Houndmen Etiquette

[U.R.E.]

Well Fellas I think it's our responsibility to help some of the younger, newer, members of the hound world to understand that true houndsmen have an etiquette that we operate under. Things like; If you bump into a hunter in an area you turn around a find another area. If you buy a pup or where given a pup and decide you don't like if the original owner gets first opportunity to buy it back or to be given back the pup.

Line'em up.........

[Mike Leonard]

Here is a few:

1. Never I mean Never cut your dogs in on a track that you know another hunters is working. This is a a serious no no in the big game world. If you by accident find yourself in a postion where you are out on a track and you find another man's hounds trailing ahead of your's possibly he cut the track from another line than it is his track. Some things can't be helped but never run around ahead of another hunter who is out working a track to pick it up ahead of him that is stealing.

2. If your dogs end up going to a tree that another man's dogs have treed first. Go to the tree and tie your dogs back away from the tree and try to find the other hunter. Show respect and good things will come back to you ten fold.

3. If another man loses a hounds and it comes in to you make every effort to get the hound back quickly because likely he and his family are very concered about it.

4. Here is a HUGE ONE never betray a friends hunting spots. If he or she is nice enough to invite you to go to a place they find very special and they have access to it. Never go there on your own without letting them know and Never take others out to it like it was your deal to start with. I have seen many long term relationships ruined over this one. Some guys just feel like they have to be a hotline for other hunters to make themselves look knowledgable or savvy. Usually these are the guys that would also slip into your back yard and steal from you when they know you are on vacation.

[papa]

I have seen problems in this area: If you buy a dog without trying it out, you bought it, don't complain or badmouth the seller. If you try a dog and then buy it, don't complain 3-6 months later and want your money back. Both parties should practice honesty and integrity. This should go without saying, but in our society you can't take anyting for granted.

[Big Horn Posse]

These are all excellent rules to follow. I wish more people would use good etiquite not just in the hound world but in life in general. I have a little plaque I bought in Ireland that reads, "Because nice matters" words to live by.

[calblu]

These are all excellent rules to follow. I wish more people would use good etiquite not just in the hound world but in life in general.

I totally agree!! I've been a victim of a couple of the things mentioned above, but most of them I'm reading and thinking, "There are actually people who would be ill-mannered enough to do that??!!"

[whoflungdung]

Don't brag to much on how great your world beaters are. Chances are there are quite a few dogs are way better. Take notice in a friend/hunting buddies dogs and tell them when the dogs do good.

[Brady Davis]

My 2 cents:

1- Get over the breed bashing. All dogs, all breeds have good ones and bad. Usually the handler/owner has more to do with the dog being good as opposed to whether it's a black dog, red dog, brindle dog or a cur.

2- Actually take kids hunting. Lots of guys talk and lots of guys actually do it. This sport (hound hunting) needs all the help it can get. There is strength in numbers; let's grow our numbers with the kids.

3- Lastly....Your dogs will run deer....they all will with the right chance. All dogs have faults, don't dwell on another guys' dogs faults, instead, help them in training or be quiet...Remember Thumpers quote.....

[Mike Leonard]

I am not even sure how to spell Ettique but good manners go a long way in all of the things we do.

Some of the ideas on this post come from hurt feelings I can tell and that is too bad, some come from total lack of integrity and that is what you might say has gone wrong with a whole lot of the things that go on today.

I have regrets at times I know that I have been like most others self serving and pridefull. I don't take any pleasure in that fact. For the most part these days I stay to myself and hunt where I seldom see another. Not that I can't communicate or even tolerate diversity, I just have enough stress to deal with that I don't need to add to the pile.

I will however take up for my dogs: they ask nothing but a little feed and take me hunting. They don't lie, cheat or steal they run of instinct and desire. Not a bad combination.
A very many years ago a few of us were roading down a mountain 2 track at the break of day. Bears were living there and we knew it was just a matter of time. We had no malice no fore thought just hunt and have fun. Suddenly the two strike dogs swerved out from an old mud puddle there in the trail and as they did we saw a camoflauged figure spring from the brush with a compound bow. He drew his bow at the hounds but was unable to settle before we were upon him. I was suddenly transformed into another place and time. A man a figure that was hidden was pulling back an arrow and trying to aim at my most prized possession and obsession Big John. Not sure where this falls on the etiqque scale but 69er was beside me and this fellow was quickly dis- armed and thrown across the hood of the pickup with more than a stern warning.

Now the heat of such exchanges can lead to some rather troubling results. Thankfully this time it did not, but I still grow a bit angry thinking about this fool hiding by a mud puddle in the road thinking it was an elk wallow and willing to shoot a man's hound.

I have mellowed a good deal since then and I think today I would revert back to my grade shcool antics if such a thing happened. I recall a young man kicking my old pointer Doc in the ribs for no reason other than to show his friends he could make a dog scream.

I caught him crossing an old ball field on my horse I came at a gallup. He ran but could not out run Sport. I roped him and drug him to an ant hill. There I hog tied him, and then took off his boots and scooped up ants and dirt and poured them on him.

Today I would be locked up for the rest of my life, but back then it prevented any further bad behavior, and his mother actually thanked me.


Point is don't ever mess with another person's dogs.

[Big Horn Posse]

As I said before

[sow flat slim]

Read all the above posts and then read them again, also when hunting with older dogmen, show them their due respect, and keep your eyes and ears open, will learn a whole bunch that way, when there is lost dogs, stay and help locate them, always offer to help in any possible way, when things are good, and when things are bad. Remember to always treat people and dogs the same way you would like you and your dogs to be treated.

[Cal Bryant]

this is a great post. Read it and read it again like Sow fat Slim said.

all I can add is;

Think before you act!!

and "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"

We all have differences that is what makes us who we are.

[Plotts]

A fellow I used to hunt with jumped my lion track this winter. I found the track and snowmobiled back to the truck to get my dogs.

He had a key to a gate that allowed him access through private land, and he found the track after I did. He knew full well that I was going back to get my dogs and return.

When I arrived back at the track he had turned loose on it and stole my track.

"USED" to hunt with.

[U.R.E.]

Buddy

Could you compose these into a sticky and add it to "Rules"? Just a thought.

[LBell]

From a Greenies piont of view, I totaly agree with everything that has been said. Good manners should come forth not only with our dogs but with all we do. If we as houndsmen cannot get along and have respect for one another then we are nothing more then the antis say we are. A bunch of crazed rednecks chaseing and harassing innocent wildlife, who disturb all those who we share the mountins with, with our packs of blood thirsty dogs. (Actualy heard that one). But also a note to you all the more experienced hounds men out there. Please be tolerant of us new guys, help us, do not take advantage of us or try to run us out of the hills, we are in the same boat you were at some point in time. The gent who introduced me to hounds i met at work, two weeks after my first coon outing in wich nothing was caught i had my first dog, a plott/walker cross. he told me what i should do to train him and helped a little. when we went out my dog stayed in the truck, if we were coon hunting he was allowed to be let go but if he barked no attention was given. But while bear hunting he spent most all the time in the box. The next spring the deal was i bought ran and set the bait, and and my partner would take care of the hunting gas, and if we went with a friend of his i would also be able to go with no problems. I ran bait twice a week an hour and a half away, bread doughnuts and dog food, all season. Most of the season passed I had two bait getting hit. We never went, i was told he didn't have time or money, i offerd to help with gas, he said no it was alright. Finaly the day came and we went with his buddy who was supposed to have "super dogs" nothing really happened. a cold bump or two, the they let somthing slip they had went out before, more then a few times and i was left out. That was the only time I was taken along, when i asked i was told they didn't want their "good dogs" ruined by a pup that might run deer. Needless to say that was the end of a freindship and i haven't hardly spoken to the guy in more then 6 months, and we still work together. I have found more then one bait since, all i have left and never returned. All i am saying is if you see a lost looking young guy, help him out we could use it, give us some pointers don't run us away, i know it is a huge chance but it may turn out to be worth it. And please be fair to us, we may really not know anybetter.

[livetohunt]

LBell very well said. I have met many, many houndsmen in the woods. I would say half would go out of there way to help you out I mean really give you the shirt off thier backs. And the other half treat you like your trash. As for the second half I dont know why thet are that way. You are so right everyone and I do mean everyone had to start some place. I think this one should be right up at the top of the list.....