Questions about rigging

barksalot · Post by **barksalot** » Sun May 03, 2015 12:48 pm

I have hunted tree dogs for over 50 years but last season was my first experience with rigging. I hunt fox squirrels, gray squirrels, coon and bobcat. Luckily, I started with a young dog with what seems to be natural talent as a rig dog. It is my skills and knowledge that needs a boost. She seems to be an honest strike dog but about 50% of the time no track or tree is located even after she makes an energetic hunt. I am guessing that the game has been laying up for some time and the air currents are not right for her to locate the tree. (She is rigging on top of the box in the back of the truck.)
THE QUESTION IS, HOW CAN I HELP HER????? Factors That I suspect that I need to learn to handle better are:
Backing up to a point before the strike to put her down.
Barometer? Falling? Rising?
Wind direction.
Temperature? Rising? Falling?
Time of day? Morning? Evening? Night?
Choosing the right set of conditions before attempting to rig and free cast at other times?
Finally; Most likely, there are factors that I have never thought about. Help please.

al baldwin · Post by **al baldwin** » Sun May 03, 2015 6:26 pm

In my experience 50% is about normal if the dog is striking on older tracks. I don/t know how you can help if she is hunting out wide to find the track. You could be correct, some dogs can strike a lay up coon a long ways off. Al

1bludawg · Post by **1bludawg** » Sun May 03, 2015 8:08 pm

I never really pay much attention to the weather or tracking conditions i just go hunting.Some conditions are naturally better but if you wait on ideal weather patterns you won't get to hunt much.A good rig dog will usually find a track if there is one .When young dogs first start rigging they realize you're going to let them down when they bark so they start false striking (some of them)so you'll let them down .When mine get down and don't find a track i scold them (might even cuss a little) and make them get up on the box.Also listen for a change in your dogs bark when they do strike game.I've had dogs that were loose lipped on the box but when they struck real game the tone of their voice would change and you know you have a track then .

1bludawg · Post by **1bludawg** » Sun May 03, 2015 8:32 pm

You might find these pictures interesting : My ole Ranger dog striking a bobcat off the box in the late 70's .Then there's my Lady and Penni rigging a cat in the late 80's.

1bludawg · Post by **1bludawg** » Sun May 03, 2015 8:37 pm

: IMG_20150503_151640-1.jpg (9.9 KiB) Viewed 4366 times

barksalot · Post by **barksalot** » Sun May 03, 2015 9:04 pm

Thanks Al and bluedog; I don't think she is false striking. I can rig her through a mile or two without a strike when she is fresh without a bark, then get two unproductive strikes in short order. And weather dosen't stop me from hunting but was questioning if conditions should alter the method of hunting.
Nice looking, intense hounds. I hunted blue dogs in the 60's and 70's. Some were Smokey River bred.

1bludawg · Post by **1bludawg** » Sun May 03, 2015 10:02 pm

Nights are usually the best hunting because of game movement and cooler temperatures but i'm sure you know that.I don't enjoy that anymore so i start hunting about daylight .Most of the rig dogs i've owned and hunted with will strike after they pass over the track about 10 to20 feet(?).Does she check behind the truck first ? If you can set your rearview or side mirrors or both up to where you can watch her on the box,that way you can see where she's facing when she strikes.For whatever reason a rig dog can sometimes catch a scent off the box that they can't smell on the ground .Remember those spots as they might be good game crossings.

barksalot · Post by **barksalot** » Mon May 04, 2015 3:09 pm

Bludawg; You comment about striking after passing over the track may prove helpful. She hunts mostly to the side and forward from the truck, probable because that is the direction of her attention as we move down the road. I will try backing up some distance beyond the point of the strike to put her down. I have also thought about getting a powder puffer like the deer hunters use and cast her into the wind. With a lot of experience she may learn all of this herself, but at this time she is just so eager to go find the critter that she isn't using her mind. What do you experienced hands think?

johnadamhunter · Post by **johnadamhunter** » Mon May 04, 2015 8:44 pm

Why don't you catch a coon and plant it by a road. Then you'll know what is happening.