Best time for coons right now?

[azhoundhunter88]

Wat would you guys say is best time of night for coons right now? What hours would be most productive?

[Mike Leonard]

In the southwest US most kitten coon are born about the second week in April so they are about a month old now and still not moving much with the sows. The sows hang pretty tight until the kittens get more active and you stand the risk of trashing a litter of coon if your dog gets into them close to the den. Most desert type coon den in rock holes and brush piles and such as suitable den trees are scarce unless you are in a well watered riparian area. The boar coons are still moving but will generally in hot areas go to water early in the eveing at then many times lay up till it cools a bit and the nightlife gets active. I have seen some of these boars get up high in a tree and stay pretty late before they really start feeding in real hot weather. The tule or cat tail swamps can be a good place for some active races just wear your waders and take your bug spray. Be watchful in javalena areas as the little stink pigs like to get into those places as well and they can sure cut up a pack of hounds and cost some big vet bills if you get into them.

Good luck!

[azhoundhunter88]

Ya mike I'm hunting central AZ some good cover and trees. Dogs are broke off pigs and come back when they smell them. Wat hours do u think would be most productive here right now? It's down to the high 60s at night here? This Chris Todd pup I have is a fireball on coons and lions already at 11 months. I hear he's from some of your breeding? He's out of lefty and misty?

[Mike Leonard]

Right on! I raised Misty and still have her full brother Little Blue this dog will be 13 years old next month and is still doing good and hunting hard. Not sure who Lefty is out of but i think maybe my old Jiggs dog. Anyway I wouold watch the 10 PM news and then load up and go if you don't have to drive too far. that should get you in the woods when things are cooled down a little and the varmints start to prowl. Full moon nights can be dicey and many times lots of predators move about well but omnivores such as coon can be frustrating then. Bad windy nights can alkso be bad but they will move but it makes tracking and listening to the race hard.

Years ago when I was first getting into hounds i had an old Gov. hunter that I use to coon and cat hunt with a lot. I could always tell what kind of a night hunt we were going to have when I pulled into his place to pick him up. If he was setting in the kitchen by the back door with his light, leashes and water jug things were going to be moving early, but if I showed up and he was setting in his recliner reading a book things were not going to move till much later in the night. He could really read the weather and spending a lifetime following the hounds he just knew. I can remember a few times him saying. Didn't you feel that stagnant air tonight? I said not really, He would say it feels dead and nothing is going to move but skunks until much later.

Good luck!

[azhoundhunter88]

caught a big ol boar coon last night dogs treed it 20 minutes from the truck. it was about 10 oclock. anyway ya that bluetick i have that is out of misty is a natural cold trailing dog. hes 11 months now. i think he has all the traits to turn into a great dog with time.

[mefishme1234]

wish I could run now here in maine.. not until july 1st.. thinking I take the 2 nd off and get started after midnight.. hehe