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I have a young Trigg Walker male that is fast as all get out and from what I have seen is good on cold trailing and moving an old bob track. His only real flaw is that he has trouble locating and treeing cats that he can't see. If he can see it he will tree it. What are your methods for teaching him to locate and tree cats that he can't see? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

I can think of one idea is setup drags with a trainer in a box or something where he can't see any movement, encourage him as much as possible. But Im far from a expert.

There is a few key words that stand out on your question, "Young", "Bobcat", and "Locating". How young is young? How big is the timber you are treeing these cats in?

Locating bobcats is a very special skill that hounds develop with age and exposure. Sure their are a few that can naturally locate a bobcat at a very young age, but very few. Most young dogs are treeing because its in them to, but if you took the glue (the solid locator) out of the picture they would probably just bawl around some where the cat actually climbed but never commit to a tree.

My opinion is finding a true honest and accurate bobcat locator in the big timber country is not very easy to get. It takes time, age, and exposure for most hounds to learn the bobcat is actually up and locate it in a tree.

It sounds like you have a very good young dog that just needs time in the woods, and some good hard cat races where he is in or near the front seat on the cat race. I will bet he will start to locate and tree. Sounds like you have a good prospect.