first coon race

[newby]

Hey guys...I just trapped a coon last night and turned him loose this morning, waited a half hour and then turned my 8 mo. old pup in the area. He struck the track hard and fast and took off through some really thick blackberry brambles...ran it about 200 yards into another really thick blackberry jungle, like a canopy. I could hear him under there firing hard for about 10 or 15 min...he finally worked his way out. I didn't know if he just couldn't get through or if the track really ended under that mess of blackberries. I walked him all around those berries just to see if he'd strike it coming out somewhere, but no luck. Does that sound like somewhere a coon would hole up? There were no trees anywhere near, so I'm wondering if maybe he had a den in the ground under there. If any of you have any advice on how to deal with that let me know. Also, I just took the pups word for it and praised him up pretty good, but I don't want to give the idea that I'm praisin' him for quitting a track...let me know what you think. Thanks!

[ChazK]

We've had Hog dog pups trail for a little and then stop and come out. Idk if he just gave up or if the coon gave him the slip. I've never heard of a coon burrowing undergound. No telling what the ole furrball did.

[montananative]

hard to say what the ringtail did. ive had coon get in real thick stuff like you explained, they jsut get up on the brush a little ways, and walk it out on top, and drop back down and run, or hunker down in the brush. its hard to tell in a situtation like that.

dont get in the habbit of praisin real hard if he dont hvae the coon, but if its his first track run, and he opened and tried his best, you cant not praise for that in my opinion. if he ever does this again and doesnt tree the coon, jsut tell him good boy, give him a pat on the head, and be on your way. if he has the coon, act like he is the best damn dog on earth!

good luck, sounds like hes got what it takes

[newby]

I hear you...maybe he played a trick on us.

I don't know if I mentioned it, or if it makes any difference, but this all took place mid-morning, so I don't know if that would affect their behavior.

Also, I heard him baying really hard under that brush...that's what makes me think the coon was holed up under there...I've heard that they do make dens underground sometimes, but I don't know. Thanks for your replies guys.

[redneckbearhunter]

he could of climbed up in the briers and hide or could ofwent in a dine. they will go under ground. i have cut my way in to where dog where and then end up digging a big hole to get it out for them. it dose alot of god for young dogs. i hunt in the morning so that way they may have to work a track for a long distance and then find them in a hole.

[montananative]

very well could have been a hole. ive run plenty coons into holes. also, your dog jsut could have been treeing where the coon climbed up in the brush. my bets on one of those two.

[Lonewolf]

[newby]

Why is it that you say those dogs make good bear dogs...just all around toughness or drive? Just curious...I did kick around in the brush a little, but didn't seem to flush anything out to him. We'll try again soon and now that he knows that I want him to chase coons, maybe he'll start striking them in our walks through the woods. He was started strictly on cats up in OR, so I don't think he's ever been encouraged to run anything but those. That sure doesn't seem to keep him from wanting to run the hair off a deer, but I'm working on getting an e-collar so I think we'll be able to solve that.

[montananative]

[Lonewolf]