound

Wi has some great bear hunting, started hunting there first season, 68 I think, non-res license $25. Now its done on point system, one point a yr with 7 or 8 needed to get kill permit. Training season is july& aug but you must have someone with kill permit to hunt during sept kill season. What part Ia you live? Im in NE corner [new albin] like to visit with you sometime.

I'm in the cedar rapids area, although I do get up in the northeast corner to trout fish on ocasion. I'd love to meet with anyone who can get me pointed in the right direction to get started in this.
Thanks for the replies

My advice when starting out, DON'T get a couple pups. Find a decent started dog and figure out the game a little before jumping right in. If you do decide to get a good started/finished dog, be very leary when buying it. There are lots of guys who peddle junk and will spot a newbie in a second.

If i get a started dog can I start hunting with just one or do you need multiple dogs to tree a bear. Im assuming that I would have to find someone to run with untill I added at least a second dog.

I am one of those new guys who started with pups. If you want to hit the ground running definatly get a good solid dog, the pup route takes alot of time, training, money, and a good pair of boots. It took me about two years then this year some really good guys let me tag along with two of my dogs and they made a race. It wasn't easy at all, but it was a really rewarding thing to have them knot heads make it. I would say get a good dog if that your route find a good group to go with and learn all you can. If your not sure about a dog or the person selling it ask on here, there alot of knowledge floating around and somebodies always willing to help. Lance