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Its hard to wright a topic that has not been covered at least once. I don't know if this has been or not. After watching carnavor last night I was thinking it must be so much easier for the dogs to run a cat on flat ground verses steep ground . Scent hanging closer to the ground would be one reason. Another would be the dogs don't have to go up and down the mountain on a lose . They just swing around and hit the track again. This make the loses shorter. jmo. Give your thoughts .

jc

Curious if anyone has watched and understood the best build for speed in the steep country? I remember one old timer saying a longer body and thick strong back with legs that would, in effect, look shorter was advantageous. If anyone could explain that to me, i am all ears.

But in answer to the question, having hunted very flat country and very steep country, I would say they both have their challenges. But for the most part, the steep country had challenges for man and beast that has no comparison anywhere else. I am not speaking of scenting challenges so much as simply physical challenges to the point of complete impossibilities, and every level this side of impossible, right down to pretty easy.

As far as scenting challenges, I have never seen anything like the difficulties the dogs faced in the South East. I have absolutely no explanation for it. It is beyond me. But common to hunters of that region. I have never seen trailing ability turn off and on like a light switch in the matter of a change in wind direction or what ever mysterious thing happened...Just plain weird.

coastrangecathunting wrote:Its hard to wright a topic that has not been covered at least once. I don't know if this has been or not. After watching carnavor last night I was thinking it must be so much easier for the dogs to run a cat on flat ground verses steep ground . Scent hanging closer to the ground would be one reason. Another would be the dogs don't have to go up and down the mountain on a lose . They just swing around and hit the track again. This make the loses shorter. jmo. Give your thoughts .

jc

All I know for sure is most times when I have ran cat the better the terrain, meant for a higher percentage of catches. And I sure would like to have an area to hunt like that terrain in that video, I warn you the older one gets the steeper this ground seems. Not to mention trying to figure out if your next step is going to be in a washed out 4 ft. ditch that is all over over with vegetation, leading one to think you are on solid footing. I think folks would have to hunt in this area to realize what a challenge it can be. However, would not look forward to those rattle snakes. We are spoiled in that department hunting here, in Va. in my youth was taught to watch for them. Al
David I have noticed those strong build hounds you described have done well in this steep rough terrain,with one exception, most believed the short body was preferred. Something I find interesting now that JC, Brad & you think is an advantage. However, believe desire is the main thing a hound needs, the best built hound is not going to win the race if he lacks desire. Brains is important, but again without desire you are not likely to catch a high percentage of hard running critters. Just my opinion, nothing more. Al

Al, Let's agree to disagree! I Love "Desire" though.. But you add Brain's and you wouldn't have to many Hard running critters. We are talking cat Dogs right??

David, I like medium/heavy Bone, and the Body just a little bit longer than it is tall. i don't like a Square Build on a dog!! Although!!! as Al stated, "Most Like A Short Body" wonder who most are???...... I like the back to roll just before the tail(showing their lower back muscles) not squatty or wormy looking, and I don't like the Back going straight to the tail..... And TMO, to each their own...

I believe the steeper ground is just naturally rougher for the dogs to run in.Just imagine the hounds running a critter up hill,giving tongue while struggling to climb up ,over and around obstacles their quarry can navigate with ease .As far as a dogs conformation goes i prefer the long ,tall rangy type.A friend from Montana just bred his very well built,compact ,tight made little female to my ole dog who is the rangy type .We were discussing how the pups would be built.He kinda wants the rangy type as i do but i told him i would take a pup built like his female any day of the week!

running steep mountains will just plain toughen a dog mentally and physically.dogs look like they are on steroids when run in this type terrain alot.

1bluedawg why do you prefer the tall rangey dog for steep country? Superior performance in your experience? Or?

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David,they always seem to be my fastest dogs that can really cover the ground with great endurance.My ole Rock dog (B&T)was built that way .His front legs looked like they came out of the same hole .He was fast and tough,he was also my first cat dog.I guess when all is said and done ,as with most qualities,it still comes down to personal preference.

Brad body a little longer than they are tall in my opinion is not really what one would call a long body. When using the term most, ( poor choice ) just recall be told by my early mentors, and reading about conformation that a long back was undesirable. The way you described your choice in conformation is what I look for Al

Add a foot or more of snow to some steep mountains not hill and it gets even tougher. Andy

Outside of rocks, doesnt all the other adversities talked about above give a cat fits too! I love when a cat tries to pull a steep mountain because it usually doesnt take to long for the dogs to overtake it and it must either climb or run downhill. The exceptional dogs i have been around in my life didnt seem to care what the ground was like, they just caught cats!!!!

I would have to say the steeper it is the worse and more challenging it would be , this stuff from over here would be fell off the mountain, and probably couldn't do much , I don't believe a trained dog that came from here to there could do much for awhile , might strike but would be slow as a snail,

Where we bear hunt on the northern Washington coast the brush is thicker then anywhere I have personally hunted. But its flat the highest point is 200 ft above the ocean. Great running and believe me things happen very fast. Al you would be in love, you can walk all day.
As for size of dogs I used to like tall rangey dogs but they seem to break down way to quick. My littler dogs seem to hunt longer years.

Robin, my wives uncle said to me almost 45yrs ago that, "You can tell if a dog can run by, it looking like both front legs are coming out of the same hole".
His name was Ray Barklow and was a Trouble Shooter for different County Animal Damage Programs through-out the west, mostly Oregon. I only got to meet him a couple times, but did work with his son Lynn Barklow.

Al, knew of him I'm sure!!