Coon / Bobcat Hound question/s

[apexpred]

Hello,
New to the site. Hunted a little with various canine breeds over the years and toying with the idea of getting a couple of hounds. Not really big game hounds but more coon (~75%) and bobcat (~25%) hounds.

This plan is a long way off but I'm trying to figure out how really feasible it is and if a person could (likely) have a brace that was equally good at both (running coon and bobcat). Were I live there are a fair number of cats, but not enugh to justify hounds for just that purpose. There are a bunch of coon here and more and more bear every year, which is a whole other topic.

Oh, I don't have enough to go out and buy top bred broke hounds. This would be more of a labor of love if you will. I'm able to hunt frequently close by as I live in a pretty rural area.

Just wondering what type of ideas and thoughts some of you guys who been in this position might have to offer. Also, guys that have hounds like this please chime in.

Lastly, I'm not partial to any breed but think I would like something with a meduim nose so I could enjoy the hunt versus putting them out on a hot track most of the time. No interest in trialing. By the way best pair of coon hounds I've ever run with was a redbone and a black and tan tandem. When those two got on a track the coon had a choice, get shot or get shot.

Good hunting and thanks.

[Racin_GT]

I am partial to Blueticks but I think that you will find several other breeds that will treat you well and can be cross trained. Blueticks tend to be a bit cold nosed. I feel that Coon put down a lot of scent and they are fairly easy to get a pup started on. With that said no dog will every run good on anything if you cant devote a good amount of time, energy and money to them. Training a dog is key to enjoying them other wise you will just have a howlin fool that you'll chase through the woods and with any luck catch em when they put the neighboors cat up a tree. You can find great doogs for 300 bucks but it is all a matter of what you are looking for. Just my thoughts.

[apexpred]

Thanks for the reply.
Thought there'd be more guys using their hounds for bobcats and coon.
While I'm not very experienced with the hounds, I have seen that the ones that get hunted over a lot tend to be better. My schedule and location permit me to hunt quite frequently. And, there's a lot of coon in the area. I was wondering about cats because I've seen a number of them and cross their tracks when coyote hunting. I'm not looking for a "quick fix" and realize it may take a couple of years for a hound to come into his/her own. That's been the case with some of the dogs I've owned. As they get hunted over they matured and became better dogs.
By the way I see you're from Maine. I shot my first bear there in 1977 (in the spring) with a little known guy (at the time) named Wayne Bosowitz. Back then, he ran Plotts for bear.
Anyway thanks again and I'll do some looking at those "blue" dogs.

Hmmm......putting the neighbors cat/s up a tree would be fun too

[Racin_GT]

Yea we have some nice bear up here. We hunted Cats all of this past winter with a 2year old Bluetick. He did really well but, we just always put em into the ledges. Cats wont leave as much scent as a Coon but all in all they are both a blast to run. We will be training that same 2 year old this summer to run Bear along with a few other younger dogs. It is gonna be a blast!

[montananative]

i know plenty of fellas than run coon/ cats (bobs and lions) most guys i know get there dogs going on coons, and then switch over to cats. it gives the dogs a chance to hunt year round, and its far easier to get them goin on coons first, cause they are much more plentiful and availible, and can be trapped with ease. i also know guys whos dogs jsut sit on the chain in the off season for cats...seems a waste to me.

my female i got for $150 and my male i got for $350. all i do is make sure that there parents and grandparents hunted and tree their own game. if u can hunt with the paretns, all the better. i would jsut get your dogs goin on coon, then just start dumpin on cat tracks and be prepared for alot of walkin and alot of frustration. but its totally worth it in the end. its a process to get em going, but a blast once u got u some huntin hound dogs

oh ya, my redbone has what i would describe as a medium nose. never takes real cold tracks, but dont just take blazin hot tracks. she is bawls on track, chop on tree. she is pretty big too, has no trouble handling these big montana coons on her own. very happy go lucky dog, untill she is hunting. good luck

[apexpred]

M-native,
Those are some of my thoughts too. I'd hate to get a hound or two and have them sit idle because the coon aren't active. Seems like the dogs would be getting the short end of the stick on that deal. Like I said, I'm not looking to have or create dogs that are the best around, but there is no denying having game at the end of the run is the goal.

Guess I need to start thinking about what I can honestly do (time commitment), how much I can afford, what my dogs absolutely can't do (tangle with porkies and skunks..LOL) , and what demeanor they must have (easy going when home-all business in the field) and obedient. Then give them and me time to grow and learn. If I hold up my end and they don't produce to my standard, start over with another prospect. Sooner or later I'll either have what I want or.........have to admit defeat.

Good Hunting