BigGameHoundsmen.com

Hey guys, just my thoughts. None of us are enemies, we have enough on the other side. At one time or another, I am sure that we have had dogs or packs of dogs that were superior in the type of terrain and game hunted at that time. One highway crossing can change that quickly! When you are happy with what you have, that is all that matters. Share your experiences with the younger generation and try to keep them from making the same mistakes that all of us did. In the end they will probably still make the same mistakes, but they will remember when they have paid the price to be a houndsman that "damn, I should have known that" ole so and so told me that years ago!
Always try to punch the envelope! Change and learning is constant!
Good luck to you all! Just hope we can keep our freedoms in place to persue our dreams! A good cat race in any conditions will make you buy alot of dog food!!
I know of a place that many people think that rigging cannot be done. Wrong, it can. I have seen it! Does that make it right for everybody? No! Share your experiences and always try something new if you want too, don't if you don't. but remember one thing we are not each others enemies. We have a major fight ahead of us to keep our lifestyle.

slowandeasy wrote::wink:

Been drinking! did not want anyone to get mad at each other on a subject so trivial.

Take it back, It is not a trivial subject!! Trailing conditions have to be right for any type of cat hunting.

Trailing conditions can change from minute to minute and any change of terrain. The more you are out there the better chance you will be at the right place at the right time!
Good luck!

Big N' Blue wrote:Share your experiences with the younger generation and try to keep them from making the same mistakes that all of us did.

Big N' Blue,
I do this all the time. I tell those kids to NOT get involved in Hounds. Hounding is like a cocaine addition but with less supermodels (Unless your Dawg), probaly costs more and there's a lot more barking plus poop to clean up. The only upside is you're usually stuck with other addicts who are just as broke and look just as rough as you do. At least you don't have to deal with any class envy with hounddoggers.

If I'm giving kids advice it's to be smart and buy a boat. They are a money pit too, but at least you can park it in the shed until you want to use it again.

007penal, just got to thinking of your posts and mabe I misjudged you could you show me a picture of your hounds and RIG would really like to have a look I can ussually tell alot about a houndsmen this way. Thanks looking forward to seeing them. Andy

Big dog ridin my "big" RIG. Pic provided for a laugh.

Sgt. Michael's Kennel is a group hunting partnership. We have four 4x4 trucks in our group. Two trucks have standard rig boxes, one usually has canopy on back for snow and a front bumper rig cage, the last truck has a chain w/snap links at the front of the bed. (that one's not my truck) We have eight snow machines and three trailers. We also rig with our 8 quads, its great for starting pups. We have even "rigged" off our horses with carriers in pack mode. I know you are just trying to be smart and go tit for tat because you didn't like what I had to say in response to your post. Maybe I should have spoke differently. I'll tell you this, I spoke the way I did to help you. I'm hoping you can see that. I'm not claiming to be THE guy to show you how to rig in difficult conditions. I probably couldn't get it consistantly. PM me your number and I'll give you mine. I'll go out with you this coming winter. Can't take your money for gas, but at least you can say someone came to try. You can call me fat and limpy but just don't make fun of my dogs. Peace.

Sean, I know I'm going to regret even asking,but how did you manage to get a group partenership together on the kennel?I'll leave the pickup/canopy/dog carrier topic/question alone.But allways wanted to ask Del this,but since now you've mentioned it,WHY pack a hound in a pack box,I've not personally owned a dog who would not out do a horse or mule.I'm not trying for a pissing match,but Twist/Andy doesn't deserve sarcasm,he doesn't normally dish any out.We don't agree on this subject,but he's been a stand up dude when all of us have told him we disagreed.

I am truely thankful for everyones opinions on this subject. I would truely enjoy anyones company during our season, as for my # it is on my attached signature and was also offered a few post back dont need to pm it as have nothing to hide . thanks, Andy

Tim, i usually agree with you on alot (most) of the things you say. but never having a dog that couldn't out do a horse or mule . there is a reason those that have them never give them up. it might be because of the diference in climate that would possibly lead you to believe that. but in years of sitting in the saddle i have not seen dogs that i couldn't turn into a wet spot on the ground if not careful. if you ask around i don't think you will find anyone that will tell you of a horse or mule that got a stroke and died. but there is no shortage of dogs that have really gotten hurt bad or died. even in our winter months, if i insist on staying thru the day during the least pruductive times of the day, that i can't make most want to be very happy to see the trailer. i am not talking arena horses i am talking hard and tuff rock horses or mules. i hope the computer doesn't make me sound like an aligator, because i personally am tired of some that get their pantys in a wad every time someone says something that isn't in line with their beliefs. i don't mean you, as i believe you don't let much get under your skin. take care

In a hunting situation where the dogs are looking for tracks wouldn't they be covering a lot more ground than the horse? I have never hunted horse back but have worked cows with dogs and those guys put on some extra miles in a days time.

mark, yes what you are saying is 100% correct. i am not saying amount of miles. i am saying hours on the ground hunting as that is why you have to be very careful. i don't know anyone that says well the dogs put 20 miles on and it is 10 oclock in the morning lets call it quits for the day. take care!

Copy that. Anyways I sure envy you guys that can hunt the way you do. Some day maybe I will get the chance.

When I gathered that Alturas,Cali. country and south by Roseburg here,over east by Madras Oregon,Down by death valley Cali. and over by Dillon Montana,and a couple places by Canadian Texas[probably a few others/these were memorable]when the dogs were traveling,not hunting,but goiong step for step with us,I haven't seen any problems with any of those tuff[cattlebred/good footed]cowdogs or hounds have any trouble.I'd bet the reason for yhem boxs originally was also due to the fact/belief that the hunter couldn't keep them dogs with'em because of the tremendous prey/drive they had,I'll call BULLS__T on this theory/belief.Also as you can read in the book of Del's,alot of the time he didn't know for sure what those dogs were on without seeing the track or having snow--hence the wolverine story.I do quite abit of hike hunting and huntin a horseback and I usually don't have to follow them step for step on a track,I circle,cut across,etc.as I'm sure most due.I've had a few good desert horses,feel it by the end of the day,and they were tuff some I'd call double tuff.But I was really refering to step for step circumstances.And Slowandeasy,you don't offend me at all,and as a matter of fact it's scary on how much we agree on!!!I gotta throw this in,Yes it's dry everywhere else,and it's wet here,I've lived,hunted and ranched in alot of different climates,but I'd put our terrain and even conditions alot of times against any.As far as the mother load of cats we are supposed to have[depends who you ask--some find very few,others of us don't seem to see the big shortage]I bet it's that way everywhere for the most part.Look forward to talking to you on the phone some day.

I don't know about bareground Tim, but the guy who taught me alot of what I know would throw his dogs into the pack bags while hunting. He was a wilderness hunter and guide. He had to produce time and time again, tired dogs don't help in this situation when using snow. This was back in the 70s and 80s when tracks were far and few between. Now then this is what he had told me, I have not experienced this myself.

Tim,
The partnership started with me getting retired. I had a hunting partner that used to hound hunt bears and lions with me back in the day. I always told him that when I retired I was going to get a pack together again and chase the hair off some critters. When the day came that I had the time to travel and hunt, we started it as a partnership deal. He put up some of the cash and I did all the work. He's a busy contractor guy. Some of the guys in his family started coming along and sort of became "partners" also. We now have a few teenagers coming around here. One of them is getting pretty good working with the dogs. I own and get to be the boss of the dogs. Most of the fancy rigs and stuff belong to the money guy. Its becoming a team sport.

pickup/canopy/dog carrier topic- I do run and rig with that set up. I use it because I sleep in the canopy with the dogs in carriers when its cold and wet. I go out a few days at a time on the mountain because it saves gas when I drive to away places. I was using a front strike cage, but figured out that the rear dogs could strike from the back if the tailgate was down. I get strikes with the tailgate closed and canopy side windows in the open possition also. They jump in and out on command, "truck" or "road" and "check it out." A cop stopped me in front of my house and told me not to drive my truck with the cage/ "obstruction" blocking my view. I was taking it off and on once I got to the off roads, but found it was a pain and I didn't need it. I see hound heads in my rearview mirror with noses working the wind. I do have a rig box for that truck that I use in the good weather season. I'm not going to say that one way is the best way to do it cause I don't use only one rig nor one way, but that canopy truck does works for my purpose at times. Its about the same as the dogs riding with heads out of the box.

Packing dogs on horse- horses and idea to pack the dogs belong to my partner. Yes, he read Del's book. It was horse access only area. I rode along and was dog captain. It worked. We did let them run part of the time. Tim- honestly both the dogs and horses can go more than my body can take riding. I go on the horses just a few times a year when everyone wants to go. Do you have horses and go hounding? For me its more pain than its worth but still kinda fun. Gives access to some hard to reach spots.

10-4 on not being sarcastic to Twist/Andy. I meant constructive discussion but I think I came across wrong. Do you want to go up to MT with me next season and lets try hunting with him?