BigGameHoundsmen.com

There was a post in regards to the legality of GPS for dogs in california. It turned into a post about what houndsman say to non hunters about our sport and the dogs. There were many great responces and good information given about how to portray our sport and the dogs we use in the positive manner it deserves.

I frequently come across people who ask about my dogs and how they are used by people who either curious, anti hunter, or are indifferent. Please give your speech or presentaion as to what you would say to somone when your filling the gas tank before hunting and somone asks about your dogs and hunting. After all the anti hunting, PETA, HSUS people are getting support by winning hearts and minds. There is no reason we cant do the same.

I tell them the truth.

If they ask what kind of dogs they are, I say "Plotts", Everyone knows what a Bluetic is, so if you say Plott, they ask to explain that, by the time you are done with that one, one of you has to go lol.


A few weeks ago Andrew, Addi, me and our English Bulldog went to the Fall Festival and car show in PineTop. When leaving, a lady was looking at Bella and petting her, she said she was such a funny looking dog, I made the comment that at one time, she was built more like a Pitbull or American Bulldog. She instantly started saying how bad Pitbulls were.

I informed her that Naz, who weighs close to 115 pounds, slept next to Addi as a new born and was very sweet to her, upon getting Bella, she bit Addi. We talked about how a dog can be owned by someone, and it's life be perfect, go back to puppy stage and change owners, the dog could be a killer.

She thanked me for changing her opinion a little about not only pits but other dogs. All I did was tell her the facts.

I think if more PETA people would lose that attitude that they are saving the world, they might be a little more open to learning about what we really do.

That or we can boycott hunting all big predators, and when people start gettin eaten right and left and you see more Bears walkin down main st then Fords, they might beg us to come back!!!!

I always try to tell the non hunting public that in actuallity we are providing a service. There needs to be a balance in all things. Hunting has and in my opinion always will be the best management tool for keeping the balance in wildlife. If left unchecked the overpopulation is far more harmful to the animals. Everyone but the HSUS knows this. Since the beginning when man was created, for survival he has hunted. Man was created as a predator. I beleive it was by design. We were given dominion over all things in order to keep that balance. The evolutionist will tell that we have evolved past that. Those of us who hunt know better. For reasons unknown to us, the force that drives us to hunt is unexplainable. I know people who do not hunt. I am fine with that. I do not try to force my values and beliefs onto them. However I expect the same consideration. Do not try to force your values and beliefs onto me. If you don't hunt, then I will not invite you to go. We do not try and institute laws that make it mandatory that everyone shall hunt. Give us who do hunt the same consideration.

............as little as possible. I`ve learned that an anti is an anti, through and through, and will not be swayed. When I meet non hunters on the trail, I keep my mouth shut and move on. Been engaged in some colorful conversations before.

It all depends. If it is a big time massive anti, don't waste your time. But in that situation if others are present, act calm, levelheaded and make them look like the nutjobs they are.

If it just a non-hunter, just be nice. Tell them about the dogs, the training, how you selective harvest a few to keep populations in check, etc. If you are at all in the wrong, be extremely apologetic. If you are in the right, still try to keep levelheaded when they start going off. If they keep it up, then lay into them but only if no other non-hunters are present. As much as we'd like to tell these A-holes what we think at times, the benefit we get from speaking our mind is minscule in comparison to the damage it does to the perception that others have.

I have had very few people ask me about my dogs like "what are they used for?", etc.

I always have people ask me if they are lion dogs, usually when I am in a hurry and don't have much time to chat. It seems everyone becomes an expert on lions when they don't have any interest in the subject at all.

I do, however get "weird" looks as I am driving down the highway, as the way my box is set up, dogs are visible in the top box.

I worry more about what people will do to my dogs in the parking lot, then what they will say to me when they see me.

Later,

Marcial

Tracking Dogs is the new PC for hounds. I saw this on the news when a Wash. man was attacked by a bear, the news said the bear was captured using tracking dogs, so that's what I call mine from now on. Maybe I can get a govt. grant to fund my tracking dogs.

Tracking dogs. I like that. Thats what Im gonna start telling people mine are.

I just try to act nice to whoever is asking the questions. I know it sounds stupid but if you only have about 30 seconds of conversation they won't remember much besides your disposition. If you are an ass they will think all hound hunters are jerks, if you are nice it might keep there overall thoughts on the sport and sportsmen positive.


If the conversation gets longer I always just say ever read "Where the Red Fern Grows"? And then say my dogs are like that.

If the conversation gets really long (and the person is a hunter but non-hounds person) I get into the time it takes to train a dog and how hard the sport is overall. The perception that hound hunting is easy is something I always try to squash, politely of course ....

If I meet them up the bush, I tell them that the first three Beagles will try and lick them to death, but that they are only the designated decoys.

The rest of the pack will be stealing the picnic lunch!

Then I explain that we're hunting introduced animals that cannot be permitted to over-breed to the detriment of the environment and the farming community.... That the dogs don't "attack" deer, but are only used to trail them until they run past a hunter... That, yes, we use all the meat.... and , on, we don't lose dogs because we consider them very valuable and love them a lot, which is why they wear those funny-looking tracking collars.

I am around quite a few people on a regular basis that are completely unknowing of our way of life, including hunting, let alone hunting with hounds.

When visiting about hunting in general, I discuss population control, overpopulation leading to starvation and disease, and food for me and my family.

As far as hunting with hounds goes, I generally let my hounds do most of the talking. They are fairly well mannered and very scratchable. Once people discover that they aren't killers and are just like any other pet, their opinion changes quickly. If they are open minded enough to join me on a hunt, they soon learn how much the hounds love to hunt and I'm not forcing it on them in any way. I make it a point not to harvest any animals. Catch and release so to speak.

Scott

I try and be polite and answer any questions they have honestly and try and tailor the information or conversation to the individual to leave a favorable impression and interest with them. most folks had a favorite dog as a kid so that is a good starting point to get them on your side. well mannered hounds help with the impression. the total freaks i just ignore or firmly tell to leave and remind them of our states laws regarding harassment of hunters.
When you get access to new private land it is a good idea to also limit the number of hounds and take only those your confident wont be a a problem or cause any issues until the landowners are comfortable with you and the hounds. most fence sitters can be swayed easily with a couple healthy friendly hounds.