I have been trying to get this story up for two weeks now but somebody has been keeping me busy.
Friday night March the 5th Mr. Robbie Hurt hosted a nice hunt at his ranch out from Dilley, Texas for a group of about 20 Bobcat hunters. He does this annually the night before the South Texas Bobcat Hunters Gathering. Most of the men brought two hounds each for the nights hunt. These were some of the BEST Bobcat hunters in the country and you can bet they brought their BEST hounds.
Hard to shoot a photo with more good Cat Hunters. LtoR. Mike Rooke(hat only),Alexander Smith, Jim Bob James, Henry Wietrek, Robbie Hurt, Rick James, Stephen Ball, Dub Hester, and Joe Braman. Many is the Bobcat who has met its Waterloo at the hands of these Hunters!
All of the hunters were in place shortly before dark. Robbie knew where a Cat was hiding so that is where we went first. It turned out to be a large Tom which was dispatched quickly by the Primo Hounds.
LtoR, Mike Rooke, Rick James, Dub Hester, Jim Bob James, Alexander Smith, and Henry Wietrek at the Bayup of the big Tom.
Alexander Smith weighing the 26+ # South Texas Tom
But South Texas, even though it has the highest density of Bobcat anywhere, is just like all other places. If the Cat do not walk, the Hounds just can not bark!
We struck a cold Cat right at dark and even the Best of the Best could not move it over a couple of hundred yards. Later another cold Cat was found (we should have gone to the last road first). Mr. Hensely Weaver’s Pearl bitch told the Hunters and the other hounds that the track was Cold, Cold, Cold. Her sharp Soprano chop moved the track over a mile with help from several other Hounds including the Schrader hound belonging to Stephen Ball. Just when it sounded like we were going to have a Race. The Cat went either over or through a High fence. Thus ended any hope of a good conclusion to some hard Hound work!
All the Hounds were wearing Garmin collars and this allowed the Convoy of hunters to pick up the Hounds before some hound managed to get through or hung up trying to get over the high fence.
Clinto Brown and Mike Rooke getting a lesson on the Garmin Astro 220 from Robbie Hurt. Mr. Henry Wietrek is looking on.
Shortly before the Hounds made it to the high fence, Mr. David Ward from Southeast Texas arrived with his grandson to enjoy the Hunt. Mr. Ward used to live in South Texas and has hunted all over the State during his 93 year old life. He has been a good Houndsman and still loves to hear Hounds work.
Saturday morning the Official gathering took place at the Avant Center in Dilley. Mr. Dubose and his Son are great Hosts and provided a meal that was indescribable. 6 kinds of Bar-B-Q with all the trimmings, and two pans of Banana Pudding for desert, for Dad it just could not get any better!
Mr. Dubose and his sister, he is the Host and founder of the South Texas Cat Hunter Gathering.
Young Mr. Dubose heading up the Bar-B-Qing.
There were over 80 Bobcat Hunters and a few Hog hunters in attendance from all over the State of Texas, a couple from Arkansas and Florida, and several from Mexico. Old Stories were retold. Long gone Hounds got better, Cats got harder to Catch, and Tales might have gotten a little Taller as the Day progressed. The only downer was the list of the Hunters who have crossed the River Sticks is getting longer. The Good news was that there are some young Hunters coming on to take the departed ones place, although never to fill their shoes.
Seated is Mr. David Ward the oldest attendee at 93. He has hunted South and East Texas hard all his life.
Center is Mr. Luis Chapa of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Luis is a Houndsman and hunter who regularly dispatches depredating Lion and lots of Bobcat. It is worth the trip to South Texas to see his photo collection. He uses top Running type Hounds from Texas and the South Eastern US.
Dad, Mr. Weaver, Mike Rooke and I left early to drive about 150 miles East to Woodsboro, Texas. We were going to make a hunt with Mike and Mr. Weavers hounds. These folks have been having almost as much Rain as we have had in Florida, so the Ranch Roads are bad. Mike decided to take his Mule along if needed(4 wheeled not 4 legged).
We started roading the Hounds a little after dark and hunted just over an hour before getting a Cold strike. Mr. Weaver’s Pearl and Mike’s Sheila along with Uno and Dos (Clay hounds) moved the track well and soon were jumped.
Mike had “Trained” this Cat well. She knew some bad tricks to pull and used them all. She found a “Wetlands” area and proceeded to squat and duck there till she bought enough time and space to head for that “Nearest Faraway Place”. She came back toward the truck, but it took the hounds several minutes to figure this out. Then they got back under her in full Cry! Suddenly the Pack stopped and bayed as hard as any 17 Hounds have ever bayed. Mike and I started to them and as we were crossing a Barb Wire fence… quiet!
For a moment we thought that they had caught the Cat. Then a Hound started trailing towards us. The Cat had pulled a good one and bought herself enough time to start back on her trip out of the country. All the hounds were looking for her…some were trailing…some were swinging looking, all were engaged in righting the track when Sheila’s Clear Bawl rang out across the road from where the Pack had been. She had used her “Cunning Running” style to pick up the pieces that were almost thrown away! An hours great Hound work was not for naught.
The other’s harked to her and for another hour the South Texas version of the “Cathound Opry” played. The Race moved up a drainage from a large lake towards a pipeline right of way. White brush, Black brush, Prickly Pear, and some briars. Thick and Bad stuff was where the Cat was leading the Hounds.
We were unable to drive any further in the Truck so Dad and I stayed there and Mr. Weaver and Mike took the Mule and followed the Pack. Dad and I were able to hear most of the Race and follow all of it on the Garmin.
Dad had half jockingly told the fellows that they had better bring the Cat back or else he might think that it was a “Sissoring”. Mike was determined to show Dad that the Hounds were going to produce the game by solving all this smart ole Cats tricks. Several times the Cat was up in some low stuff and the Pack either bayed or treed and each time Mike was off like a shot to get the Cat. Mr. Weaver said that it was too funny, Mike was so determined. Well sooner rather than later the Hound power showed through and the Race ended just off of the Pipeline right of way. Mike was able to pick up the Cat and brought it to show Dad. Very few Bobcat in South Texas will last two hours, but this was a special Cat who challenged a Great pack of Hounds and lost the contest.
A great Weekend with Great Hound work, Great Fellowship, and lots of Great Memories made!
Dad with Mike Rooke and Hensely Weaver and four of Mr. Weavers Cat Hounds, along with the hard running Texas Gulf Coast Sow Cat.
Good Running to All!
C. John Clay
Dads Dogboy
Were still getting a lot of rain and still unusually cold for this area. Sure has been hard on our cattle, but looks like things are about to get better. I'll hush now. John