Took a hit this weekend R.I.P. Pshyco

[Hunter]

Saturday evening I took the dogs for a run. I had 4 trained dogs and a 1 year old dog (that isn't going to make my cut). I turned on a hot rig and they lined it right out and brought it across the road right infront of me. It wasn't a big bear maybe 200 lbs and I was worried he was a runner and this would last all night. The race didn't go far when they bayed him. I could tell they were pulling some fur. I got to the dogs and was stopped by a 25 foot cliff. The dogs were straight below me with the bear backed into the cliff face. I almost couldn't see him. I spoke to my dogs and told them "good job". When I done that my number 2 best dog pshyco looked up at me and went charging in to get a bite. The bear swatted him against the cliff wall and the next thing I know the bear has his head in his mouth and just balled up on him. Everything I owned (except the year old) piled ontop of him. There was nothing I could do. I stood there a second pretty much stunned at what I just saw and I knew he was dead but, I didn't want the rest to get killed. I started to picked my way about 100 yards up the ridge and found a wash out and slid down. It was so thick I was on my hands and knees and belly crawling to them. It took some time and I was getting madder with ever foot. When I got there 1 dog met me and I leashed her. I reached in and grabbed my best dog and leashed him. The only problem was the new walker I just got. He was 6 inches from this bears nose parting his hair with every bellow. I wasn't sure that he wouldn't eat me up when I grabbed him from behind. I just didn't know him well enough. Finally after repeated yelling at him he turned and looked at me and I grabbed him. As soon as I did the bear made his exit. Pshyco was dead. Bit threw the head with broken ribs and back. I sat there for a minute thinking of previous hunts with him. I took his collars off thanked him for his memories and tucked him against the cliff. When I started out the adrinelin must have worn off because I was sick to my stomach and I just couldn't hardly move. I felt exhausted.

I got Pshyco from my brother-in-law. He was half plott and half leapord and just under a year old. He had never been hunted and I really didn't want him. But, I took him anyways. He would stand when I would let him out of the lot with his head up while I put his collars on. The first time I showed him a coon he went nuts. I mean lost it. Foaming at the mouth barking, chewing on the cage almost crushing it. He was fearless almost to being pshyco. That's how he got his name. I was worried the first year he would get killed but, he didn't. He must have had a little brains or luck one. Run in get a bite and back out. He was making a real rig dog to. Infact he was the first to rig the bear that killed him. He would hunt no matter how tired he was. His fault was that he got so excited when going that he whimpered in the box until he couldn't stand it anymore and then would let out a long bawl. It was annoying at first but, got funny to me. I sure will miss him.

[jeff]

Hunter sorry about your Pshyco dog man, that sucks! I bet you will miss him, sounded like he had quite the personality with lots of desire.

Sure sounded like a real !!RUSH!! to witness that from overhead, sorry it ended so lousy.

[kordog]

you cant ask anymore of a pack than that . it sucks losing one though . those 200 pound bears are the worst because of there speed and size . i would have this bears number come kill season . this wont be the last dog he kills unfortunately if its being trained on .jmo

[j2]

It's always tough to lose a good hound. As houndsmen (and women) we can take comfort in knowing that at least they die doing what they love.
We should all be so lucky.
Sorry for your loss.

[BlacktailStalker]

Sounds like a hell of a dog to have spent even just a short bit of time with, you're fortunate for that.