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-- How important is coonhunting in you life? (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/showthread.php?threadid=34947)

How important is coonhunting in my life?

Well, I have yet to know the answer to this question in my own life, as I am just beginning to learn.
But I have had many, many years of Coonhunting in my life. Many in this thread knew my husband Ray Stein. As you know, he lived and breathed his hounds. I may seem presumptuious to answer for him, but this man and I knew each other about as well as two people ever could.
Coonhunting was a VERY IMPORTANT part of his life, his absolute favoirte would have had to have been bearhunting though. No, his absolute favorite would have been the hounds, No, his absolute favorite would have had to have been the feeling and love he had for being out in the woods with his hounds! This was all well established in him when I met him, though at the time he did not have a hound and was trying to live a different life.
Anyway, boy meets girl, you know the rest. It was not long when that first Dolllin's plotthound pup, Shawnee, started making her puppydog eyes at me, and I thought, oh, this might be fun........................................................................................................................
It was!
Now I never much went into the woods coonhunting with Ray, as I am terribly frightened of the dark, therefore coonhunting didn't interest me much. I've been on many a bear hunt though. I quit going with the little ones after the rattle snake almost bit our daughter Katie (4 years old at that time), oh yeh, and when she got into the fire ants in New Mexico. My biggest turn-off to bearhunting was the injuries to the hounds though, broke my heart, and hated the vet bills. Don't hunt a Dollins bred dog, if you don't want vet bills!!!! They WON'T give up no matter how huge and mean that beast is! Ray loved to bear hunt, and all of his beardogs, coonhunted just as well, some on big cats too. Over the past few years, he became interested in the pro hunts with a new breed of coon hunting plotts, as the coonhunt season worked out much better with his wildlife business that he also loved beyond words.
Ray took the all the children to the woods with him as soon as they pottytrained, didn't take me along after the rattlesnake incident, as I worried too much about them, (out of sight, out of mind thing, he said). I still went with him at times thereafter, but when I went, it was a chance for us to be together, ALONE! We have 6 kids!!!!!! I loved to be with Ray when he was hunting, he was at his BEST! He was honestly THE HAPPIEST MAN ON EARTH when he was hunting. Our entire family knew this, and we all loved to go with him, as he was never more his TRUE and HONEST self, as when he was hunting, and it was GREAT!
Ray LOVED THIS FAMILY, he rearranged his life when the family's wellbeing required it, I NEVER had to ask. He was a big boy, he knew. These times were hard times, if there was no hound, it meant things were hard. Believe me, I was more than anxious for the day there would be a hound in the back of that pickup when he came home!
Some of you may wonder, What is she doing coming onto the coonhunting boards anyway? Well, even though I have not been in the woods like you, this has been my world for the past 26 years. With Ray's passing, I miss hearing his stories, those of you that knew him, knew he was a Master at it. The stories you tell make me feel a little closer to him, and I know he's still checking them out too! I truely hope you don't mind. 4 months, 4 years, or 40 years, the things he loved in this world will always be as important to me as he was.
All this, this is the answer to Briar's question. How important is coonhunting in your life? BE HONEST! It IS your life! You cannot be anyone other than who you were born to be! If coonhunting, bearhunting, or ANYTHING truely makes you the person you are, a better, more fullfilled person, don't be ashamed to say it! Let the people in your life see YOU at your best! If they truely care about you, how could they find fault? Don't forget to let those people show YOU what is most important to THEM also though! If you truely care for each other, you will find their dreams will become as important to your happiness as coonhunting!
Be the person the Lord intended you to be, he gave you these talents and joys because it is what he wants for you, it pleases him. He has a plan for your life, don't second guess his intentions for it!
God Bless!
Laura Stein

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Pzazz!

WOW!!

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The fun is over once you pull the trigger

Ron Ashbaugh
CROOKED FOOT KENNELS

laura -- got a buddy has some health problems-recently got rid of his hounds-- if he can will be back at it hes a bear hunter and has been a coonhunter and beagler-- he told me no matter how it turns out hes lived as much already as alot have that are twice as old-- i think thats an exceptional attitude - just reading your post reminds me of that - and how much the old fleabags mean to a lot of us- hounds are a bad addiction -i guess there are worse things to be addicted to- you are one understanding woman-- pete

quote:

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Originally posted by Briar
WOW!!

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David R McLeod
Animal Control Technician
Animal Control Eperts LLC
www.ace1ace.com
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"I'm in the Heart of Dixie, Dixie's in the heart of me".

quote:
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Originally posted by JiM
....THANK GOD FOR BENCH SHOWS!!!!!!! Anything that keeps women and crybabies out of the woods has my support.
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Love of the Hound

I would say that Mrs. Stein posted one of the most eloquent statements in support of our sport that I have ever seen.

Having pondered why I like to coonhunt, I came up with one reason. I love my hounds. What that means is multifaceted. I have shared on this board that my father's family is from either from the mountains or the south or both. I have two pictures that I treasure. One is of Kelly Harris and his bride Elizabeth McCarty (great grandparents) on their wedding day holding hands. Another is of Robert Fulmer (great grandfather) with his brother Porter in the twilight of their lives. Porter lived in Alabama and rode the train to Northern Kentucky to see his brother one last time. These old men were holding hands, one in a sportcoat over overalls, in the picture that was taken circa 1952.

I have been told that my sisters (I have three) were debating why I was such a hillbilly and/or redneck. They decided that it was because my mother's grandfather Baumgartner was born and raised in West Virginia and was an avid sportsman. He tipped the scales in favor of the Harris' and Fulmers. lol

In any event, when I am out with my hounds, I feel that I am in communion with my grandfathers and all that they were and are, and my heritage. They did the same thing that I do now. They lived, loved, and died and throughout were hunters and kept hounds. I am of them and embrace what they were and are through me. Hounding is indeed an American tradition.

When I let my pack out for exercise in my back yard they follow me around and constantly come to me for a pet or scratch. If they see me leave without them they will go over or under the fence. I think they sense what they mean to me and embrace me. That is what I believe.

To me,

My hounds, and Backcountry adventures, are like an escape to me, When Im out in Good Country with hounds, away from everything, I usually forget about everything, Work, Problems, Bills, everything, its just about the hounds, and the excitment of the hunt, its like going back in Time!!!!

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Home of
Log Woods Chester, Treeing Walker,

GRNITECH GR"CH "PR" KIZERS Bleedin Blue Slugger, Bluetick and PR Netherys Trixie Bluetick

Laura Stein

Thank you for sharing some of Ray 's life with us.

It is always a pleasure to see you on the board.

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Lets go ...she aint goin nowhere
TEAM GUTPILE Coming Soon !

Some say the dogs have cost them wives , houses , jobs , etc.

I say " not " having dogs " would have " cost me all of these !

If I didn't have a hound around , I'd be the worst person on earth to try and get along with !

It'd be like a drug addict without a fix , an alcoholic without a drink , a smoker without a cigarette , all rolled into one !

It's a good thing I have such an understanding wife ! She's put up with me for 27 years so far !

And Mrs. Stein , to you I would like to say this.............

Maybe Ray told you , maybe he didn't , it's wives like you that help us to be the people we are. Without an understanding wife , life would be as miserable as a life without dogs ! To try and relate to you how important your role in his success is beyond words. Believe me , he loved and cherished you just as much as his hounds.
Every time I see a friends wife that's , well , not quite so understanding , ( and in hunting , I see alot of them ) , it makes me appreciate my wife that much more. And I'm sure Ray felt the same way also. Believe me , he counted you as a blessing more times than you will ever know ! And for that , I say THANK-YOU MRS. STEIN for helping Ray Stein to be the man that he was !

God Bless you and yours. Come back and visit us often

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Bob Brooks /
Jordan Tyler (grandson)

BackWoods River Walkers/Beagles
Just all 'round , meat gettin' hounds.

K Singletary said it best....

Its like a drug. Its not a priority for me, but after a few days of not messing with the hounds and setting at home, I start yearning to go. And when your in the woods, good nite or bad, everything just fits. And the company and the friends I have made make it worth while. Jim.

Lifeblood
My dad started me about 30 years ago and I've been going strong ever since. I use to have a thing I always told the ladies even. First comes my dog, then comes my truck, if you're lucky you'll fall in there after. Now that I have a wonderful wife, Who by the way loves to hunt proly as much if not more than me I have slightly changed my views a bit. I'd have to say she Might... come before the hunting, it's a pretty close race but.. hehehe

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Dennis "Marty" and Heidi West
Holden Missouri
(816)850-3987 or (816)785-1740
westshounds@yahoo.com
GRCH GRWRCH'PR' White Reuben Timber Thrasher
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GRCH'PR' Red Raven Timber Thrasher
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GCH'PR' Ladys' Amazing Grace
(E-Days '07 Grand Female,
Autum Oaks Grand English Female 07)
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WCH GRCH'PR' Aspin Rain Timber Thrasher(2-1st place wins)
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CH'PR' Heidi's Hillbilly Dancin Amber(E-Days '06 BFOS)
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CH'PR'Ester's not in Kansas Anymore(E-Days '07 BFOS
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Grch GrNtch'Pr'Howard Co Set'em Up Tree SHAKER: ______________________________________________
Ch GrNiteCh'Pr'Herd's Barber Creek ACE
'04 UKC English World Champion and 16th Place Over All
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Coonhunting as we all agree is the most addictive thing on earth. I started coonhunting before I remember. My father used to pack me along when I was only 2 yrs old my mother would tell me. I never have been without a hound (Most of them bad ones though Ha Ha). I used to walk to the back of our farm with an ol Bluetick and a collie/shepherd mix. Blue would track possums and the collie would tree. I sat many a night on a gate under a big cherry tree listening to that Blue dog run a fox, convincing myself it was a coon. Me and my buddies would even suck gas at of my dads cultivating tractor to have to go coonhunting on.(That always ticked him off). we loved to go hunting. My parents always said I was to addicted to it and tried to detour my hobbie, but I overcame all the obstacles they put before me to chase a coonhound. I even picked a college to go to based upon what the nearby coon population was. Now, I still pleasure hunt but run the hunt circuit pretty hard I love to win but I must say the most fun is loading that ol dog, your buddies, and a good night of coon treeing. It is truly the thing that makes me the happiest in the world. I thank God for allowing all this and for giving me a wife that loves and understands my passion for dogs. To all of you I pray that you have many more races and the enjoyment continues so when we have to put the dog leash up that last time that we will all have the memories to share with one another.

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Bays Fork Breeding for Superiority

A personal heritage

I grew up in an environment that was dominated by sports and sportsman. I was surrounded by hunting and fishing year round and things like the love of the outdoors and gun safety were just about branded in me from before I can remember. I hunted all my life until about '84 or '85 when the person most responsible for me knowing how to hunt became too ill to do so. Because of this, I more or less lost my way and it kind of disappeared from my life. After getting a great hound, The desire to hunt came back and I am happy to say that after all this time, I am back at it. I do have other responsibilities so I can only go about once a week, but it has become just as enjoyable as it was those years ago. Seeing these posts about long time hunters and those who just picked it up, just reaffirms all the positives that hunting and fishing bring.
I'm lucky that I have a wife, who while she doesn't hunt and never grew up around it, she understands and appreciates how I feel and supports me. Becasue of that I make sure that my responsibilities to my family always come first and formost, but that, along with my love of hunting, are things I take great joy in. having both is a blessing, one that I am thankful for each day.

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http://coonhoundcalendar.com/Gallery/albums/Gayles-stuff/RavenGSanimxSmall.gif
Raven Gunsmith "Preserving the Heritage"
http://www.RavenGunsmith.com
Member NRA Business Alliance
NRA Benefactor Member

rubbed off a little!

Oh yea, the fact that up until recently, never even heard of a coonhound, and now creates calendars about them, hopefully shows that I have rubbed off on her just a little!

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http://coonhoundcalendar.com/Gallery/albums/Gayles-stuff/RavenGSanimxSmall.gif
Raven Gunsmith "Preserving the Heritage"
http://www.RavenGunsmith.com
Member NRA Business Alliance
NRA Benefactor Member

How important

is hunting in my life ........ Well lets see its caused me to have a N.E.W. ( new ex wife) , but that didnt stop me from hunting and now I think my F.E.W. (future ex wife ) may be thinking about leaving cause as she say " you spend way to much time chasing them **** dogs " and " you mean top tell me that its 13 degrees out and your going to go duck hunting , god your nuts " - Yep I think that pretty much sums it up to me - IT IS MY LIFE - by the way sweetheart if you read this ---- Just wait till next year it'll be even better yet

well im gonna say that im only 20 and have been coonhunting for about 5 yrs, and have lost jobs, girlfriends, failed classes, and spent LOTS of money in gas, and i think that its pretty well my favorite thing to do. a fella being 20 should be out chasin women but i go hunting lots of times alone just to listen to a hound, and tree a possum, run a deer, but in the end its all worth it to me, brings me peace at mind, you know a bad night huntin is better then a good day at work, and hunting is not a passion, its an obsession. but god bless and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you and yours.

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Justin Coffel

The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to prepare to win. Everyone wants to win but not everyone wants to prepare to win." - Bobby Knight

when I was younger, I was a really great athlete with a chance to play pro ball. It was the ONLY thing in my life from day 1 and that was competing in some kind of ball game. Then college was over and so was the chance to COMPETE. When my dad had his heart attack, the doctor told him to start walking. He said if he was going to walk he was going back to coonhunting. Thanks to my dad for introducing me to the wonderful world of coonhunting and especially competition coonhunting. For the last 15 years I have enjoyed competing and trying to raise a dog that would do me proud. Then I had an accident and it hurts a lot more to walk 2 miles to the first tree now and I dont compete as much anymore but I still have those fires of hunting and socializing with all the rest of the hunters. But I am really thankful for my dad who has gone from my dad to my best friend. He has stood by me and helped me out when I went thru both of my divorces(they thought I hunted too much also) and I am so glad for his friendship and being my best hunting buddy. To me coonhunting has brought us so much closer than sports or anything else ever did. Thanks pop

After god and family my hounds and mules then my job .. hunt B&t