Question From a newbie

[rookiebearhound]

Ever since I was a kid I always thought hounds were exciting, and after killing my first bear with hounds I became obsessed you see. Then after a week I started really wanted to get some pups and train them with the help of family and friends. Then every night I would think about it before I went to sleep and I would feel the adrenaline rush. Everyone tells me that it is a huge jump and takes a lot of money and time and complete dedication which I understand it is. But growing up in a small town every summer I work 24/7 and have enough money for the pups, food and equipment. But after thinking about it for weeks I think that I am up to the challenge. Could you guys give me any tips or ideas whether I should do it or I shouldn't.

[George Streepy]

I regret getting into hounds all the time. But it is exciting and I don't think I will be hanging it up any time soon. There is a post called "Dogs For Sale" in the bobcat hunting section, it has some experienced guys talking about picking the right pups and buying finished and started dogs. It wouldn't be a bad read. Good luck to you.

[idahoutlaw]

do it if it turns out you dont like it you can sell every thing and find something else to do. i would find someone near you with hound and start talking to them. but dont be suprised if you get a cold shoulder when i started no hound guy in idaho would talk to me but after time some started to. but be ready to have your heart boken if you get dogs one day you want to kill them the next you wouldnt sell them for the world

[idahoutlaw]

also it is a pain in the but if you like to do other things have to find someone to feed if you leave town for a week also cant forget the vet bills the cleaning of the pens the bad weather killing the the cat next door because you did get the pen door closed feeding did i say feeding yet and cleaning the pen spending hours looking for dogs and running them in the off season for miles one way and back. and loading and unloading the dog box so you can use you truck
the more i think about it the more i realise what a pain. but if it was easy everone would do it

[houndnem]

If your married you'lle be devorced, if your truck is nice it will be trashed in no time, if you have fourwheelers and snow machines they'll be worthless in one season, all that expensive equipment you buy will get lost or broke on a regular basis, your body will be wore out and broke down from the miles and lack of sleep, if you had money you'll be broke, if you are cleancut you'll find yourself with inches of facial hair from time to time, good luck holdin down a job for when the conditions are right you will ditch work every time, it's basically the equivelant of being a crack head, just your crack is chasin the dogs. I guess i'd have to say ya do it! There are few things that can bring you the satisfaction that you will find following a pack of hounds around the mountains. Good luck, Jared.

[Benny G]

It sounds to me like if you don't give it a whirl, you will NEVER be satisfied. If I were to do it all over again, I would spend the money once, and buy a couple of good dogs. We can all get several thousand dollars invested in mediocre/junk dogs. The other side of that is, for the same money we could start out with fewer dogs that could get the job done, and then add a pup now and then. Any way that you do it, with your infatuation, you had better do it.

[bearhunter77]

Don't think Houndnem is overexagerating. If anything he's underexagerating. That's just what happens after the first season.

[TomJr]

You guys are painting a bleak picture, it don't have to be that way if you can use moderation. I only have 3 dogs that I still hunt. I save a lot because I only hunt from my house covering around 10 square miles on foot. I go every morning for 1-3 hours unless we decide to take a lion... then it takes abit longer lol. I catch plenty of game and enjoy myself but am not running all over with a dog box burning gas and time.

Maybe I could catch more lions ect if I drove all over looking for new areas but then it might start to feel like a job... And how many dead lions does a guy need anyhow

[HEKK]

dont do it

[Benny G]

rookiebearhound,
There is another self proclaimed newbie on here, ask him. You can PM him, or maybe he will check this post. Ask him if he has any regrets yet, and if so, what are they. He goes by smalltown. As for me, I have had hounds in my blood for decades. There was a stretch of time that I went without dogs for close to ten years. I couldn't shake the addiction, and going with someone else didn't do it for me, so here I am. This time around I am at 15 years with these dogs, and I'm making genetic plans for the far away future. Good luck, and I'm sure that if you do it, someone will step up to help you.