dog is gone and possible wolf food

Liv2Hunt · Post by **Liv2Hunt** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:33 pm

I and another guy turned out on a lion track Friday morning. I had a 3 1/2 year old plott from my cousin in Washington I got in Jan. 07. Other guy had two redticks. The dogs lost the track in the wind blown snow in the rocky reef. The lead dog came back at noon while my plott and this guys female never came back. They had crossed the road without a track nearby and continued to run. The tracking equiptment told us they were treed at 3pm but we could not hear or locate them before dark. At 8pm they had moved but the tree switches were still hitting on both dogs off and on regularly. At 4am Saturday they had moved again and we had no signal anywhere. We hiked in 4 miles towards the last signal and picked up the signal and now could hear the dogs tree treeing with tree switches still going. A big relief came over me when we finally heard the dogs and had signal after all the negative crap I had heard all night in the truck from this guy. We got to within a 1/4 mile and the dogs shut up and were gone. We continued towards where we had heard them and found thier tracks going up the mountain but we could not find a track that they were specifically running. The dog tracks topped the mountain and the guy I was with said I m leaving. If you continue and find the dogs just bring me my tracking collar. Not knowing the area and the weather conditions I followed him out knowing the dogs are far faster and were not responding to us yelling for them after they quit barking. This was my 1st hound and only hound so far and not what I was looking to have happen.
This guy is telling me that this just shows we wasted our time on two hounds that are now culled without us having to do it. What should I be thinking of this guy and the dogs about now? Is he right "if a dog is to stupid to know who feeds it then who wants it."
I was so excited to turn her loose on what I thought was a great track to have her run off with another dog. I had run her alot this summer on coons and ferrel cats by herself and never thought twice about another dog being a possible problem. How long should I continue to hope to have the dog found be a local trapper or houndsmen alive? Or should I not hope and be thankfull she is gone and was not worth the food bill? Three flat tires on two trucks, two lost dogs, two tracking collars, and me now having two pissed off bosses for not working on saturday was a terrible end to my 2007. Things should hopefully get better. Have a great new year

Spokerider · Post by **Spokerider** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:42 pm

Oh man, that's quite a story. I can see that you are obviously upset with this event in the way that you have composed your post.

If I'm reading you "between the lines" correctly, I'd say forget that hunting buddy now and forever, go back and search for your dog and find it dead or alive. It's prolly missing you as much as you're missing it.

Did you leave a jacket or some other article of your clothing on the side on the trail for your dog to come back to? Did you leave the dog box on the road for it, in case it comes back at night? How about some food in a plastic bag left out for it for when it comes back? It's going to burn many calories just staying warm through the cold nights outside.
Did you build a bon fire at the roadside? Some dogs will come into a fire for warmth and comfort. Did you scent-mark your trail back to the truck, ie: peeing?

What makes you think the wolves got her, just cause she hasn't come back? or, have you found wolf tracks with your dog's tracks?

She may have fallen into a "hole" or ravine and can't crawl out...
Maybe she's so gamey that she's still off hunting!

In anycase, as long as the collar is putting out a signal, I'd be out there looking if she were mine.

Ike · Post by **Ike** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 12:28 am

Yeah, I'll agree with what spokerider said. If the tracking collar still shows a signal I'd try and get to that dog. Lots of times a young hound will find a little road or something (rather than trailing out) and just hang up waiting for help.

I had a young buddy send his dogs down a two day old tom lion track only to have them trail into some terrible country that didn't have any access. He left a jacket and went back every day after work to see if they had popped out and hadn't. The following weekend I helped him get into those dogs and they were hung up in a canyon waiting for help......they were glad to see us.

A couple springs back I sent seven of my hounds down a large bear track. They jumped the bear and blew the air out of him off our kill unit and in some rough country, so we attempted to get to them before dark but failed. The following day three trailed out and the second day three more came to the road., but my Rowen bitch didn't make it. I walked in every day but she wouldn't bark or come to me and the radio I was using was picking up bounce in every direction. Finally I borrowed a better radio and walked close enough to have her hop to me on three legs. She had broken her toe and had a 105 degree temperature, so I threw her over my shoulders and carried her out. If you've spent six or eight years with an old hound dog you'll crawl through crap to get her back............

ike

Liv2Hunt · Post by **Liv2Hunt** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 12:43 am

I am very upset because I did not get to see the dogs' full potential due to my lack of hound hunting knowledge when I got the dog. I did not want to get this dog and just turn her out right after getting her not knowing the dog or her knowing me that well.

I had the snowmobile in the backwhen we left and she just slept with me after we cut the track until daylight. We had left themm some straw and also some dog food where we turned out out. We also roaded the lead dog from 1 of 3 spots that we thought they may come out from just so they may have a familar smell on the road if they come out.(my idea who knows if it does anything I was getting deperate.) When we left at 4pm Saturday we had not had a tracking signal since noon. On Sunday the other guy and a trapper friend of his hiked 2 miles to a spot he thought they may get a signal or cut thier tracks and got nothing. The trappr drives that road every other day and is on the lookout. The guy I went with said "if you find his dog he just wants his collar. If the dog is in the trap shoot it and call me and I will come get the collar." This is not my thoughts but I have just been trying to learn what I can from whom ever seems/appears to know more of this sport than I do.
My 5yr old daughter asked when the dog was coming home so we can go trap and chase more coons. My daughter is my hunting number one hunting buddy. She is responsible for the marshmellows in each trap. The most reliable hunting partner there is!!!
I had my wife post the pics hope it works. Still keeping my head high.

http://a960.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/82/l_5860d82a089626b403eff0dbbca4ffb7[/list]

Spanky · Post by **Spanky** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:50 am

I agree with Marc....you owe it to the hound and yourself to exhaust all efforts in finding that hound. What type of collars do you have on? how many hours or is it rechargeable type?

I would still today go back to the turn out site and leave your shirt along with a sky kennels tucked in the trees first thing tomorrow. I can not count how many times I have retrieved my hounds off a coat in the morning.

JARED PLUMLEE · Post by **JARED PLUMLEE** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:09 am

yup u gotta get back in there and do everything u can to get to that dog...if the dog came out and got picked up theres not much u can do but hope u get a call...but i would bet the dog is still in there...i lost 3 dogs one time for 7 days...it was about this time of year...they went out on a bear and ran it over the top of a huge mountain and down into a steep canyon...i would go as far as i could everyday by truck and check if they had come out to the jacket and blanket and food i left...but they never did...so finally on day 7 i could get a real faint beep on my tracker and i started walking...i walked all the way over the mountain they went over and down into the canyon and they were in there held up on a little ridge that didnt have much snow on it...it was a long day and a long walk but i got them all back...they were thin and hungry but otherwise healthy and extremely happy to see me...the GPS said i walked 13 miles that day through deep snow...it was a workout but there is no bigger reward than getting ur dogs back....So anyhow i told that story to tell u that there is plenty of hope the dogs are probably just held up back in there somewhere...so if i were you i would go to where they struck and follow the tracks as long as i could and get them back on your tracker and keep on walking til u get them found...take some food and something to possibly stay overnight if need be...you'll get em found...TAKE CARE

PS ur hunting buddy is a POS in my book and would never hunt with me again...the dogs are doing their job..hunting and treeing game,,,if he didnt want a dog that went until the track went up a tree then he shouldnt have got a dog to start with...i say screw him,,,also another piece of advice if u have a shock collar i would work the dog in the yard and get her to come to u and hunt her with it on that way if u get within range and u want her back all u gotta do is bump her with the shocker and she will be at ur feet in a matter of seconds....

Boar Runner · Post by **Boar Runner** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:12 am

the camp fire works really well. maybe they follow the smell of the smoke.
I know how you feel. My 9 yr. daughter ,claims ownership of all my dogs. Its led to a few long range retrievals in less than favorable conditions.
If you can get a signal, start early and Follow it to the dog, dead or alive
I think its our responsibility to follow our dogs. nobody gets left behind.
what the heck is the collar for otherwise.
don't lose hope I'v heard of them coming out 13days later.

larry · Post by **larry** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 6:16 am

better go get your dog. I just picked up two today that had been out 5 nights before I could sort out the tracking signal bounce in the canyons they were around before I would run out of daylight. If it stormed where you were at,that could have caused em to hole up, confusion. The dogs are definately still alive. Know of a couple sets of dogs that were 20 days out this year

youngdawg · Post by **youngdawg** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 6:23 am

I lost two dogs a few years ago in weather -5 below for four days we figured they went about 42 miles in that time down one range and back up the other side came over the mountain and where within a quarter mile of where we lost them and both dogs were young so I believe it is in the breed for them to be able to find their way back maybe some help from you couldnt hurt an old hound guy told me to boil a chicken over a fire for a few hours close to where you lost them or near the last place you knew where they were helps or leave a kennel or a shirt of yours out for your dog to find leave food and water also. KEEP LOOKING.

Bdog · Post by **Bdog** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:34 pm

In my opinion if you want to be houndsmen you owe to your dogs to do everything within your power to get them back. If that means spending a few nights in your truck or as much gas you can afford or borrow to keep looking.

Good luck but keep looking
Bruce

coonscry · Post by **coonscry** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:58 pm

Theres a real good chance you'll get your dogs back. Last year I lost 2 for 10 days in -15 degree weather and deep snow. I went up everyday looking for them I walked miles and miles. To make it worse my tracking box would only work when plugged in with a cigarette lighter. So I had to carry one of those boosters for jumping cars (thanks tracker). I found them. Thin but no worse for the wear. Its actually a good thing if they are moving Harder for you to find but its a signal that all is well. I'd also be finding me a new hunting partner.

twist · Post by **twist** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 7:15 pm

Dont give up more times than not they will be found. This is a prime example of why young houndsmen should be more cautious on the type of houndsmen they run with and the type of dogs they hunt their young dog with more times than not they have blow ups like this. If you cant find a houndsmen with good broke dogs you are better of finding a track on your own and walk it out until jumped and then turn your hound loose. Good Luck

Onza · Post by **Onza** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 9:59 pm

Good advice you are getting (on finding the dog and the advice about your partner). Dont give up hope, go out there and find that dog YOURSELF. Trust the telemetry and go to the dog, you will have to get off the road and do some walking. Good luck . A good trick if your tracking box allows is to plug in a earphone headset, with the earphones on you can pick up a signal that you may not hear otherwise.

AF

sow flat slim · Post by **sow flat slim** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 10:00 pm

You just got some DAMN GOOD advice. Try everything these boys said.

Liv2Hunt · Post by **Liv2Hunt** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:25 am

Well guys I have listened to the advice. I called my father-in-law last night at 930 and told him he was going with me(of course with a please at the end). I took up a pet porter like Spanky had said, a bag of straw for the bottom of the crate, and the dogs blanket from her kennel. I also put out some dog food.
I did not have my tracking equiptment because I had left it with the guy I went with since he stayed up there on Sunday and I could not. He neglected to drop it off to me on his way through town. He is checking on Weds. and his trapper friend is checking on Thursday. I have also told to ask his trapper friend to keep food out there for me and I will pay him for his time and dog food.
I found two canine tracks in the snow from late last night or early this morning. The were not wandering like the typical coyote track. They were not ever more than about 50ft apart. I don't believe the coyotes are pairing up yet for the breeding season but I maybe wrong. I Would like to hope one was my dog because it is within 200yards of 1 of the possible spots we thought they may come out. Without the tracking equiptment and not being able to follow the tracks through a maze of deer tracks in the timber all I can do is hope. I had followed them about 4 hundred yards before going back to the truck. The area I was hunting in is about 2 1/2 hours from the house. I guess if and when next time comes, I will hunt closer to home so if this happens I can spend more time trying to get the dogs.
Thanks for all the advise. This forum has been a great find with lots of people willing to share thier knowledge. I thank you very much.