BigGameHoundsmen.com

well in need of some advice...
I have two 9 month old plott/lep curr mixes. I finally got my collars in and itching to run the dogs in the hills.

My goal is to train these hounds on bear and Bobcat; I am trying to build my pack, with hopes of getting 4 more dogs...

I've been running them in creek beds and letting them experience nature on their own. I don't have much experience and i'm pretty much training them as I go. I run them at least 3-4x a week, they don't range on me in the flat lands when I run them.

The question is, would it be wise to cut them loose in the hills hoping they cut either a bear or bobcat track? I would love for them to get some experience in? To be honest, I am not sure they will range on me? I'm hoping they get on a trail and run for a bit, and then call them in.

I'm also not sure if i should keep a tight leash on them per say...and call them in when I have lost sight of them?

Am I, mistakingly training them to stay at close range?

thx for any advice,

There are alot of different answers to all of your questions and they might all be different. Its really up to you how you want your hounds to hunt and handle. I personally dont think you are doin anything wrong at all. All my dogs handle very well and I can turn em loose in the yard and most of the time they just lounge around but when we go, they go. All dogs are different and all men are different so its kind of just up to you. I am sure before long they will stumble across a deer track for ya, dont worry they will go then. HAHA! Good luck!

Ive been there... the best thing you could do is get a hand held tracking box and learn to use it They wont ever cut many tracks if you dont letem cover some ground IMO... Its fun training pups, always an adventure

where are you located?

northern ca, placer county.

In my opinion, when a guy is starting out and starting hounds, he should find a fresh track and walk those dogs down it. Show them the track and lew them know that's what you want. There are just too many things a trail hound can strike and leave on to cast them blindly--it just helps to show them what they are suppose to trail......

Good luck,
ike

Ike wrote:In my opinion, when a guy is starting out and starting hounds, he should find a fresh track and walk those dogs down it. Show them the track and lew them know that's what you want. There are just too many things a trail hound can strike and leave on to cast them blindly--it just helps to show them what they are suppose to trail......

Good luck,
ike

I agree totally,if you only want em on bear an cats,free castin em as pups is no good.As Dan said they'll soon be runnin deer or grey fox etc.

those are good guys to listen to. Tracks are hard to find in this country but that would be the best

Ike is 100% right on this, find the track you want them to run and let them know that, when they open praise them like all get out and let them go. They are going to trash some but that is another training issue. Good luck.

Ike, I know and have read some of the heat you have taken, right, wrong , or indifferent. No judgement there, but you do know dogs. That shows! I have disagreed with you before but that doesn't make me right either. Your post on getting a pup started on the track of the game you wanted it to run was 100% right. I wish you and your hounds the best.Best regards.

I appreciate all the advice given and I want to extend my graditude... Hopefully, I will cross some tracks soon and lead them on a consistint basis.
Thx again

i agree... Buy his videos Hound Dawg Crazy I & II.

They are the best

I have found the easiest way to train young dogs is to hunt them with a check dog. If you free cast two young dogs by themselves they will chase everything that runs from them, it is just in their nature. You can find old check dogs all over northern california that people are giving away because they don't need them any more. I have had good luck running young dogs with older finished dogs, it gives them an idea of what they are looking for. Good Luck

Good advice on the check dogs as well, but don't ever believe a young dog or two is gonna stay with an old check dog on an old track if there is hot trash around to run. I don't know how many times I've had a buddy along with young dogs and started my Ike and Ryan dogs down an old crappy lion track and then had them turn in behind me. In most cases, if the young dog could even find that cold track, as soon as they struck a fresh deer they were off like the wind--period! Very few young dogs that I have been around will stay with an older dog on an open ground lion track--matter fact most under a year old can't even find or smell it.................

My advice is go with those hounds and keep them honest, and not just once but throughout most of their young lives. Too many guys get attached to their hounds and only wish or want to believe they are doing good when in fact they are running trash. I like to use the old term "show me", cause seeing is believing and seeing is knowing.......

ike

These guys know what their talking about, don't rush the pups, show them what you want by physically putting them on a track, and sticking to areas where their less likely to find trash, making a good hound takes some time, you're gonna need a tracking system, so invest when you can....jsb

Not sure on the laws in California but YOU better be before you take your dogs and put them on a track. In some states there is no reason to be in the woods this time of year and doing something like that will only get you a ticket. Nothing wil stunt the development of a good hound like a couple years of sitting on a chain waiting on its owner to get his hunting back. New hound hunters may not realize the seriousness of this, even with untrained dogs, is the only reason I bring it up. That being said, I agree with Ike about the strategy but any time in the woods is good time.