Houndsmen

uncle Brisco · Post by **uncle Brisco** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:01 pm

TomJr wrote:I don't call myself a Houndsman. I have never been sprayed by a skunk altho I have had a dog rub on my pant legs after it was sprayed that count? I killed my first Lion at 14 years old, 25 years ago... didn't make me a houndsman. Since then I have taken several lions and to many bobcats and foxes to remember.

Now so far this year my dogs have put up 6 bears all of them mulitple times. In the last three days my dogs treed 2 differnt bears and pushed a third right to me in some brush, at one point I was 5 feet from a 300+ lb bear. I called the dogs off after that and went home, maybe if I was a houndsman I would have let the dogs keep pushing it until they either treed it or got ate up... Point is while my dogs tree alot of game I don't consider myself a "houndsman".

All of my dogs are nutered for one. And some are not even hounds or even what most would consider biggame hunting dogs. Thier main job is just to keep bears out of our orchard. But during lion and furbearing seasons I do take them out to run in the canyons around the orchard every morning. We tree a number of bobcats every year and last year got alot of foxes in and around the orchard. We also tree a few lions every year but the last one I took was 5 years ago. Only took it because it was inside the fence, smallish male about 100lbs.

When I think of houndsman I think of someone that is breeding or if not acualy doing the breeding, a part of a breeding program ie running dogs that if they prove out will be bred to improve a line or continue a good one. They are also likly heavily invested in dogs and equipment. Ie dog box tracking collars ect. I have non of those just some dogs that like to chase stuff... only thing I don't allow them to run is deer. We have alot of fun though and I realy admire those that make the sport pay a little or atleast break even

brother you are far more a houndsman than you give yerself credit,jmho

Tim Cook · Post by **Tim Cook** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 10:46 pm

Had to vote for the skunk, that means i'm a sure enough houndsmen. I've racked up some serious skunk numbers over the years. Should of put went thru many girl friends / wifes as one of the options. All kidding aside just catching stuff doesn't make you a houndsmen I don't think. When it becomes a lifestyle is when you become a houndsmen :!:

And when you always try to help others, get youngsters involved, always trying to better your breed and yourself, catch some game and don't think you have to kill it to make dogs, and still have lots of fun and a goodtime while doing it all, Then your a houndsmen :!:

Calkins · Post by **Calkins** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 2:31 am

I would say training a pup into something that will do a good job. That's where the men are seperated from the boys.

Ike · Post by **Ike** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 2:53 pm

12-GAUGE · Post by **12-GAUGE** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:10 pm

Ike,

I'm with ya.

krk hunting · Post by **krk hunting** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 6:43 pm

I tried that breeding once but it hurt (especially when she bit me) So I leave that up to the dogs now. :lol:

Just kidding. she never bit me!!!!!!!!!
I think a houndsmen is the type of person that can take the good with the bad and keep going, I have seen many that jump ship when times are tough. dogs are not quite doing what they should ie: all day deer chases
wrecks, lost dogs, then the real houndsmen stick with it and get back in the saddle and start again another day.

kevin

Bearkiller · Post by **Bearkiller** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:43 am

Ike wrote:You guys have brought up some interesting points and s on what you believe a houndsman might be, and it shows how different we all are for sure. I found the comments made by Tom interesting because in some ways money investment and equipment bought would surely prove a person's devotion to the sport. Most of us have used up a couple trucks, and ATV and snow sled, have bought or own a dozen tracking collars and two or more receivers, and most likely own a four or six collar shock collar system. I would support the idea that when a guy has invested fifty to a hundred thousand dollars in equipment and hounds he probably has earned the right to be called a houndsman......that is if it was a sacrifice and didn't come out of a rich man's pocket.

But to me, being a houndsman is about the man the dogs and not about the game they chase, the game they catch, the game they kill or other people. The sport has nothing to do with others but rather the connection between the man and his hounds, and everything else is outside of that connection....

keep'em treed,
ike

I'm going with IKE on this one. I don't think it has anything to do with taking other people with you, young or old. I don't even think it has to do with catching game. If a guy never catches anything but has his dogs in the woods as much as he possibly can then he probably is a houndsmen. If another guy hunts 15 days a year and catches something everyday, I don't think he's a houndsmen. He's a guy with dogs. More than likely he didn't train the dogs either. Its all about how a guy feels about dogs and hunting with them. I am happier on a day when I come home with all my dogs happy and healthy then I am on a day that I catch a critter and have to leave a dog/dogs in the woods. Maybe I'm not a houndsmen, maybe I am. Maybe it makes no difference to me. I just do what I enjoy.

papa · Post by **papa** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:32 am

I believe some of the differences in real houndsmen and the rest of the folks can be seen in dry ground lion hunting. The successful dry ground lion hunters that I had the opportunity to observe put just about as much work and savvy into the deal as the dog does....walking the track...helping when they lose it...predicting what the cat will do...communicating with the dog when possible....knowing the critter and its tendencies....seems like it takes a better houndsman to consistently catch lion on dry ground....I could take a real houndsman's dog and probably not do as well as he would...on the other hand he could probably take my potlicker and catch a lion....so I think all those things go into making a real houndsman....jmo, probably not worth any more than my dogs are. :lol:

Travis Stirek · Post by **Travis Stirek** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:47 am

papa wrote:I believe some of the differences in real houndsmen and the rest of the folks can be seen in dry ground lion hunting. The successful dry ground lion hunters that I had the opportunity to observe put just about as much work and savvy into the deal as the dog does....seems like it takes a better houndsman to consistently catch lion on dry ground....

I was going to respond but just can't.I do think its funny how this always comes up,when there are difficult conditions in every geographical area.You know the one "You guys got it so much easier than we do."This is no disrespect to the dry ground guys it is more of a statement how alot of hound hunters always think the grass is always greener,no matter where they are from.

Majestic Tree Hound · Post by **Majestic Tree Hound** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:32 pm

You just know when your a Houndsman when your getting the hounds Dressed to go hunting and Your Wife Says "Well thats FINE YOU JUST GO and HAVE SEX with your Hounds"
And you LEAVE ..

three rivers catahoulas · Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:38 pm

Man I got lucky, my wife has been into hounds her whole life, she was six days old and sittin in the truck with her mom while her dad was walkin to the tree. So I never get the third degree when I go, the only time I catch flack is if I dont bring her..

Brady · Post by **Brady** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:32 pm

Mike i will agree with you 100% on this one LOL

Houndsmen

At what point do you officially become a houndsmen

Mike L