bear scents...

[houndcrazyfool]

What is the best bear scent to use to get pups started?

[snowy river black and tan]

I had a old timer tell me all the scents were bogus. Most people didnt dillute them enough and it would burn a dogs nose so I always stayed away from them. My good bear dogs wont take a man made drag they can tell its not right.

I was out free casting my dogs a couple of years ago in late march. Lion season was still goin but it was sunny and warm with no snow. We were out there for exersize more than anything. When we came across a old friend who been house cating with bear scent, getting ready for the season. He told me what was up and wanted to follow and see what the dogs would do when they smelled the bear scent. I kept on down the road. I saw my dogs pick up there heads and start working the air when they smelled the scent about 200 yards away. They didnt pick up there pace just kept on going.When they caught up to were this had just happend they all sniffed around. One of them went as far as to lift his leg and pee on the decessed but none of the dogs showed any exitment or recinized the smell. These are the same dogs that caught me 39 bears last year.

Im curious if any of the more expiernced hounds men have seen this and what there thoughts are...spanky...mike...

[beardogger4life]

snowy river b/t wrote
"My good bear dogs wont take a man made drag they can tell its not right."

yeah, if i try to make my dogs run a scent drag they just kinda look at me funny, like whats up are you kidding me. as far as puppys i have 2 ways. first i think that racoon work the best for getting them ready for bear. i like to catch one in a live trap and and use it for getting them excited, then when you go hunting and catch one with the dogs i tie the big dogs back and shoot it out to the younger ones (i dont shoot to kill). after they get a few kills it seems that they want to follow the big dogs. I do alot of bear hunting and when we kill one i like to walk puppys into the kill when i drag in the rope. then i let the puppy chase it with the big dogs while the truck pulls the rope and drags the bear out, it seams to really get them focused when that big smelly thing moves and the other dogs follow it barking.

[houndcrazyfool]

yeh, i have one three year old that has only seen coons (she is from oklahoma) and two 5month old dogs. I was just thinkin it might get that older dog on the right track for what i want to hunt and get the pups interested. I did do a bobcat trainer a while back and the pups ran the trackand tree'd it it. As far as taking them out hunting they have ran a few tracks baying out but didnt catch, could have been a coyote for all i know but one of the chases they kept on it for about a half hour running it in circles which made me think it was a fox...
I gotta go check my trap for a coon, thanks for the input

[snowy river black and tan]

If you can hunt over bait take your good coon dog. If she is a little bit trashy she will take it.If you cant hunt over bait go with a friend who has bear dogs. That bear scent is hard to say no to

[houndcrazyfool]

thanks