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-- Gascon Hounds (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/showthread.php?threadid=928438158)

Gascon

I've always been a big fan of the BIG Blues. I've followed Blueticks all my coon hunting life and am partial to the all blue bluetick. Most Bluetickers know I had some all blues the last few years but not the Gascon type although a lot of the blood that flowed through their veins was the same as the big Gascon's. My first real good Bluetick was out of Morris' Blue River Boomer which went back to a lot of OO Grant stalk, hence the all blue. Also the Sabastian dogs came from the Vaughn stalk as well as the Hammer dogs. The first Hammer dog was out of Sabastian's Penny who was very heavy in the old Vaughn stalk. My all blues were not as big as the Gascon although most went around 75 to 85 lb. in the males and about 15 lbs. lighter in females. I was very pleased with my Boomer, (OO Grant) bred hounds although they were mixed with many different bloodlines down through the years. There is a lot to be said about a good nose and an honest tree dog! Seems we've sacrificed a lot of pleasures in life for speed, size, independence, deep & alone and treeing ability. We, as older coon hunters can see this more than the new ones just coming up. The all mighty hunts have separated the competition hunters from the coon hunters. I have done my share of competition hunting and winning but I've always loved just plane coon hunting without the pencils. Seems most competition hunters are still competition hunting even when they're coon hunting. Either getting one ready for the next hunt or trying to beat his hunting buddy in a pleasure hunt. Everyone loves to see a good dog work but a good hunting partner is worth more than all the good dogs you can squeeze in the back of a truck. Dogs come and go but a faithful hunting partner, well that's something that can't be replaced.
I got rid of my last Bluetick this spring, I gave him to my longtime hunting buddy. Maybe I should have gone back to my roots where I started out with that big Boomer male, who by the way was anything but slow and soft. He would pull you out of the woods at daylight, 7 nights a week. Remember, don't get fooled by the looks of a hound because stamina comes from within not on the outside. BTW, wonderful pictures!

Great post Ron. Don't believe that it could have been said any better.

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Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education. Mark Twain

I'm partial to the all blues as well. Just seems like the ones I've had has had more grit and drive. Probably just coincidence idk but they seem to work for me.