BigGameHoundsmen.com

Just wondering how far everyone is roading their hounds and how often?

20-25 miles when lion hunting. Coon/bobcat 10-15 miles. Rig for bear.

6-11 miles, as often as I can. Which is usually 1-3 days a week. The pups can usually go 4-6 miles before I decide they've had enough. Thats on gravel, in the mountains. So some of it is uphill, some downhill, some flat.

I know my dogs have done close to 15-20 or more miles road hunting for coon, I know they do twice as much activity, casting out then coming back to the truck as we go along, plus a few good races in between... We rig for bear.

I need to clarify I am talking to get them ready for hunting season.

Yeah, just to keep mine in shape, during season or in the off season. 6-11 miles.

Bency are you roadin yours 10-25 miles a day to keep them in shape in the off season? If so how many times a week?

I said this before on another similar post, 0 miles! If you hunt them two or three times a week all year long they are in good enough shape. That doesn't mean I think I know it all or I think I'm better, (far from it) I just have seen so many negative effects from roading dogs. and mind you it don't happen to every dog and if that's the way you guys keep em in shape, great. I have seen good dogs get ran over,Heart attacks, I have seen young dogs that chase trucks and atvs when free castin(major pain in the A$$,) It puts alot of unneccisary miles on joints and hips, It is a pain in the @ss, it costs gas money,(if your gona spend the time and money then why not just get em on some game instead of road them? I do road a couple of my strike dogs when hunting dry ground, but I only let them down for short periods of time where I think a lion might have crossed, they zig zag the road and hunt and eventually drop off on a chase. There are some posative effects of roading dogs, good cardio for them, good time to trash break and work on their handle,etc, but I think the negatives outweigh the posatives. this is just my opinion and please don't jump me for giving it. I know that roading dogs is a religion to some of you and if it works keep on doing it. I personally don't road dogs and have never had a problem with them being out of shape. so I guess in a nut shell, 0 Miles is the perfect ammount.

twist,

The only time I road my dogs is to get them into shape if there has been a lag in time between chasing bears or getting ready to run bears for the season.

The rest of the time is pure hunting, which I do consistently every week.

So to answer your question, I usually make the dogs run by the left side of my pickup going 10-15 mph for 20-25 miles. Ill do this every other day, till I think their ready. And the days that we dont, the dogs go coon hunting at night.

Hope this helps.

bency wrote:twist,

The only time I road my dogs is to get them into shape if there has been a lag in time between chasing bears or getting ready to run bears for the season.

The rest of the time is pure hunting, which I do consistently every week.

So to answer your question, I usually make the dogs run by the left side of my pickup going 10-15 mph for 20-25 miles. Ill do this every other day, till I think their ready. And the days that we dont, the dogs go coon hunting at night.

Hope this helps.

That is well put and sounds like a dam good way to do it. I just know too many people that spend alot of time roading and a little time hunting.that has never made any sense to me. Hell mike, your dogs had better be in shape and ready to go when season starts as hard as you hit it. I'll never argue with the tactic of a fellar that puts up alot of game.

Bency, they should no doubt be in shape with a program like that. I start roading mine on a consistant basis about 2 months prior to season getting here and road between 2-6 miles 3-5 times a week if at all possible and by season they are in pretty good condition by doing this it also helps put a nice handle on any young dogs I am bring up. Once season is here they usually get enough hands on excersize.

During the winter I don't road that often because of hunting. But during the summer I try to get out every other day and road 12 miles. I do it at last light while its cool. I personaly believe in trying to keep my dogs in top shape year round. I don't want to waist the first few bear hunts of the year getting my dogs in shape. I also use it as a time for training. My young dogs always get roaded with e-callors on. This gives me the chance to break them off what I concider trash. My dogs road in front of the pickup, so there is no chasing vehichles involved. I've noticed a pattern with my dogs. The older ones that know whats going on stay about 25 yards in front of the pickup, they are always checking, but don't leave the road. The younger dogs cover a lot of ground, they have a lot of drive in them and their desire to find a track makes them search hard. The pups tend to follow whatever dog is doing something that they think is the most interesting.

Ross

it depends on the dogs and the time i have. I try and hunt two packs. so one is at home. if the dogs are young adults we go until they are slowing up. then work on any issues they may need handled. I'm more patient when we are exercising. older hounds enough to keep in shape but not enough to cause soreness. I don't technically road them they go on a horse back ride off road with me, the wife, or kids. the young hounds get rotated from method to method just in case. young hounds 7-8 mile run then jogged out, old dogs 8 mile jog. it seems to be effective. I try real hard to keep the dog races to a minimum and the handle more important. with the change in season I may change up to longer distances but haven't really made up my mind. probably didn't help

You guys that road your dogs for 10+ miles for exercise must live in the plains or deserts. I would have to travel many miles to get anywhere where I could road my dogs for 10+ miles without having a high risk of starting a hot cougar or bear track.

10-12 miles every other day, starting 2 months before cat season.

8-10 miles 10mph, 4-5 days a week during the summer and inbetween bear and bobcat season.