Talk me out of buying hounds!!!

[savagman]

I have the bug and keep looking at pups or started dogs. Can't seem to shake the desire to own and hunt hounds. I might be hooked beyond help.

A couple of questions:

I would want to hunt bear, cats, maybe coon. How many dogs would I need to hunt each? Seems from reading hundreds of posts here that two would be ok on cats and coons? Would you hunt bears with two?

Breeds for Arizona? I have seen all colors hunted here but the hounds do seem to run small compared to some of the big dogs I see hunted in cooler climates. Any thoughts/suggestions?

Finally how do you choose pups? Out of proven hunting stock seems the best odds but anything else you look for? Alert pup that is using it's nose seems right. Any other tips?

Eric

[pegleg]

the ugly one is sometimes offered on discount so crooked nose, crossed eyes, short ears, cow hocked and walker colored are all benefits and then everyone knows you can't chase a de-clawed housecat with less then a dozen hounds.
Ps i got just the hound for you she's even uglier then above described hound

[savagman]

Too funny - I like the walker colored dogs but not sure about the other "benefits".

the ugly one is sometimes offered on discount so crooked nose, crossed eyes, short ears, cow hocked and walker colored are all benefits and then everyone knows you can't chase a de-clawed housecat with less then a dozen hounds.
Ps i got just the hound for you she's even uglier then above described hound

[outlaw13]

you can run and tree bears just fine with 2 dogs but the problem is when you get into a mean bear and 1 or both dogs get hurt. Then your back to 0 waiting for your dogs to recoup enough to run again.

[Gperkins14mms]

From what ive herd and read, You shouldn'tuseless than 4 or5 for cats and bears. But on the other hand theres a wholelotof people that do it with less!

[anarchy kennels]

just do what the rest of us sensless hounders do keep buying them till the dog food breaks you and you cant afford to hunt!!!! but get with some one else who does it and see what the dogs are all about then make your own choice in a pup. JMO

[savagman]

Thanks for all the tips. I wasn't able to stay away from the game. Started with a puppy out of good lion and bear dogs. That kept me going for a while but then I ended up buying a dog out of Colorado. Had been hunting them both on coons during our pursuit season - mainly just excercise for the dogs and their out of shape owner. With some help from friends both saw their first AZ bear tree this past weekend.

My two on the left

Bear treed

Pup not sure about first bear

[bowtech36]

right on congratulations to you and your dogs.