Big vs Small

[BuckNAze]

Well the one we lost first was a strike and we never got a look at it, it seemed like it may have been 2 bears, I know its their mating season and im not sure if there was 2 or not. My buddies 2 good dogs split and 3 dogs went one way and 3 the other, anyone experience something like this before?

[chilcotin hillbilly]

I run the odd bear and have a bit of experience with big bears, small bears and long clawed bears. First the small bears are deffinately more agile and seem to be quicker in rough terrain and thick vegetation, they also seem like they can run much longer distances before they need a rest. The big bears although fast enough in open terrain I have never owned a dog that couldn't make up ground on a big black bear. Part of the success on big bears I believe is not due to more scent as much but as the distance closes between the hounds and the bear the hounds will start to use their ears and there eyes. The big bears are easier to hear and see, As far as grizzly go I find a 500 lb grizz has the agility of a 150 lb sow bl bear and a lot more aggression but don't really run much faster then a big bl bear in open terrain. Those plotts that eat the heart out of most black bears would not last long on a grizz, but mind you instictively dogs in general give grizzly much more respect and don't grab much hair even if they are black bear eaters. It would be interesting to put some of these black bear eating plotts on a grizz just to see if their demeaner changes at all. Interesting topic I would like to hear more opinions from other people.

[Eric Muff]

If you have dogs that want to catch a bear you got most of the problem solved,all you need now is enough pressure and you got a bear in a tree most times.But then again...

[chilcotin hillbilly]

Your bang on with this statement Eric "If you have dogs that want to catch a bear you got most of the problem solved"

[BlacktailStalker]

Which goes back to "Dogs that tree bears run to catch, not run to chase."

Probably the one thing that always proves true.
I agree about that fur grabbing plott stuff, love to see them on a grizz

[blackandtan79]

hey if the big bears are the ones outrunnin them plotts seems to me like maybe there not puttin enough presure on him to get him stopped.haha

[Rossco]

A lot of what every one has to remember is theres a lot of factors that go into every race. I have had situations where I thought conditions were perfect and the dogs didn't earn what they've eaten for the whole month. Other times when you turn out figuring nothing is going to happen but its worth a try and and my dogs impress the hell out of me. Around here I hunt some steep country. the last bear I ran crossed the road in front of my friend and he said it was right around a hundred pounds, and let me tell you his nikes were laced up tight, had no problem out running dogs and there was enough there with plenty of drive and were in shape, he never got cought. But those big ones can run to, don't let their weight fool you. In my opinion, for the most part smaller bears do preffer to run rather than climb and will cause a longer race. But thats just my opinion, I think I was wrong once before in my life, or was I right once before. Hell, I can't remember.

[fallriverwalker1]

well guys i've caught one or two bears in my time ,seen litttle bears run like a rsce horse ' also seen them eat some good dogs for lunch . i've killed a few bears on the ground over 500 that a pack of alligators couldn't make climb . there are so many factors involved ; its hard to come up with any general rule , you just have to play the hand your delt ,breed of dogs has nothing to do with any of this. www.fallriverwalker.com

[Ike]

I kind of think there is as much of a mental game that goes on between hounds and a bear as anything else. Lots of folks seem to think it's how much azz hair a dog pulls that forces a bear to climb, but I think there is more of a mental game between the bear and the hounds that goes on than is realized. A couple fearless, face barking hounds that don't give any more ground than need be go a long way toward bluffing a bear up a tree. Lets face it, an adult bear can stay on the ground and kill hounds one by one if they are mean enough--and there ain't nobodies hounds gonna change that in a small pack. A couple of hounds aren't gonna hurt any large bear, and if that bear catches a hound and doesn't turn it loose until it's dead the game is over if he continues down that road. I believe the difference in why one pack makes some bears climb and others don't is the attitude that one or two of the key dogs present on a bayup.

[Rossco]

that is a very good point ike. But what about the bears that never hit a bay. there are some runnin bears where that happens. I'm not wantin to argue what so ever, just curiouse on your opinion. I agree with you that in baying desitions there is a proven domenant animal. but what about the bears that jump that don't get bayed and just flat out run.

[Ike]

Good point Rossco, and for those bears a guy better have a hard running dog that will pick it's head up and run in that bear's jet stream--it can't stop to piss or dump or scratch it's butt or nothing, just run as long and far as that bear does. Those kind of dogs, in my opinion, are the ones that break the will of a running bear.

JMO,
ike

[Rossco]

And the dogs that do that and can flat catch a real runnin bear are a special dog. But I do beleive that there are some bears out there that will out run almost any dog, and ome times all dogs. when you turn out and there is nothin but down hill, and you get one of those just runnin bears where the dogs have no chance to over haul the bear that is a rough sittuation. It doesn't happen often, but sooner or later ther will come a time. I'll be the first to tell you I am just a pup. At only 24 years old and not being able to own hounds till I was out of my parents house there is a world of senerious I am yet to encounter. But I have met up with some runners and they have for the most part been small. I was lucky enough to be in the mountains on my own since I could drive and have watched a lot of chaces with strangers dogs. I just have a love for a good working dog, no matter the breed or job. But track and tree dogs are by far my favorite.