Couple Questions!

[natureboy]

Hello there! well bear season on here in n.m lots of bears. heres what i need to know, do most bears run long races, when u see them cross the road? also when does a bear live a stronger scent, morning or evenings? I have a couple of bear hounds,that ive been taking out, ive put them on 3 bears now, havent caught one yet,dont know if ime turning the dogs out to fast, when i see them cross the road, or should i let one dog take off first then, release the others. ime running four hounds. any info would help, thanks

[chilcotin hillbilly]

Nature boy, If you are seeing the bears cross the road you should be able to dump the box and catch most bears, if your not, are you sure you are hunting bear dogs? On average this spring I would say a mile was about normal for a race, I had a few pop ups but I also had some 7 and 8 mile races which brings the average up a little. I would say earily morning is the best time to start a run, but if you are seeing the bear cross the road there should be lots of scent any time of day as those tracks don't get any hotter.

[bency]

ill 2nd that.

[kickemall]

What they said, but I'll add that if your dogs aren't in shape then thats probably a big part of why they're getting away. The best dog in the world isn't much good if its fat and soft. If your dogs are in reasonable shape and you've put them on three different bears you've seen crossing the road then you better start wondering just what kind of "bear dogs" your running. Good luck.

[BEAR HUNTER]

I agree with all of the above.

If your dogs aren't in shape the bear just leaves them behind. I start roading mine about a month prior to bear season. I am experimenting with a pulling harnes and cart. The bird doggers swear that this will get a dog in better shape faster than anything else. We'll see.

[B&T man]

I gather your seeing the bear on the road before you let any dogs out? If that's the case don't get too excited ripping up there firing all the dogs out on the road at once. If anything let the bear walk of the road maybe even wait a few minutes if your dogs are quiet before driving up to where the bear left the road. Let your best dog out first and point him in the right direction. When your sure he has the scent, I'd wait till he is bawling on the track let your #2 dog out, ect, ect. Don't wait too long between dogs though, you want a tight pack running that bear so they all get there at the same time and pressure him up the tree.

Strange things happen sometimes when you let out too quick on a bear that just left the road. For some reason the best dogs will "F" it up sometimes. Can't exsplain it that's just the way it is.

Morning is the best time to go out huntin'. Fresh scent, cool temps for the dogs to run in and all day to round up your dogs when things go from bad to worse. That happens alot bear huntin'.

If your dog's are losing the track it's likely not all four of your dogs fault. Try to narrow it down to who the trouble maker is. For instance.. A dog giving a lot of voice that doesn't really know what he's doing may be pulling your dogs of the track. Don't know what your problem is just sayin there are many differant things that could be going on.

Lastly don't Count on one mile races either. That's like a seven minute race... The dogs should have the bear treed in 1-2 hours. After the two hour mark your dogs will be pretty played out and your chances of a catch are getting slimmer by the minute. Ya ther will be races shorter thatn that but do not count on it. Good luck

[Bar X Bar Ranch]

NatureBoy- those guys have just given you the most sound advice I've ever heard.

B&T Man- Thanks for taking the time to type that all out!

[natureboy]

Thanks B&T Man anyways, i think u might have just solved my problem,ime thinking that one of the hounds might be trashing out, going barking like crazy and the the other dogs probably are following him. Ime going to give it a try this evening and switch some hounds around. I know definatly 3 hounds that ime running have been on lots of bear, they came from west vergina. And this is my first year chasing bear with dogs, been out before with friends. My preference is doing lion hunts, ime good at that. well thanks guys for the info. all let u know what happens.

[BBGH]

your dogs have to be in shape to run those bears down. some bears run for 10 hours others run for 10 minuits it just depends on what that bear wants to do that day.