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I am missing something. not sure what it is. we just are not getting the snow this year and i am having to travel farther and farther back in to run a track. most of it is still in the dirt. i am OK with this. it gets me and the dogs out, and its better than not going.

cats running in snow make a different trail, it seems. when the dogs have lost the track, either after a jump- rocks ledges and cliffs, or the cat knew we were there, they ARE traveling differently. i cant pinpoint it exactely yet, but it is frustrating the hell out of me. mostly because the dogs are having alot harder time of it and helping them is much more difficult since im not a butt sniffer.

i know it doesn't help that our conditions are dry and cold, but the dirt IS different. we were able to catch a nice little cat sat., but it took the dogs 3 hrs to get the track lined back out after it was lost in the rocks, i know the wind doesn't help either.

so am i missing something? any pointers or tips would be appreciated.
mack

I don't care what you have for dogs if they can't smell it they can't run it and if they track it all over they will never put it in a tree just part of having dogs. But I think a good hound that is smart will run a track with his eye as much as his nose kinda like a bear dog in this heavy brush 80/ of the time when after a bad ass he is using his nose or he will he will get his head knocked off atleast till they put it the right spot they adjust and get smarter to the conditions just an thought

Im not sure about dirt, but early season I was hitting that same problem in a way. Id get a race started and the dogs would skyrocket then slow to a crawl then skyrocket. I do not think snow changes the behavior any unless its deep. I think changes in conditions are more of a factor. Going to thick cover to open, temperature changing any while the track is made and etc while on snow our dogs get the same conditions the whole time unless the snow warms up or cools off. Just my opinion.

Here is my thoughts on catching bobcats this time of the year in this area on dry ground. It cant be done on a regular bases! If anyone is doing it here please let me know as I would enjoy coming along and watching. It sure dont hurt to get out and work the dogs because who knows you may just get a hot one going. So what I am saying is dont beat your self and your dogs up because they are not catching. Andy

Most all the cat I run here are on bare ground and up in til last week we haven't had any rain in over 2 months. To catch on bare ground they have to get their head up and run the track not trail it. In the bad conditions mine use a lot less mouth its a lot harder to out run or hide from the dogs when the cat don't know every move the dog is making.
Just keep after they should get better at it in time Good Luck

thanks guys. its not that they cant smell em. it IS just different. i do have one pup - 7 months - that really has nose, he drifts it head up and well. he just needs some more age on him. not quite mature in the head yet. more track wont hurt either.

i will try and encourage him more. i just dont like to interfere with the dogs if they are doing it themselves. it may take em a little longer, but they remember better. and sometimes i have no clue how to smarten em up anyway, im not so bright as it is.

i'll keep at it, even a blind hog finds an acorn on occassion. thanks for the input.

funstuff,

Are you rigging tracks or roading the dogs to find them or are just finding tracks in sparse snow and then turning out...just curious. i think if i lived where the there wasn't enough snow, i'd probably road 'em till they found a track they could take. Wondering if anyone around here does that?

If any one is consistantly catching on dry ground during bobcat season in this area please let me know I would love to just ride along and watch. Andy

i dont rig or drive a road. i walk hunt and ride the mule. so all my hunting is free cast. we used to find more track than not, but there are fewer cats and lions now that the wolf pop. has swelled. there is no doubt about that.

i take the dogs into areas that have cats and work the areas with cover and food. when it works well its a done deal, especially with a little snow. but no snow has really changed things up. the cats really do not seem to leave the same trail. the travel pattern is different, and the scent has no hold.

it really is frustrating for the dogs as well. i dont want to the young ones to tire of working the track, i need them to stay interested, and it has been tough.

That what I have been saying without snow your odds are REAL low in this area. Nothing to hold the scent so dont beat yourself and your dogs up because you arent catching in these conditions. Been doing this alot of years and if it could be done cosistantly with out snow, I would be doing it. Anyone that is telling you they are just offer to ride along and watch and you will never get an invite. Andy

andy, your right it is tough here with no snow. just was really hoping that i was missing something. never hurts to ask. and your right about going for the ride with someone who does consistently catch in the dirt here, prolly wont happen.
mack

can anyone help me understand what the difference is between scent conditions in central and eastern montana and say, utah, eastern oregon, nevada, arizona, northeastern california where they seem to pretty regularly trail up and tree game (bobcats and lions). i have never hunted any of these areas, its just a mystery to me how people who hunt these areas that seem to me would have worse trailing conditions tree game, but i've heard from many central montana people that it can't be done without good snow. like i said, never hunted any of these areas, but see lots of pics of guys that do it in those areas and i'm not trying to rock the boat, i just don't understand what the difference is. does anyone have a good understanding of why this is? can you clear it up for me? thanks

All my hunting has been done in southern Utah and northern Arizona on primarily lions. Have treed a few bobs in dirt and snow but focus on lions and catch about 60-70 percent of ours on dirt. Hunt a variety of soils and areas which all contribute to amount of scent left and how long it sticks around. Blow sand seems to be about the worst around here but frost and moisture in soil are also huge factors especially once the sun starts heating things up a little. As for up in your neck of the woods would be less familiar but many of the same elements determine trailing conditions. Around here it would be pretty tall orders to consistently catch bobs on the dirt but can be done on lions with the right pack of dogs. I started hunting with jeff Allen 16 years ago and have been fortunate enough to own and hunt behind some pretty special dogs. Joshua Cluff

newby, wish I could tell you why it doesnt work here in our area but it would be just a theory, if I had any idea in the first place. Just a combination of bad scent conditions. I have listened to a few here in Montana say they are catching bobcats in season on bare ground and right away I know what to think of thier stories. Like I said I have asked them all that claim to do it here to please let me ride along and watch and see for myself but never hear from them again later, Andy

I am new to this sport and live in a area where we get snow maybe two or three times a year, and when we get it its only a few inches and last maybe 48 hours. So I hope people with more dirt experience chime in because I am very interested.

This is my first post, right now I am doing more reading than anything trying to sponge all the info I can. My son and I really want to get in to this sport.

Thanks everyone for the info so far.