12 month redbone pup trailing HELP!?

[redbonecurhunting]

I have a redbone mtn. cur cross that so far handles real well, and LOVES trailing a coon. He can follow a drag over a mile. My original problem was that he didnt bark on trail at all, but when he got to the tree, he would bark a few times and then sit and wait.After a little work he now tress really well, but is still silent on track... which is fine. He has yet to go hunting. My problem is he only looks for a coon track when i say "here it is" and i have to point right where it is. I am wondering how this will work in the woods because i wont know EXACTLY where the trail starts. Thanks for any help.

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Forgot to mention that i do not have access to older dogs to hunt him with

[david]

I don't know where you live or your situation but you need to work on finding a way to get your dog in the woods hunting. In some areas coon behavior becomes very predictable so you need to study the habits of coon in your area. Look on line for any university studies that may have been don on racoon in your state. Get out and find their tracks if you have mud any where along streams, in woods or near food sources like corn fields. Then take your dog there at night. It is one year old and it is time to go hunting.

Take him to the woods in the day time too so you can work on other problems like deer. It will not hurt your dog one bit to train it on squirrel. If you see a squirrel on the ground, walk your dog over its track and watch him so you learn the change in his body language when he hits the scent trail. Let him try and find the tree. Tie him near it and shoot the squirrel out if hunting is allowed in that spot. If not, pet him up and go find another one. Watch him and learn his body language. Then walk him in coon hot spots at night. When he crosses a hot coon track you will see a change in him. You probably won't have to say anything, and it will be better if you don't for the times when you are not right there. Put a bell on him so you can try to stay with him and hopefully will see when he marks the tree. (Also check your mailbox)