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-- Part Three (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/showthread.php?threadid=266147)

Part Three

We've felt that way...by BayouGirl

We've felt that way too. Not so much with the coonhounds yet, but with the hog dogs. 2 months ago we blew $100.00 in 10 secs.LITERALLY ! as the hog was a runner and my big boy shut him down. can't catch in the bays. Never mind the expenses to get there. When we get to feeling that way, we just stop the competition for awhile, do some pleasure hunting or play days with the hog dogs, and eventually the fever sets back in. Or I find out a pup is doing really well, just what the owner wanted, and I decide it is worth breeding my bitch. In the end we end up back at it and having fun again.

Cheryl I’m gonna start my answer with a question…by PAPPY

Why do we coon hunt?The only time I ever want to throw up my hands and scream " I QUIT" is just BEFORE I load the hounds and go hunting.When I holler those words it is something that has nothing to do with hunting.Hunting is my way to escape all the trials and struggles of everyday life.Some people take medicine to help the stress of everyday life but I go hunting.Some people play golf to relieve the tensions of work,I go hunting.Some people go to marriage councilers to help home life,I go hunting.When it is time for being loved some go find it somewhere other than home,I go make arrangements for a dinner for two with the wife and spend some quality time with her.Bet you thought I was gonna say go hunting.Hunting is not first in my life but it molds an important part to help fuse together a harmony that keeps me going and happy.I hunt for the sheer joy and PEACE it gives me.

I'm with you- - …by OLD TIMER

when I was only 8 and had to hold my best hound at the time while the Vet put him down and he fought to his last breath, and the tears just kept coming-it was hard but I love the sound of the "Music" to not keep hunting, and than when my little girls hound got hit and I had to put her out of her pain-we couldn't show them that life doesn't go on and it may not always be fair, but you have to keep looking up. It has been in my blood from a very early age and it will be until the end.
When I was 6 years old in my first ballgame in 4-H and lost 66-3, I didn't learn to quit, but to play the game better, and I have been lucky to play in a National game. If you "really" love something or somebody, you give it your all and when it gets a little cloudy, just remember that the Sun is always shining above them!!!
And now I have a grandson and 2 granddaughters that love the hounds, and if the Lord's willing, I hope to teach them the sound of some of the best Music around and that winning isn't everything, but friends and family are.

Hunting........by TRAPPER

Maybe its my age, "21", that puts me into a different perspective than others, but I haven't went through any draw backs yet. I do think that I have to thank my parents for the support they have given me. On my own there is no way I would be able to say "I feel I have a top notch kennel of dogs". Money is probably the biggest factor! I got into competion hunting last year, and got a chance to meet alot of new people, luckily my first competion hound turned out to be a winner, now I just get excited when a hunt is coming up. I am one of those people that really try to have my hound ready for a hunt, so being in the woods every night is kind-of a job that I enjoy doing. But a person definately has to have a strong feel for the outdoors, and be able to walk around with a smile on their face to be able to do what we do. Thats the main thing I like about ol' Tank, I've met this man twice, had a chance to talk to him for quite awile, and you just don't go 30 seconds without seeing this man smile. He enjoys what he's doing, and if your just hunting becasue you feel you have to make some big name hounds to sell pups for big money or advertise some stud dog, then I think your just in it for the wrong reasons. Also having good friends to hunt with doesn't hurt anything, heck I live in the best part of the country because I'm in the center of the Ashley Social Club, hunting with Misfit, Swamprat, My dad Sprayman, Fineline and Fineline jr., Scott, PR, Adam, Larry S, soon with JT and Treetop's, and of course Larry Atherton "who manages to tell me a story everytime to the woods that makes you say "thats definately Larry luck..lol" Sure my goals is to win the big one down the road, but I have just as much fun starting a young dog and bragging to somebody that "someday I'm going to win the world hunt with this hound".


May be one of the best questions you ever asked…by Bruce

First let me say that coonhunting like any other hobby or obsession that consumes someones life, does take away from normal things others do. The problem is when your caught up in it you don't see it. When I was younger (in my 20's) I would work all day and then hunt just about every night. That added up to a lot of nights that my wife and children were home alone. Fortunally I have a good wife that was waiting for me at home.
About 30 years of age I moved to the NE part of the state and was sure my coonhunting would boom due to more land to hunt and the woods being alot closer. I came closer to my goals and was actually working a few young dogs for people and getting paid for it. It was all by word of mouth, I met these people as they would come down here from the north to hunt during the winter when they asked who coonhunted in the area, my name came up. That was perhaps the best thing that ever happenend to me. I say that because once I started to realize my dream of actually making some money at coonhunting, I realized that the money making side took away from the fun side I had enjoyed so much. I had hunted every night because I wanted to, now someone was paying me and I had too. I felt I had to get results from the hounds and that put pressure on me that I didn't have before also. About the time I reazlized that if I was going to coonhunt it was going to be just for fun, I realized my kids were also needing me more than ever. Both were either in jr high or entering high school and both played several sports. I totally quit coonhunting and spent about 6 wonderful years of watching and supporting my children as they went through their school years. If I had a dollar for every basketball, football, volleyball game or track meet I attended I could afford a good coonhound. After high school and a little college for the kids, I figured it was time for me to coonhunt again. I called Roy Tramble and went KY to pick up a couple pups and start over. I had got several pups from Roy in my early days of hunting and he and his family is a CLASS act. As time has passed by, I still love to hunt but I have never put it ahead of family things like I did when I was in my 20's and early 30's. Today I had plans that were changed with a phone call last night. I have 200 lbs of corn and 5 newly made feeders that I was going to put out this morning. My wife had her plans change for today and she needs my help in about an hour, so I will be helping her today, 30 years ago she would have been helping herself and I would have been in the woods.
Now that you got me babbling, I will answer your questions more specifically.
Yes during my younger years as I was walking out of the woods exhausted, knee deep in water being dragged by hounds. I would say, this is not worth it. Those thoughts would only last about 30 minutes and I was ready to go again.
Today as I feed my dogs I look at them and see that I am wasting potential in my pen. I have 3 SS pups that their first year hunt is in march. They are bred as good as any in the country and the only thing holding them back is me. I feel guility about not hunting them every day and giving them a chance to prove their breeding. It is just that I have placed higher values on other things at the moment and they will be there when I am ready to go.
Am I ready to quit, no. The hounds are not just the driving force in my life they use to be.
I was joking with a friend the other day on the phone. He finished 6th in December for PKC handler of the month, less than 20 bucks from
fourth. That 20 bucks kept him from the handlers shootout next year in Miss. hunting for $25,000.
One Saturday night in December instead of attending a hunt within a few miles of his house he took his wife out for dinner. I joke with him and remind him often of how his date with his wife kept him from the big dance. The thing I didn't tell him is how much I respect him for not putting his dogs in front of family.