The Boulder Pile Tom - Pics and Video

[ChasinTail]

Hey everyone. It's been a while, we hope everyone is having a great season! We've had excellent conditions over the last few weeks and have had good success. We went out yesterday and caught up to this desert tom. Based on his track size, and the area, we are pretty sure we've chased this lion multiple times, but just weren't able to get him caught. Once these lions figure out that they can jump from boulder to boulder and give the dogs the slip, they stick to the rocks. This lion was no different, as you'll see from the pictures and video. This lion had killed a January born calf, and drug it up into some rocks. As we headed down the road toward the mountain, the dogs crossed his track. It was HOT... we had dogs going every which way! Once they lined him out, he was traveling right down the road! We got up to a spot where we could see his track, and knew that he was pretty good. Checking the GPS, we could see that Goose (leopard cur) was way out in front, which is not unlike her on a hot track. She will find the scent column, and run it, full blast. We came up over a small hill and could see Goose at a dead sprint, and we knew she was on his tail. The lion ended up jumping through the rocks and finding a nice big boulder to catch his breath on. Goose is a great locator, and after circling the area for a few minutes she spotted him. It only took a couple of minutes for the other dogs to catch up to her and the rest is history. We hope you enjoy the pictures and video.

Tyler












Here's the link to the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5c9OtBbWjE

[dpetty]

Super video and pics thanks for sharing.

[twist]

Great pics and video.

[FullCryHounds]

I need to comment on this video. It's really hard to capture a hunt on film. Hauling a camera around, keeping it steady, captureing the right footage and then editing it into a film that captures the essence of the hunt. This video does that. Congratulations on a nice cat and a great video. It's nice to see a video that doesn't start out with hounds barking under a tree!

[Catman]

Great video. I know you guys don't believe this, BUT I'm envious of your conditions So sick of snow this year

[ChasinTail]

I need to comment on this video. It's really hard to capture a hunt on film. Hauling a camera around, keeping it steady, captureing the right footage and then editing it into a film that captures the essence of the hunt. This video does that. Congratulations on a nice cat and a great video. It's nice to see a video that doesn't start out with hounds barking under a tree!

Dean,

Thank you for the comment. I agree! 99% of the lion videos out there... (including mine) start at the tree. We did our best to capture the hunt. We know that there are a lot of people out there that have never hunted horseback. They may have never seen how a freecasted lion hunt goes. We get questions all the time... "how do you just let the dogs out and go?" Luckily this lion hunt included a pretty fresh calf kill. The dogs actually never made it to the kill before they hit the track. You're also exactly right about getting the right footage and editing. Coming from someone that I've admired on this and other message boards I take your comment as a good compliment. Thank you!

Tyler

[ChasinTail]

Great video. I know you guys don't believe this, BUT I'm envious of your conditions So sick of snow this year

Catman, I believe you. This day started out at 37 degrees when we left the truck, and 70 when we got back! Who wouldn't be envious of that!??

[Catman]

How do you get to your place

[ChasinTail]

How do you get to your place

Google maps buddy... Benson, AZ

Welcome anytime.

[az_hunter]

Awsome video and pics always love seeing your videos and pics! Congrats on the lion

[sheimer]

Like everyone said, congrats and nice work with the hunt as well as the video.

I too am jealous of the weather and being able to ride to the tree. I would love to be able to keep up with the race and see what is happening as the dogs go. Up here once they go, there gone till the tree or the wreck, which ever comes first.

Again, congrats.

Scott

[ChasinTail]

I too am jealous of the weather and being able to ride to the tree. I would love to be able to keep up with the race and see what is happening as the dogs go. Up here once they go, there gone till the tree or the wreck, which ever comes first.

Again, congrats.

Scott

Scott,

You bring up a good point. Being able to keep up with the dogs in order to get the footage is very difficult. The terrain we were in helped a lot just because it was so open. Getting as close to the lion as we did on mules takes good mules and lots of luck... we've got good mules, but rarely have this good of luck! How it usually happens is we have to tie up mid way up the mountain, and hike in... so as I film on the way up there all you hear is huffing and puffing and cussing.... so that usually doesn't make it through the first round of editing...

[sheimer]

I too am jealous of the weather and being able to ride to the tree. I would love to be able to keep up with the race and see what is happening as the dogs go. Up here once they go, there gone till the tree or the wreck, which ever comes first.

Again, congrats.

Scott

Scott,

You bring up a good point. Being able to keep up with the dogs in order to get the footage is very difficult. The terrain we were in helped a lot just because it was so open. Getting as close to the lion as we did on mules takes good mules and lots of luck... we've got good mules, but rarely have this good of luck! How it usually happens is we have to tie up mid way up the mountain, and hike in... so as I film on the way up there all you hear is huffing and puffing and cussing.... so that usually doesn't make it through the first round of editing...

Tyler, I did notice that the mules were in a long trot for the bulk of the video. I also noticed that they may have been around a barking dog and a lion above them before. I am impressed with the shaggy one that the hunter was riding, not much for looks, but the "kind" everyone wants.

How's Bailey doing? I saw a pic of her the other day and did a double take. I would have sworn that it was my female in the pic.

Scott

[ChasinTail]

scott, Bailey is doing awesome!

She got her foot busted up pretty good on a lion Monday so she was pretty sore yesterday...

A couple of weeks ago we went out to make a circle and hit a pretty good track, as we looked for the track we found out it was a bobcat. They treed the bobcat pretty quick, and when we got up close it didn't stick around and jumped out, well, it ran down a little wash and got up in a little mesquite bush, literally, a bush, about 4 foot off the ground. All the other dogs blew by it.. one of our 10 month old pups, and Bailey found that bobcat in the bush, and Bailey jumped up and snatched it out of the tree!

She's got a cat mind, and doesn't quit...she hunted all the way back to the truck yesterday..

[Marshall]

How do you get to your place

Google maps buddy... Benson, AZ

Welcome anytime.

I have family there and a few years back a lion put my great aunt up a tree in her yard lol.