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why is it that some houndsmen can hunt with others and know when another mans dog is going to tree before its owner? and why would some think a jumped race only lasts ten to fifeteen minutes, and others think twenty to thirty. could some be just hearing noise when the dogs are trailing? and some actually translate the noise into things that are actually happening. and could this be the confusion as to races that get finished and ones that do not? i think so, as if some are hearing a jumped race that really might not be. this would cause much disagreement. was just wondering what others thoughts. i know what mine are. lets see what others think. take care!

This will be a good topic.I'm not allways accurate if other dogs are in with mine [which I've done very little of and probably even less in future}.But when my pack is out by themselves you can hear[if you listen closely]when they're backwards,when the cats trotting ahead of them,or they're just really moving it.As young dogs progress my gauges have to change on what I interpret to be happening--trailing fast,about ready to jump [based on the one or few that HAVE just been opening right before or at the jump]these dogs start opening quicker and sooner on tracks,to where you have to change the way you're gauging a track.As far as the 10-15 minutes of jump goes,most would choke if I told them,when I looked in my records on the last 7 cats ran the average jump time is just under 6 and half minutes,the quickest being just over a minute and the longest being 8 and half.Alot of times a fast trail job will be misinterpreted for a jump and a shutoff on the dogs will be thought to be a loose and actually could be a tree with no locate,or could be where it made a kill and they hang up a liitle.Have also seen the loose turn into them trying to hang a tree.You have to go with what you feeel at the time and read the dogs and try to make sense out of what has just happened,this comes with lots of mistakes and victories,none of us were born with the sense of how a cat operates,but learn from lots of time behind the dogs!!

I have a very difficult time telling when a jump occurs if the race goes steady the whole way. I can tell when they start locating and tree pretty easy now. I do read how the dogs are working a older track (or so I think), and heat it up... once they have it hot its hard to tell when a jump occurs again for me. With time hopefully that will change.

Slowandeasy: I think you hit the nail on the head. If we are listening to a bunch of dogs on a track we all hear something different or reading a post it means something different to each of us.
. Everything we hear or read we can only relate to it based on what we know for our area with the dogs and time that we have spent hunting. If someone has something different to say, it is based on there experience, what or how they have interpreted what they saw or heard. It does not make it right or wrong it is just how they see it. Where the problems occur in this world not just on here, we have it as this is the right way and they have to be wrong. I have been able to hunt more in one year than most people get to hunt in a life time. Nothing I would rather do than to go to a area that something can't be done and show people how to do it. I have hunted all over the west in all conditions, while most people don't get out of there area and see how it is in other places. I feel most houndmen are stuck as to what can be done and how it is because they already know what is so even some of those that are considered top hunters. They can not get out of there own way. Now that is someone with a big ego that can not accept that maybe there is something out there that they don't see or know. There is always a better or harder hunter out there which means nothing. There is always a better dog out there and a area with more cats. The key is to be open. I have never met anyone that I could not learn from. Everybody has something worth sharing. I may have a big ego and not very humble but I am who I am and don't have a problem with that. If you want to tell me how it is, come and hunt with me for a while I am sure I could learn something and you might also. If you are happy with what your dogs and your hunting good, that is a content man, if you are not it is only you that can make a difference. Hunt what you have but always be open to new ideas. If you are not open for learning something new you are going backwards. It is your choice you decide how it is for you. If there is no cats in your area, there is no cats, if you catch all the cats you jump or not that is your choice no one but you has the power to change that but you. We so limit ourselves by what we believe. Just maybe there is a infinite amount of knowledge out there to learn and a better way, maybe not. Dewey

the reason i like a tight mouthed dog is so i can read the race better. if a dog barks every time its foot hits the ground the race doesnt seem as intense to me . if u get 6 tight mouthed dogs running a cat there is plenty of music . and u can tell who has the track and so on. jmo
i pulled up on another guy running a cat one time , listened to the race for about 2 min . i said your dogs just treed that cat . he said no there not treed . as we listened another min or so i said im going to walk down there if thats ok . he said fine and started getting his stuff ready . i went down and found the cat in the tree. i knew the guy but never hunted with him or his dogs before . i thought that was pretty cool. my chest wasnt poking out or nothing .
jc

tim, it probably will not be a real good topic. for the same reasons that we tend to see a little bit of face barking on this site now and than. it has to do with our senses. especially our sense of sight and hearing. many have read this and already made their mind that nobody is going to tell me what i hear. our sense of sight and sound are very very different than all of our others. if you touch the stove it burns, if something smells everyone smells it if something tastes terrible it is pretty much terrible for everyone. but sight and hearing, ah this is a real can of worms. here is an example, i ran a finish blade. now when i was young on occasion i would have a super come and tell me what are you doing you need to cut five more inches over there. now, i have a good eye for grade. and being young i would say what are you blind that grade is right on. and usually shortly be working for another company with age, on the occasion that this would happen i would politely say yes sir and be smileing all the while i was under cutting the grade. after a couple of times of haveing to refil the grade the smart supper's would train themselfs to leave me alone. our ears are just as bad when it comes to different individuals. either people will be smart and learn different barks from someone that has that experience or they never will aquire the talent. now with hearing, some will never be able to. due to no fault of their own, and they will have to come to terms with it themselves. some may never due to the complexity. those that have the gift enjoy it for there will come a time with age it will not be as sharp. in the mean time when we associate with someone that struggles with what they hear. i guess ya just have to ask yourself is this person a really good person in all other ways. if the answer is yes than when the subject comes up i guess just do as i did with the super(with age) to maintain the friendship. if it is an abrasive sob than being deaf is just one more reason to avoid them. but believe me none of us will change what another thinks they see or hear. take it easy!

I would really enjoy talking to you on the phone.You get me thinking and analizing[sp]myself,as others I respect and are friends with.Thanks sharing,well well put.Call me anytime or pm me your number.

Tim, you will not be disappointed when you talk to him. Had the pleasure yesterday!
Most of the competiton coon hunters that win consistantly have the ability to know your dog as well as you do after one race and are able to beat you even if thier dog is not as good as yours. My wife's uncle was like that, could beat a great hound with a dog leash! LOL He championed out many a shit eater! I think that is the reason competition coon hunts are not nearly as followed as they used to be. JMO. At 61, I do not hear as well as I used too, so don't hold it against me guys if I say 'HUH".