BigGameHoundsmen.com

just wondering if anyone had a idea what type of hounds Ben used?

The new mexico wildlife service or national wildlife have the paperwork during the time he worked with them and plenty of photos.

I know he had some blueticks but don't know if he hunted one breed or just hounds that caught game.

I read a book called the legend of Ben Lilly . it says he pretty much had anything that suited him . even mentions curs . but it also says ben could jump straight up out of a 50 gallon barrel.

The books I've read on him never mentioned a breeding program or anything towards that nature, in one account in one of the books he sends a young man into town to gather up some dogs for him, he went wherever the wind blew him or the game took him and hunted what he could get to run.

You are correct, Goose.


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Just was wondering if he preferred a breed over others.

Back when old Ben was hunting there were no registered breeds of actual tree hounds. The American Foxhound was one of the first to be registered as a breed outside regular bloodhounds and English Foxhounds. These dogs were mostly what we would call high tan coloration today but some were regular looking black and tans with white chest and such. The famous Dub Evans book ( Slash Ranch Hounds) tells how his father in the late 1800's was given one of these hounds as a gift from a powder and firearms maker and this dog was the basis of what later became the Slash Hounds in New Mexico.

Dutch Salmon of High Lonesome books in Silver City New Mexico has many historical photos of Ben and his hound and you will see him with spotted up hounds, black and tan hounds and solid reds, and tick color hounds red and blue. Almost all of these hounds were closely related and they came from certain dogs that been brought with him when he crossed his southern home thru the big thicket country and walked to the mountains of New Mexico.

Ben was hard to please and his hounds had to pay their way and he would not tolerate any foolishness. they would get a warning and the next time they did something bad Ben would hold council draw his hounds up in a circle to watch and pull out his bull whip with which he was an expert, and commence to whip the offender to death. I imagine after that when them old pooches heard Ben's whip crack they had a mighty sober look on their faces. LOL!

Thanks mike

Neat story Mr. Mike, thanks for sharing.

sounds like he was a legend out there

Ben truly was a legend.

do yourself a favor if you haven't, pick up a copy of J. Frank Dobie's book ( THE BEN LILLY LEGEND) it is a great read. check this months copy of True West magazine to order this and other books by Dobie.

Google: Images Of Ben Lilly Hounds
There are some good pictures of him and his dogs.

Mike Leonard wrote:Ben truly was a legend.

do yourself a favor if you haven't, pick up a copy of J. Frank Dobie's book ( THE BEN LILLY LEGEND) it is a great read. check this months copy of True West magazine to order this and other books by Dobie.

Mike Leonard give Dale Cole a call at 405 641 5946. If no answer leave a message I call right back want to talk.