Watch your speed when hunting your dogs horseback!

[Mike Leonard]

I know I have talked about this at length but I think it is worth bringing up again.


The average flat footed non -gated cow pony walks along at about 3 to 3.5 MPH. Now that sounds pretty slow but it is usually way too fast for hunting lions. You have to realize that free cast hounds working around your horse are usually traveling 3 to 4 times the distance the horse is traveling because they quarter back and forth and hunt out to the sides. So if you are going 3MPH they would have to go 10-12 MPH to cover al that ground . Now this doesn't mean you have to slow down to a snail's pace except at times but you need to take it slow hold up let them hunt out areas and even get off and lead a little and make sure they cover that ground. It is not a marathon to see how many miles you can cover, heck that lion could be laid up 150 yards from where you are right now but if he walked in there on some bad ground and laid up a good bit and you run them dogs across it you might never even know he is there.

As I have said famous lion hunter George Goswick said if you are not striking many and you know lions are in there you are going to fast slow down. Still not get off and lead your animal, and then pick a nice spot for lunch and rest a bit a good odds old tried and true will roll around in a rock pile near by and start a lion track.


Have fun!

[walker/plott]

Good advice Mike, I never took that into consideration before.-Gerald

[LCK]

Mike, since you last posted this, I took it to heart, sure enough helped. I did notice it took the dogs a bit to kind of slow down as well. I realized I was dragging them through the country instead of hunting them through. Very good advice thank you.

[Big Mike]

Excellent tip worth bringing up again. I have to constantly remind myself this. I get in to much of a hurry to see over the next ridge.

If them tails start wag'n, stop and give them turdy's a bit to see what they can do

[Roy Sparks]

Damn good advice. Even free casting hounds when on foot , dont be to hasty when hunting cats. My observation , but I have to keep drumming it into my handlers.

Roy.

[2ndhound]

Good point Mr Leonard, I need to paint that on my boots, left one slow, right one down!!, I dont know what gets into me when I start to walking, I know better from big game hunting, but for some darn reason I seem to get in too much of a hurry following the hounds, I get home and kick myself, who cares whats over that hill, let em work, Also have a hard time following where they want to go, I end up thinking that I know best where we should be looking, I have them check in now and again so end up dictating which way we go, I often wonder how many hunts Ive ruined by being a bonehead, When a fella doesnt catch much a guy gets to thinking must be these crummy dogs, Im a better hunter than that, Its very easy to lose the trust in the dogs when you are just starting out and try to take over the thinking (well all the thinking) rookie mistakes are easy to become habits over time and its good rehash the basics now and again, sometimes a guy gets plain frustrated and forgets stuff that should be ingrained in his melon, Ken