BigGameHoundsmen.com

Robbie, I think that a lot of hunters that have not seen the type of race that happens with a pack of 8 or more running dogs on a jumped track with good conditions understand the intensity and speed it happens. I think and correct me if I am wrong, but alot of Bobcat Hunters in other parts of the country use only 1 or 2 trail hounds and catch alot of cats in their country.
Robbie, In your opinion would 1 or 2 dogs be able to consitently catch or tree cats in your country if they were coon or big game bred?

Big N' Blue, you ask "In your opinion would 1 or 2 dogs be able to consistently catch or tree cats in your area if they were coon or big game bred?"

I really don't know. I have never seen it or don't know if it has been tried, because nearly every cat hunter down this away has a pack of dogs.

I have tried dogs that had too much coon dog breeding in them and most of those just didn't have the stamina and heart that the running dog bred has. Maybe it was just that certain line of coon dog that I tried, not saying they are all this away.

As far as the big game bred dogs, I have one now. First one I have ever tried. She came out of New Mexico from Hap Blackston. She's just a pup about 7 months old right now. She has been on probably 10 to 15 catches as of right now. It will be interesting to she how she turns out. I can see already that she really likes to use her nose and really independent. When I first started roading her with the dogs she would smell a rabbit or quail and go to whipping and wagging her tail working on the trail. I would just ease on roading the older dogs, a few times I would have to load up and go back 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile to get her and she would still be there working on that trail. After a few buzzes with the shocker I have her staying with us good now. But she sure shows a lot of independence and I like that.

Right now I'm hunting 10 dogs. Now I really believe I could take 2 or 3 of the top dogs out of my pack and catch as many cats as the hole pack can. But I always have young dogs in the pack that I'm training. In this country, this time of year, every time you put your dogs on the ground your taking the chase of getting one killed from a snake. Therefore I always have young dogs coming on to take ones place in case you do get one killed. I will also sell a good dog ever now and then. But...I like training young dogs, if I just hunted older dogs it wouldn't be near as much fun to me. Just like watching my younger dogs progress.

In your question above about consistently catch or tree. Here we can hunt year round, no season. I don't think you will find 1 or 2 or any pack of dogs that will consistently catch here year round. They might consistently catch during the winter months but when you get into the summer months with the temperature reaching 105 degrees and dry it's a whole different ball game and nothing consistent about it. Not for me anyway or my friends that I know of around here that cat hunt. Just last week one day, it really seemed hot. At 4 PM I looked at the temperature reading in the shade and it showed 104 degrees and haven't had any rain in over a month. Trailing conditions has really gotten bad.

Well I hope I answered your question. I guess I kinda got off topic. Thanks. Robbie

On snow its the usual with 1 or 2 dogs with tree blood dogs here(although I have a running dog cross pup), I believe I could be wrong but jc hunts a 5 or more pack in his country and hunts mostly bareground. Here in Oregon we have a big diversity of ground from east to west to south.

Thanks Robbie, Keep us posted how that dog from NM progresses.
Unreal_tk, It is the same in Texas, many diverse terrains.

robbie u and big an blue should get on a plane and come to the cat hunters gathering in sept. it would be great to meet u guys

jc

Here's something else to throw out there...my buddy Phil Lyne brought this to my attention years ago and I have found to be true in most situations. "A bawl mouth dog does not spook game like a choppy mouthed or "yipping" (excited sounding) dog. I guess this was passed down to him from Joe Rufus or his experience with his hog and cow dogs.
Rob, Steve and Richard just left here, had a good visit. It will be interesting to see how the pup from Hap's develops. Keep us posted. By the way, Richard said you must be sick as you did not hunt this morning.
I hunted and got a pup cut on a dang sheep fence, the 5th one she crossed trailing a coon that would not climb.
Adios,
Gary

Thanks JC , wish I could. Would love to meet all of you. If you have as good a group as South Texan does ya'll are the salt of the earth! Really enjoy reading all of ya'll post as it is very helpfull for the younger generation to have so much info to cypher thru.
God willing, I am going to try to retire late next year and do nothing but hunt. Will definitly make a trip up to see ya'll.
Gary, if that bawl mouth thing is true, some of mine ought to lull them into surrendering.LOL Be glad when I can get back to hunting!

Jc, thanks for the invite. I appreciate that. I have been on a plane once in my life, just feel safer with both feet on the ground.lol I'm really pretty much of a home body and don't get to far from here. Wish I could say abracadabra and be there I would really enjoy meeting all of ya'll too. Thanks again!


Gary, I'm not sick but after hunting yesterday morning just got my tail tucked between my legs. Started one cold trail but just couldn't ever catch up to get him jumped. Got hot and late up in the morning and trail just fizzled out on the dogs. Scenting conditions have really turned for the worse here in the last couple of weeks. Figured I would give'em a break this morning and try it again tomorrow morning.

Hope your pup gets all right from her cut. Sure glad I don't have to put up with those sheep and goat fences like you do. Say howdy to the family. Robbie

Conditions have really declined here as well. I was shocked he pups and the two year old gyp could carry the track like they did yesterday morning. Never reallly got him jumped but were trailing at a lope when the crossed in front of me. Then about the time they sounded like they would get back under him, would hit another fence. I think that they crossed a total of 5 before the coon went through a herd of cattle and dogs came back.
I examined the cut more yesterday evening and hauled her out to a vet buddy's house. We ended up stitching her back up as it was worse than I originally thought. She will be alright but will have to sit back for a few days.
Adios,
Gary