cat populations

[mountain top]

I live in virginia and currently have some up and coming pups that I plan on turning into cat dogs. I have coon hunted for the last 20 years and have ran a few, in the last 30 years I have only seen maybe 10, crossing the road and hunting. I know here in the east they are primarily nocturnal and you rarely see 'em. my question is are there any eastern cat hunters and is they're a high enough population to justify having a pack of cat hounds. I have googled cat pop in VA and even asked the game commission but no one could help. thanks

[Dads dogboy]

Mountain Top,

Go over to www.speeddogs.net and write to Jim Modlin. Jim lives in SE VA and according to our sources keeps decent Hounds. I think that he is a straight Cat Hunter not a Fox/Cat Hunter.

Also Poon who is on here as well as Speeddogs is the real deal. While he lives in NC he probably knows populations and conditions in VA. He does run Fox in the Summer and Fall as well as Cat but is really a CAt Hunter. Poon is a hard Hunter who raises his own Hounds and has for a while. He also Hunts a reasonable number of Hounds at one time.. 10 -15 unlike so many NC Hunters who do not think that they are Hunting unless they have 30 to 50. I tease Poon and some others we know that his Hounds are 3 to 4 times better than these other Hunters...not all in Jest!

Perk who is on here is more Fox Hunter in west Central VA but does run a Cat when one is found. Another "GenUwine" Houndsman and Hunter.

Contact these and GOOD LUCK!

Good Running to All!
C. John Clay
Dads Dogboy

[Matt A]

I'm a cat hunter in Prince George, Va. Call if you would like to talk cats. 804-731-6335

[perk]

What part of Buckingham are you in? I dont know how many cats you are gonna find. I have seen a few and ran across some in Fluvanna/Louisa/Goochland. I know of a couple boys in the area who try to run cats in the winter with their foxdogs. I see tracks in certian places, around the James you could probably find some, a buddy of mine always traps some around the James in Columbia, Va. I dont know that the area has enough to strictly cathunt, but I also dont know how much land you can hunt. Have seen a few in the daylight near the James where RT 26 meets Rt 60. I wont tell you not to try it, but I will suggest that you look around for some tracks before you devote yourself to it entirely. Im sure you can find some tracks, I normally see some occasionally in different areas I hunt, but dont seem to run them or trail them too often.
Are the pups Tree Stock or Running Stock dogs?