Registered: Aug 2003
Location: In the boonies of Michigan
Posts: 673

Hi there everyone!
My husband was raised hunting with treeing walkers from the time he was able to run behind one until he was grown and on his own.
With a young son (14) who's preferred past time is either walking in the woods or sitting in my deer blind alone just watching to "see what's out there" for hours on end and a growing interest in learning to tan hides for his 1001 ideas on what to do with the fur, we decided a coonhound may just be a great friend for him to have. Upon researching, I liked the idea of the redbones for a variety of reasons. Big ones were they are smaller and have a reputation for hunting more with you than too far ahead of you. (yet to be learned if I was told true. lol) When I began my search in earnest, I met Tom Hertz who had a great little two year old named "PR" Redneck Rockin Red Music {"PR" Ridge Runner Cindy X GRNITECH "PR" Hoffmeisters Red Bomber} he thought would be great for David. To make a long story short (er), we brought home Music and her littermate sister, Ruby, last Valentines day. Husband and son each have their hound. It's wonderful to see a love fresh in bloom and one rekindled all wrapped around a new father and son project. You see, our son's biological father died 7 years ago so it does my heart extra good to see them get closer.
Our other two sons (16 and 11) are not yet into the coonhounds but love our dogs. The 11 year old is into agility, obedience and conformation shows. He aspires to be a dog handler someday. Our 16 year old has a beagle he rescued so he isn't far off the mark. Heavy into hunting but no interest yet in coons. Shouldn't take long before it's a family project. But me... the wife, mother, WOMAN... am becoming really addicted to the idea of coohounds and hunting with them. *smile*

We are now bringing home a male, purchased from Tom Hertz. His name is "PR" Tom's Hard Knockin Famous Amos... grandson of the well known "PR" Hunters Famous Amos. He is now 8 years old. We are anxious to start hunting him. He is better hunted alone as he is rather hard at the tree but John looks forward to that. Amos will be made available for stud to healthy females.

This all brings me to my questions.
I really want to attend some hunts and bench shows as we are interested in participating in both. While experienced in coon hunting, John has never participated in a competition hunt. (official that is... lol) I'd like some advice on that. If they are nite hunts only and I'm not signed in as a competitor, is there lots to be learned and brains to pick if I show up or will I just be "left in the dark" while everyone else heads to the woods to play?

Where can I learn the rules and jargon? I've been reading every coonhound magazine and website I can get my hands on and a few light bulbs have switched on but my son and I have a ways to go yet. ;-)

Well, off I go outside to join John and David in building our new kennel building. (It's going to be gorgeous!) Need to have the red carpet rolled out for the big red dog, Amos for his big homecoming! =)

Soon I'll have a website up to showcase our red dogs. They are awesome dogs!!! Sorry to have been so long winded here. I am just so excited I had to share with someone who would understand our new love affair with the beautiful red dogs!!

Janet

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Greenleaf, WI
Posts: 839

to the world of redbones, where we all live in mutual appreciation, acceptance, and cooperation of one another. One big red happy family. Welcome aboard.

As for the nite hunts, you can go along as a spectator in any nite hunt if you can find someone to allow you to tag along. What I like to do with people who want to learn the rules is invite them along with us on a pleasure hunt first. We take some extra score cards and score the dogs as you would in a hunt. Don't worry about striking and treeing to "win", just call your dog as you normally would and apply the points and rules. You will have questions, so flip the card over and if you still can't figure it out, email me or anybody else on here and we'll try and help out. We can also give you some tips on how to cheat effectively as, what you are about to find out, you can't win honestly with a purebred redbone these days anyhow. (kidding of course)

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Eddyville, Iowa
Posts: 482

You can download all the rules pertaining to nite hunts and the such from this site. Joe gave the best advice and that is to go pleasure hunting with a scorecard. That will give you practice and get a chance to learn some of the rules as well. Nothing beats experience though. Good Luck!

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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: In the boonies of Michigan
Posts: 673

Great idea in pleasure hunting with a scorecard!
I'll surf the site some more and dig up the rules, etc to print off and study.

If anyone knows of any coonhound clubs anywhere in my area.... We live in Lake County. (lower "pinky" area if looking at map of MI as a mitten) My son would really benefit from joining as he is homeschooled and extra group activities like that are something we really look for.

Janet

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You can't change the wind but you can change the direction of your sails.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Fl.
Posts: 1280

Janet you said one key thing in your post. Your husband was raised hunting behind Treeing walkers. All I can say is his parents raised him right and I would think you would want to carry that tradidtion on.

Little Joe I read your response and have to wonder if you don't have a head cold or something like that. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

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San Mateo, Fl

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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: In the boonies of Michigan
Posts: 673

Dear Bruce, don't you know it's the woman that makes the final decisions in a happy marriage? (teasing.... err... sort of... heh-heh)
Seriously..
My husband loves all coonhounds as long as they can hold their own in the woods but yes, he does have that special spot for walkers.

Nothing wrong with new traditions.... ;-)

We just got a wonderful walker female out of our local pound 2 days ago as D day was about to claim her. She was adopted by John's cousin who was raised right along side John hunting them walkers. Now not only John's coonhunting is being rekindled but also his cousin's. After his walker gets spayed and vet checked/shots, they are coming out for a weekend to pre-hunt train in the woods with us. Hoping his walker can keep up with our girls. *big grin*

Janet - who's thinkin' on dying her own hair red to match her doggies... *S*

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