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New to Squirrel Dogs

I have been coon hunting for many years now but am thinking about getting into squirrel hunting as coon hunting land is getting harder and harder to find. I have been doing a little research on mountain curs but wanted yall's input on them from people who have actually had/have them. What's the difference in say a omcba cur and a kemmer or stephens? (besides looks) What's the difference in bloodlines? Jukebox, Hummer, etc. Just trying to get a handle on bloodlines and lines of the cur. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

squirrel dogs

A real squirrel dog is hard to find, and even harder to make. Coming in fresh isn't all bad, you don't have the set in our ways opinions, that a lot of us have. lol Im sure ill get in trouble for this, but here goes. I have had good and bad in most of them. You can buy one cheaper than you can raise one, and can learn more from a good one, than you will ever get from someone talking. Registries are great and really help when selling pups, they wont tree anything! The Stevens and the Kemmer may have a little hound in them, which I prefer. I have an OMCBA female that has ears she didn't get from any cur. lol Originally the kemmers and the stevens had a little more nose, and may not have looked (sight hunted) quite as much. I believe both had a bit more grit than the OMC, which isn't needed for squirrel. I like one that can tree on sight and scent. Sight is easiest ,they see it , they tree it. Sight dogs typically timber a little better< the good ones utilize the terrain to help them gain the upper hand. Scent is more complicated, it takes a great dog to master their nose, with air currents, humidity, barometric pressure, ect. A dog that can tree a lay up squirrel, or use an older track to find the general area and then tree a lay up, will let you hunt and produce in all weather conditions. I have owned scent dogs that did not look enough. Papers tell a story, fiction or nonfiction depending on the honesty and integrity of the author(breeder). They are important, and a lot of great breeders still respect them as they should be respected, and alot don't!!!! There are fiest and hound mixed in about every breed of cur anymore, maybe always has been, who knows, who cares. For your first one, buy a finished squirrel dog that suites you and makes you happy, no matter the body type or bloodline. After one season you will begin to develop your own identity as a squirrel dog man. Im sure your knowledge of hounds will give you a leg up on most. Squirrel dog pups are tough, some make it, most don't. There are great dogs in all breeds, goodluck in your search. These are just my opinions, not meant to upset anyone. Hope it helps some.

bk1977- thank you for your input! That is extremely helpful and makes perfect sense to me. Growing up around hounds, I understand how it takes a different kind of dog to tree layups and cold tracks, etc. I have always been interested in squirrel hunting and I think now is the time for me to pursue it. I do have another question for you though; would I be right by saying GENERALLY a sight hunter does not hunt as deep as a nose hunter? I mean I know every dog is different, but I would like to stay close to a close/med hunting dog if possible. In my terms I would like to find a dog that would hunt 100-300 yards and come back. I would think that a sight hunting dog would tend to hunt closer as he would realize how far hes gone from the truck. A nose hunting dog to me, would let his nose get the best of him and would be farther in the woods than he realized. I could be totally wrong. But with this being said, what do you recommend I look for? Breed wise. I am also a little bit confused on the whole fiest thing. I understand curs are a cross breed from the start, but after generations and generations of breeding have become more "loyal" to the cur side? What's up with the fiest? Hunt style, size, etc. Thank you again for your input!

I agree with BK....From my experience, the kemmers and stephens are more coondogs and once hunted on coons tend to not care much for sq's. The OMC like thundersport and hummer etc. Make excellent sq dogs. But then alot don't make it. its a fun sport though

Re: New to Squirrel Dogs

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Originally posted by Drafts'CoonDogs
I have been coon hunting for many years now but am thinking about getting into squirrel hunting as coon hunting land is getting harder and harder to find. I have been doing a little research on mountain curs but wanted yall's input on them from people who have actually had/have them. What's the difference in say a omcba cur and a kemmer or stephens? (besides looks) What's the difference in bloodlines? Jukebox, Hummer, etc. Just trying to get a handle on bloodlines and lines of the cur. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

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yellow gold!

Sight or smell

I think the sight dogs hunt a little closer as a general rule, Like Moleman said there are all types and variations, you have to figure out what will work for you. Are you planning to comp hunt, or pleasure, or a dual purpose dog? How is your terrain, that will have great bearing on how deep you want your dog. Its steep and rough here, and Im a pleasure hunter. I need my dog inside of 150yds. I don't want to hunt the dog, I want the dog hunting with me. Its a heavy acorn year, makes our squirrels flighty and wild, they wont sit very long. Other years its not so much of an issue. How hard do you want your dog to tree, I don't need mine to bark much after I get there, I need it to be there and be watching intently. This wont work well in comp hunting , or if you have intentions of becoming a breeder for comp dogs. There are to many variables to think about as far as all the truths, untruths and opinions about squirrel dogs. lol It will take all the fun out of it. As far as where to start, I would not limit myself to breeds, start with squirrel dogs. I recently lost my 3 yr old 3/4 kemmer 1/4 omc. I have looked at 17 dogs in the last 70 days. Go look and see whats around you. Buy yourself a good solid squirrel dog. The more you take it to the woods, the more you will begin to develop your preferences. Be cautious in looking, there are lots of shysters in this game. Don't buy without looking or having someone you trust look for you. 1000.00 will buy you a solid squirrel dog about anywhere, there are dogs worth a lot more, and many worth much less. Goodluck

Thanks for all the help yall. Definitely helps me narrow down what I am looking for. I will be pleasure hunting and live in Leesville SC... "flat lander" as yall mountain folks call us lol. I think I am going to need a similar dog as bk... 150 yds hunting with me not me hunting the dog- and watching the squirrel, not focusing on blowing the top out of the tree with 200 barks a minute (although who doesn't love hearing a dog tree?!) Hope everyone has a good and safe season and thanks for yalls help!