Bear hunting update & Question

[Hi Tech]

Hey guys we have been catching a few bears, but the last two have bailed out just as I got my hands on the dogs. In fact yesterday only got one caught and the bear jumped out and of to the races again. So, sorry I didn’t get any pictures.

Now my dogs aren’t in really good shape yet. In the last couple of days I have had to carry two of my dogs out of the woods. One was due to heat the other I guess he was just extremely exhausted. I would walk him then he would fall over. Now temp is 68 degrees so heat not an issue. Do you guys have this problem or am I just pushing them to hard?

[snowhound]

what kind of dogs are you running

[Hi Tech]

Walkers

[Nolte]

When the dogs are out of shape, I run them until they start falling out or run the track at a snail's pace. I usually scoop them up, give them a rest and pitch them back out. The second time is usually short lived, but it pushes them a little farther. Only a handfull of times have I had to carry a dog out for being wiped.

A couple questions on the 68 degrees. Is there any breeze, humidity, or any sort of moisture in the woods. Moisture on the underbrush/grass really helps in keeping dogs cool when they are running. Once that burns off, the dogs tire out more quickly. If it is very humid withou a breeze, I could see some out of shape dogs tiring out and being wobbly.

Another thing to consider is if they've ever had heat stroke before. Once it's happened, it seems to happen much easier. I'd keep running them and see if they improve. If it does, I'd have them checked out because you shouldn't have to carry them out unless hurt.

[chilcotin hillbilly]

Hi tech, this happened to me this spring, with the same temperature . They had the bear running for 3 hours, being there was no water anywhere as we had a dry spring, I think dehydration played a part as well. I left the other 2 dogs and drove to find water, she just fell over in the creek. I thought at first it could have been tick paralisis, but I found nothing. This is the first and only time this happened.

[Hi Tech]

Well I took my young gyp back to the vet today to have her blood platelets checked again. They were still low, but coming up. The vet said she was ok to hunt, but I don't want to ruin her. This is hurting my hunting because my other young dogs are not as good as her and my old dogs can't take these hard runs everyday. Now between wearing the old ones out and making the others foot sore from to much, I am out for a couple of days!!!

[lepcur]

They are just dogs, not machines and ya got to give them a day off when needed. Mike