How to teach free casting

[houndcrazy93]

Hey everyone I was wondering how I can teach my hounds to free cast. I've always just riged them. But the coon population isn't very good this year and last night I covered a whole mountain riging for them and couldn't get any strikes. I was only at about 400 ft high to. So I want to cast my hounds out in to the thicker stuff. But my older hound will just go out a little ways and come back, so just lookin for tips on how to get him to actrually cast out. Thanks everyone

[DEE POWELL]

IT'S PROBABLY TO LATE IF THEY ARE GROWN DOGS HOWEVER TRY FINDING SOMEONE THAT HAS DOGS THAT ONCE YOU UNLEASE THEM THERE GONE AND HUNT THEM 1 ON 1 WITH THE FREE CAST DOG.
RIGGING IS GOOD BUT YOUR DOGS HAVE GOTTEN LAZY FAR AS GOING OUT AND LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO TREE ON THERE OWN.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY AS YOU MAY HAVE THE BEST RIG DOGS AROUND.

DEE POWELL

[sheimer]

I didn't really teach my hounds to free cast. I just turn them loose and start walking. I walk in the general direction I want them to hunt. I just keep my mouth shut and let them figure it out. Now when I let them out of the box, they just start working their way out and hunting along. If they are heading the wrong way I just hollar at them and get them heading in the right direction.

Hope it helps,

Scott

[Mountainhound]

Old dog or not just take them to where you want them to hunt let them out have a seat on the tailgate and just let them do as they please for an hour or so. They don't do anything take them to next spot and repeat. Just keep doing that they will eventually range deeper they will not be able to help themselfs. It may take awhile it may not. But they are hounds and they wont hang around the truck forever. They have learned one way now they need to learn another. I am sure the only time they are let out of the truck is to empty out or run a track they already now is there now they need to learn to go find one on thier own. Patience and time they will learn to do just that. I don't care how old they are an old dog can learn new tricks. Good luck!!