Do You Have Hunting Dogs?

[NorthernWoods]

There is a lot about self sufficiency on these boards. Who here considers hunting dogs part of the equation? What kind of dogs do you have and what do you hunt?

Before my current job had me traveling all over, I had quite the sizable pack of beagles. About everything there is to know about rabbit hunting, I know. Kind of like that fly fisherman down the creek from you that pulls in fish after fish while you’d settle for a nibble; I have become that guy down the stream when it comes to rabbit hunting. I just have the knack to know where and when to stand to get the shot.

Coming up here soon, I might be in the position to settle down in one place. Therefore, I’d like to get my dogs back. I just don’t know what I want to take up. I kind of want to master something else. I love to eat pheasant, duck, but the bird hunting is kind of boring around here. I’m leaning towards coon hunting and know a guy I can get some wickedly good redbones off of. I don’t know, probably go back to my beagles. It’s exciting right out of the gate and you don’t have to chase the dogs all over creation.

I wish we had hogs this far north!

[bloogrssgrl]

Weeeellll...I have beagles.

Hunting dogs? Um...er...uuhhh...



They know how to find the refrigerator. Does that count?

Actually, the one on the left, Jasper, is quite the little hunter. The one on the right, Ruby, is a rescue from a research lab. She'll follow Jasper around and bark, bark, bark but I don't think she even has a clue what she's barking about. Sheer joy I guess.

[DW]

ours (lab mut) hunts everything w/her nose...but the only thing she's ever killed was a mouse. She chased a jack rabbit so long, they took breaks and rested. She would stand over it while resting. Threw a prairie dog around in the wind so long, it was slobbery! She lacks killer instinct.

[Oldcountryboy]

I use to be the big time rabbit hunter myself when I was a much younger lad. I always kept a 4 pack of beagles and my BIL use to have a big pack.(at one time about 28 beagles) Several times a winter we'd pack a bunch of em up and hit the briar patches. We'd have about a dozen men and boys following along that made it even more exciting. I dream of getting another pack up again if I could just get some land owners permission to hunt. I started driving a school bus this last school year and now I know where all the good spots are. I would see rabbits and deer all the time on my early routes.

But right now the only hunting dog I have is a small Rat Terrior that is becoming a great blessing. He has been treeing several squirrels out behind the house here lately. So far I have shot two out of a tree for him. First one with a 22 rifle, the second one with a stickbow. I've been waiting to get some time off from my side jobs so I can take him out and do some real squirrel hunting. I think he's gonna be a real good one. I'm looking to find a another good dog to hunt with him. Really looking forward to do some fall squirrel hunting.

You got any squirrels up your way?

[EDDIE BUCK]

Not much sounds better than a pack of beagles running a rabbit or a good coonhound blowing the top out of a tree.The coon or rabbit fresh from the stove ain't bad either. I have dog hunted all my life up till a few years ago,nothing more enjoyable. I no longer own hunting dogs,just a couple of beagles who watch over my garden.This day and time around here at least,the population is growing by leaps and bounds.I have never had any problems with my dogs or me going on anyone elses land,but sooner or later if I kept hunting dogs,I might run into one of those folks that would shoot one of my dogs for no other reason, than just coming on their land.That would be the biggest mistake they ever made.That said,I have a wife,two grown sons and their wives,the parents of my six grandkids.I love these folks with all my heart and I would not do anything that would keep me away from them,so I quit hunting with dogs for that reason. If you decide to start back dog hunting,you have my best wishes and I hope you have good luck on all those hunting trips you take,and no harm comes to you or your dogs. Is hunting a good way to put meat on the table? Yes and the better the dogs are means more meat on the table,but I bet you already knew that,because you've dog hunted before. Eddie Buck the has been dog hunter,lol

Oldcountryboy,the few squirrel hunters around here,swear the best way to get a squirrel dog puppy to tree,is bait a havahart trap with peanut butter on the pan.Put it in the woods where the squirrels are and it will wear them out.Now take that caged squirrel out in an open field just far enough that you think your puppy won't catch him before he gets to the woods.Let your pup bark at the caged squirrel till hes really fired up,then open the cage and the race is on.Your pup will see the squirrel climb the tree so he's not searching for a track that he can't figure out and leaves him wondering where the squirrel went,which ain't good in my opinion for a pup,, until till he gets to treeing the tree the squirrel is in. Just my 2 cent though.

[Pops2]

for true subsistence hunting (where everything goes on the plate & you need to catch something everyday) a good silent running cur is hard to beat. because they are generally medium to hot nosed they won't start a track that belongs to a critter 2 counties over. because they run silent, the game doesn't know they're there until the cur is biting them in the @$$. because they're usually gritty, they bite down instead of just pulling fur. all of it together means you don't have to run far to get to the tree/bay/catch. they are versatile enough for everything from squirrel to bear, including upland & puddle bird work.
the other best choice is a good lurcher or sighthound, they sometimes have a good nose. they run to catch, so they bite & don't just pull fur either. they also can be used for everything from tree rats to smokie (in fact historically they were used by roosevelt & custer to catch bison, elk, antelope, & wolves). again moderate bird work is also common w/ these types of dogs.
crossbred hunting dogs are also good versatile hunters.
of the true scenthounds hounds beagles seem the most versatile.
don't worry if you don't have hogs yet, some @$$hole will fix that soon enough.

[EDDIE BUCK]

Originally Posted by Pops2

for true subsistence hunting (where everything goes on the plate & you need to catch something everyday) a good silent running cur is hard to beat. because they are generally medium to hot nosed they won't start a track that belongs to a critter 2 counties over. because they run silent, the game doesn't know they're there until the cur is biting them in the @$$. because they're usually gritty, they bite down instead of just pulling fur. all of it together means you don't have to run far to get to the tree/bay/catch. they are versatile enough for everything from squirrel to bear, including upland & puddle bird work.
the other best choice is a good lurcher or sighthound, they sometimes have a good nose. they run to catch, so they bite & don't just pull fur either. they also can be used for everything from tree rats to smokie (in fact historically they were used by roosevelt & custer to catch bison, elk, antelope, & wolves). again moderate bird work is also common w/ these types of dogs.
crossbred hunting dogs are also good versatile hunters.
of the true scenthounds hounds beagles seem the most versatile.
don't worry if you don't have hogs yet, some @$$hole will fix that soon enough.

LOL,thats what I have wanted,but never owned one.One of those catahoula Leopard Curs with one white eye.Looking like if any business needs taken care, he can do it with no help from anyone man or dog.

[Oldcountryboy]

Yep a good cur pup is what I'm looking for to train with my Rat Terrior. I keep hoping someone close by will have one at a reasonable price.

[IndyGardenGal]

My husband has a German Shorthair (we got him when we were in Kansas)--he's sleeping here.


This is my $75 shelter dog. She points, runs rabbits, and is an AMAZING hunting dog. If you give her the room to run, and a rabbit to chase, she won't stop until she has it in her mouth and brings it to you. She incredibly fast, smart, and has one heck of a nose.

[Ross]

My father used to raise Spring Spaniels, German Shorthairs, and later Brits. All were nice dogs, made great pets but I always prefered the flushing spaniel to a pointer for hunting. The brits hunted with you, the shorthairs were far more serious but you hunted with them in charge. Not bad if you are in open country and can keep an eye on them but if you gotta search 40 acres of bush to find the dog to see what the dog found, you may as well crash about and put up your own birds! Trialing is a whole nuther story there the GSP is king. Setters were always nice to watch hunt, a little more laid back than the GSP's, and brits. Most breeds are more laid back than brits. Get a springer (or a good cocker) quartering inside shotgun range and its a faster lively-er hunt. Why not get a couple of hounds and a bird dog?

[Chuck R.]

Golden Retrievers here, my family has raised them since just after WWII.

Trooper:


CJ:


I used to be heavily into running hunt tests (before job change). My wife still is, and she also does agility/obedience with them. We've also done a bunch of work on our 9 acre pond to create a training grounds IE added coves, points, and an island for running scenarios.

Chuck

[Menglish]

I have raised Treeing Feist squirrel dogs for several years now. I put many meals of squirrel in the freezer each season. I also sell the puppies and occasionally take dogs in for training...including Mt. Curs. While they may not make a ton of money I do believe they more than pay for themselves. Plus hunting a dog is my release from the pressures of life. If I start getting grumpy my wife tells me to go hunting...can't beat that! LOL

Mike

[Blogging Wench]

Check out this new breed for hunting small game w/speed, heart, endurance

www.arzone-hounds.com

[IndyGardenGal]

Ross- Our GSP is a good flusher, but he's very needy with us. He doesn't want to be too far from us at any time. I wish I could trust my dog off a leash like I do our GSP.

[TedH71]

I have a blue lacy and used to hunt hogs with catahoulas. Now am thinking mountain curs or terriers such as Patterdales.....due to needing a breed that is smaller than 40 lbs. Ideas? Has to be able to tolerate kids. JRTS aren't always good with kids.