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Ok, so my question is: usually, once a dog strikes a coon trail how long before they tree? Also, how is the best way to tell if my dog is running deer or something? I think I may be running deer just do to how fast the dogs are running. Is this a good indicator? When trailing coon (on a smokin hot track) are the dogs moving fast or slow? I know it depends on the individual dog...but generalities may apply. Any info would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!

Most of the hounds that I have been around would bawl when following scent and chop or yap when chasing by sight.

When treeing coons, typically I will hear a locater bawl followed by trailing bawls going in a straight or zigzag line followed by a change-over to a tree bark, chop or bawl. (Every dog seams to have it's own unique sound once the game is treed). Often the coons are up the tree within fifteen or twenty minutes after hearing the locater bawl.

Deer are usually being chased by sight so when I hear yapping going around in about a quarter mile diameter circle, It is likely a trash deer chase!

Bobcats are the joker in the deck. The dogs will bawl on track, chop as they chase it up a tree—bawl on track after they discover that it bailed out again........ this can go on half the night .......in a circle, zigzag or straight.
One minute you think you are on a coon, the next you suspect it's a deer chase........

Throwing the occasional mountain lion, bear or some coyotes in the mix can really keep you guessing!

Thanks man! The first time I think they were definitely on deer...they bumped it and the race was in a circle. Last night I am not so sure...they opened...trailed 400 yards or so...not in a circle...but more of a straight line..must of ended up in the water cause the dogs were soaked. I just don't want to correct if they are not indeed running deer. I guess I just gotta keep at it and try to figure it out!

Thanks again!

take them out to a field full of deer drop them and shock the piss out of them if they chase the deer or bark or show any type of intrest in them. some times it is hard to tell in the woods one minute you think it might be a coon then a cat or a deer. I like to set my dogs up to fail at a young age I will cut them lose where I see deer run across the road if they show any intrest I will I disapline them. same way with any thing eles I do not want them chasing.

Deer breaking refresher is probably a good first step. Second split your dogs up and see who is starting it. Generally one hound is far more prone to run trash then the rest and is the one which needs the most work trashing. Third or first in importance find out for your self what they are running. You need a reference to judge how they sound and act on the right track. A rule of thumb is hounds CHASE Trash and trail game. There are variables like the rare jumped game or a good bobcat hound running track or a bear race. But your hounds will almost always tell on themselves once you learn their voices. I believe you need to revisit your training after a trash races get to be a question. Turn your hounds out only on verified tracks for awhile if this means extra walking you need to do it. This helps you both by reinforcing what game and what it should look and sound like running it. The different breeds and styles sound and trail different generally as do individual hounds. Daytime coon hunting should be a consideration if your not sure what they're running it may show you things you hadn't been aware of in the night. Good luck

usually a hound will open on the trail it was trained to hunt (coon, bear, cougar,etc) but on deer they won't open. on a hot track they will trail fast from what i've seen while coonhunting. but if your dog is silent on a track like mine was for awhile it is very difficult to tell.