Registered: Nov 2011
Location: north ala.
Posts: 928

Around 50 years ago before I figured out what an outstanding coonhound was, a well renowned hunter told me that most people would say you couldn't tree coons when it was really dry but if you kept records it might surprise me. So I did and was surprising how it came out. I was wondering what yall thought will you tree more coons in the mud or the dust? I am especially interested in the comments of Old Timer and Shadinc and Reuben. Thanks for reading.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1597

A good hound will take them as they come to them I feel.

The big problem is with the owner of hounds today, regardless of the game being hunted. “Most” have gotten into the number game. Be it a score on a card or how many are piled in the back of the truck box.

Who sets on a log and lets a hound or hounds work a track anymore and lets the hound learn how to work it out. How many hunt regardless if it’s dry, windy or the ground is bare and frozen?

Coyote hunters may be the worse. Their hounds lose a track, they are toning them back to the road to load and go to another spot instead of setting on a log and let them work until they figure it out. Raccoon hunters are a close second by now hunting ambush hounds.



Hunters are as bad at raising hounds today as parents are at raising kids. I drove school bus in 1969-1972 and again from 2011-2021. I have hunted 1955-today. I have seen it first hand.

Bottom line, a good hound will learn to tree or run on dry ground or wet ground. Both will be impossible to a poorly trained hound and possible with one that was given the chance to learn. But if you are one that wants a ribbon because your hound participated, join today’s parents. In real life there is a winner and loser every turn out. Hound opens and works until game is treed or caught it’s the winner, if not then the game we were after is the winner. Pretty simple rules.

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OLD TIMER

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Registered: Feb 2014
Location: missouri
Posts: 86

I hunt western South Dakota. Dry, even powdery dust at times.
I picked up a heavy jet/ Utchman bluetick out of Mike Harward’s willing and able dog.
A lot a titled dogs in her pedigree and she gets it done out here consistently.
They go thru blowdowns, swim the Cheyenne river, bump trees and in and out of beaver bank dens. At 4, she is well seasoned because I let her look bad when she was young and helped where I could to work thru her missteps. Lots of shoe leather and time. And patience. 🙄
I took her back east this spring and she held her own hunting her with gr nt and nt champion studs I was considering breeding her with. She ain’t a one in a lifetime dog but she can eat my feed.
I grew up in the late seventies hunting acha , 4 hour, 40-60 dog hunts. She could have competed. Took a track last night 1.14 miles with the fur on the outside😁

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Registered: Feb 2014
Location: missouri
Posts: 86

I am a coonhunter, bragged on my dog a little, sorry.

I said all that to say this: many here say east river dogs don’t look good when they come over to this part of the state, west river.
I think if your dog Is raised and trained in these conditions that makes a big difference and they will get the job done in wet conditions also.

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