Registered: Mar 2011
Location: Indiana
Posts: 114

No offense meant toward you farmers out there, but those soybeans are a pain in the hind-end!
Started a chase last night in a corn field, had a good one going, then old ringtail crossed the road and ran for at least 45 minutes in a bean field! This seems to happen on about 3/4 of our hunts.
My two year was nearly raw in places when I caught him (had to go to work).
Anyway, we got into conversation after that....Do you all think that the coon knows what he is doing (knowing he is safe in the thick beans) or is he just as confused as to where he is as the dog might be? Just running helter-skelter everywhere or does the coon have a "plan"?

__________________
"we'll have you back in time for work"

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6868

I don't know what goes through a coons mind but I can tell you I do not let my dogs run coon in bean fields. I haven't owned a dog that got in them much and trust me their all around me but when they do get out in them I give them 15 minutes to get out of it. It they don't I chase them down and tell em I don't like bean fields.

Way I figure it is this. You can waiste precious hunt time waiting for your dog to get out of the crop fields or show them you are not happy when they get out in them and run for an hour. One things for sure coon don't climb beans or corn stalks. A smart dog will figure out that coon lay on the edges of these crop fields and if you have an edge hunter this time of year you will slam coon just about every night.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2011
Location: Indiana
Posts: 114

What!!??
An edge hunter? We turn the dogs loose straight down an corn field edge, the coon runs into the field, then into a soybean field...we never turn loose along a bean field. There are alot of beans around here this year. Alot of corn flooded out in the spring.
How do you prevent the coon running into the field? I like a good corn field chase anyway.
So how does an "edge hunting" dog not run into the field. And we have treed several along the edge. As a matter of fact our old dog treed one last night along a field edge while the young dog ran the corn/bean field.

__________________
"we'll have you back in time for work"

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6868

See you just proved my point. Yor old dog (more experienced) dog knew to stay on the edge where there is sure to be a coon while the younger (less experienced dog) ran out into the field.

If i'm in a hunt and my dog decides to chase countless coon in a bean field or a corn field for that matter, for an hour I am beat.

By edge hunter I mean a dog that runs along the edge of the woods and or fence rows. Its nothing for me to make 4 trees in 40 minutes along the edge of crop fields and I sure can't do that when my dog is running in the fields.

I consider a good cornfield chase to last no longer then 20 minutes. I want my dog to shut its mouth, push the track to a tree. if it can't do that in a timely manner I don't want it getting in the fields.

Coon can move under those thick beans while dogs have to fight through them with the leaves hitting them right in the face.

Last edited by Hoosier Man1 on 09-13-2011 at 03:05 PM

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2003
Location: mid-michigan
Posts: 4437

If your dog strikes a track at the "edge" , being an "edge" hunter , and the track leads him out into a field , you "break" him from following it?
LOL , some people are just too much ! LOL
To me , you're teaching him to be a QUITTER !
If your dog can't push a track hard enough to tree it in a cornfield , he sure ain't smart enough to be able to teach him what tracks he can run and what ones he can't ! LOL

__________________
Bob Brooks /
Jordan Tyler (grandson)

BackWoods River Walkers/Beagles
Just all 'round , meat gettin' hounds.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6868

quote:

---

Originally posted by jackbob42
If your dog strikes a track at the "edge" , being an "edge" hunter , and the track leads him out into a field , you "break" him from following it?
LOL , some people are just too much ! LOL
To me , you're teaching him to be a QUITTER !
If your dog can't push a track hard enough to tree it in a cornfield , he sure ain't smart enough to be able to teach him what tracks he can run and what ones he can't ! LOL

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2011
Location: Indiana
Posts: 114

Hoosier man-I guess I see your point...the young dog (2 year old) sure had a heck of a chase in that cornfield, until, like I said, the coon crossed into the beans. All the while the old dog (8 years) ran a much shorter track from the field and treed along the edge.
But honestly I am having a heck of a hard time believing that either dog knew where thier respective tracks were going. Keep in mind both started along the field edge..one went south into the woods and treed, the other went into the field.
And you are telling me that the older dog KNEW which track to pursue? I'm not being argumentive here...really I'm not. I'm just having a hard time putting my arms around how this proves a point?
IF the young dog's track would have left the corn and treed he would have looked like a hero after the way he did not "me too", went on his own, ran like the devil in that field. I might give you one point..he could have pushed the track more, forcing the coon out.

__________________
"we'll have you back in time for work"

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6868

quote:

---

Originally posted by RBT
Hoosier man-I guess I see your point...the young dog (2 year old) sure had a heck of a chase in that cornfield, until, like I said, the coon crossed into the beans. All the while the old dog (8 years) ran a much shorter track from the field and treed along the edge.
But honestly I am having a heck of a hard time believing that either dog knew where thier respective tracks were going. Keep in mind both started along the field edge..one went south into the woods and treed, the other went into the field.
And you are telling me that the older dog KNEW which track to pursue? I'm not being argumentive here...really I'm not. I'm just having a hard time putting my arms around how this proves a point?
IF the young dog's track would have left the corn and treed he would have looked like a hero after the way he did not "me too", went on his own, ran like the devil in that field. I might give you one point..he could have pushed the track more, forcing the coon out.

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2010
Location: Troy NC
Posts: 2288

if you get a corn field coon to climb here in 20 min you have done something. with corn fields up to 200 acres big, it takes a dog that long to get him to the other side of the field. But i have hunted in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and grew up in NC. The coons do tend to climb a faster in those areas. coons down here are swamp coons, they give a dog a natural born fit. and on top of that the coon are much thinner down here

__________________
Danny VunCannon
Home of :
Amazing Grace
Mossy Pond Modacious (MO)
Mossy Pond Amazing Gracie

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2011
Location: Indiana
Posts: 114

Hoosier Man- I'm not sure what your defenition of "alot" is but is seemed to be a very decent track...yes-I'd say he was barking alot...is was not a cold track.
Why do you ask?

__________________
"we'll have you back in time for work"

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2003
Location: kellogg mn
Posts: 845

Sounds to me like ya need better dogs. Get ya one that runs to catch.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6868

quote:

---

Originally posted by RBT
Hoosier Man- I'm not sure what your defenition of "alot" is but is seemed to be a very decent track...yes-I'd say he was barking alot...is was not a cold track.
Why do you ask?

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2007
Location: WESTERN MARYLAND
Posts: 5946

I ENJOY THE CORN FIELD CHASES. BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE SEVERAL BEAN FIELDS SHOWING UP AROUND HERE THIS YEAR. I NEVER HAD MUCH TO DO WITH THEM UNLESS WE WENT TO A.O. TO HUNT.

__________________
Home of;

Nt.Ch. Gr.Ch. Gr.WCh. Pr. McMillans Blue Crystal
Ntch. GrCh. Pr. McMillans Blue Magic
Gr.Nt.Ch. Pr. McMillans Blue Hawk
Nt. Ch. Pr. McMillans Blue Rage
all are gone now but will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN


CH. PR. MCMILLANS TREE ROCKIN BRANDY
CH. PR. MCMILLANS MIDNITES STINGIN SADIE

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2011
Location: Indiana
Posts: 114

As I wrote earlier, many of the corn fields around our hunting grounds were flooded..and flooded too late to re-plant corn. So the farmers planted beans..some of these fields are big for our area.

Hoosier Man- I do see your point about a more quiet dog being able to push the coon out.
So the next time I'll make sure he picks the right track AND keeps the noise down! LOL!
Seriously, he's young and hopefully will get better at these bean chases...once the beans are gone it's not an issue. He has improved in all aspects this summer and really coming on. Don't suppose there is a perfect one out there...do you?

__________________
"we'll have you back in time for work"

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6868

Nope their ain't. Heck I just whooped my Grand Nite female the other night because she was wollering around in the beans. The key is, is the dog improving? If he is then that's all that matters. Good Luck to you

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2003
Location: mid-michigan
Posts: 4437

RBT - I've played this game for almost 50 years and I've seen a good cornfield race "blow-up" when they crossed into a bean field alot of times , on alot of different dogs. It don't just happen to yours.

__________________
Bob Brooks /
Jordan Tyler (grandson)

BackWoods River Walkers/Beagles
Just all 'round , meat gettin' hounds.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2009
Location: s.c.
Posts: 6961

I think I would love corn and beanfield hunting. I hunt marsh alot to get my dogs in shape. They have to push through thick grass and swim little creeks. It can take a pack of experienced dogs hours to get it done but mostly a half hour or less if the coon heads for the hill to start with. Some dogs have a natural aversion the getting their feet wet and they run along the edge and tree alot of coons sometimes but mostly they just hang out on the edge and get first tree on the same coon the working dogs put on the hill. Those dogs couldn't bring a coon out of the marsh if they had a whole tide to get it done in. I have seen out of shape dogs get out there and give slap out and the owners would go out there and tote them out LOL. Some people know their dog aint worth too hoots so they shock them to keep the out of the marsh. And those kind of dogs don't need much encouragement Not to go.

All of that is good and fine for the meat hunter and the competition hunter but I like to hear a race . I like to know what dog stays in the lead the most. You can tell that when you are walking along keeping up with the dogs better than you can in the woods. The fact is the dogs that have the stamina and drive to bring one out of the marsh make a dog look sick when the get after a regular old woods coon. Missing some hair around the eyes is nothing. Mine also get ears sliced and feet cut. And if they couldn't take it I would not be feeding them. To each his own I reckon.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2003
Location: mid-michigan
Posts: 4437

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hoosier Man1
Well if we ever meet in the next couple years I will gladly show you either of my dogs along corn and bean fields. Smart dogs fly down the edge. Like I said there is bound to be a coon sitting up on the edge.

I didn't say my dogs never get in the fields I said they better not wholler around for more then 20 minutes or i'm coning after them.

---

__________________
Bob Brooks /
Jordan Tyler (grandson)

BackWoods River Walkers/Beagles
Just all 'round , meat gettin' hounds.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2010
Location: Anderson co Tennessee
Posts: 1944

not a issue in east tn wish it was lol

__________________
Country Boy Can Survive



Anderson County Coon Club
Lance White
865-919-7234

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2003
Location: mid-michigan
Posts: 4437

quote:

---

Originally posted by l.lyle
I think I would love corn and beanfield hunting. I hunt marsh alot to get my dogs in shape. They have to push through thick grass and swim little creeks. It can take a pack of experienced dogs hours to get it done but mostly a half hour or less if the coon heads for the hill to start with. Some dogs have a natural aversion the getting their feet wet and they run along the edge and tree alot of coons sometimes but mostly they just hang out on the edge and get first tree on the same coon the working dogs put on the hill. Those dogs couldn't bring a coon out of the marsh if they had a whole tide to get it done in. I have seen out of shape dogs get out there and give slap out and the owners would go out there and tote them out LOL. Some people know their dog aint worth too hoots so they shock them to keep the out of the marsh. And those kind of dogs don't need much encouragement Not to go.

All of that is good and fine for the meat hunter and the competition hunter but I like to hear a race . I like to know what dog stays in the lead the most. You can tell that when you are walking along keeping up with the dogs better than you can in the woods. The fact is the dogs that have the stamina and drive to bring one out of the marsh make a dog look sick when the get after a regular old woods coon. Missing some hair around the eyes is nothing. Mine also get ears sliced and feet cut. And if they couldn't take it I would not be feeding them. To each his own I reckon.

---

__________________
Bob Brooks /
Jordan Tyler (grandson)

BackWoods River Walkers/Beagles
Just all 'round , meat gettin' hounds.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2011
Location: Indiana
Posts: 114

You fellers from TN and SC may wish you had thee bean fields, but careful what you wish for...but it's funny how we all think somewhere else may be better?
Anyway, as JackBob pointed out..there is nothing better, IMO, than a hot cornfield race...they can really push a coon and we all have a ball lsitening....but the minute the coon hits the bean fields (and that's right..a drilled field is terribly thick, and that's all we have around here!) the "race" comes to a halt and it's almost like a walk. I struggle with going and catching him (quitter) and letting him see if he can figure it out.
But I'd rather be running a bean field than at home watching that crap on TV!
Anyway..back to my original question-
Do you all think the coon KNOWS what he is doing in the bean fields (i.e. keeping the dog confused) or he just as "lost" as the dog..just running to get away, or does the coon have a plan to flat wear his pursuer out?
That's the question!

__________________
"we'll have you back in time for work"

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2009
Location: s.c.
Posts: 6961

Back to the original guestion about if the coon knows what he is doing? I don't know about beans maybe that coon is out there alot grubbing nutgrass. In the marsh I know coons know what they are doing, there are little trails everywhere and they know all of them. Coons started on the hill sometimes head straight to the marsh and sometimes they avoid getting caught. Seems like those beans would loose the lower leaves and a dog could get his head down. In the marsh there are acres of rafted dead grass that settle on the upright grass leaving a foot high cave for the coon to scoot around under. The dog has no choice but get his head under and bulldoze it up over his back. A dog jumping around poking his head down through it will never get one out of an acre patch of it. Seems like the farmers would not like getting the beans shattered once they dry?

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Columbus, Ks
Posts: 5398

There's a big difference from a hound wollering a track in the beans and one that is running to catch in the beans. If you don't catch one in the beans now and then your hounds are the wollering type. Very seldom will it happen in 20 minutes.

In the beans, the closer the hounds get to a coon the tighter the circles, 30 yard circles. Milo and corn will be similar but not as tight of a circle. The trouble most hounds have is they run in the crops good for a few minutes before a loose. When they pick it up the track has went to a working track where the wollering starts. That's when I get upset and want to have a talk with my hounds. I have caught many coon in the crops but for the most part it depends on what bait I take with me to bait the trap with.

__________________
Home Of:
Gr Nt Ch, Ch Natural Smokey River Irene a coondog (Mailes Bob X Nt Ch Utchman Blue Two)
Gr Nt Ch Natural Smokey River Flo UKC Top 20 placing 15th UKC World 2011, top 100 2014 (Rebel x Mailes Lil)


The Hounds I Enjoyed Hunting:
Dual Gr Natural Smokey River Rebel, A buddy of mine
Gr. Nt Natural Blue Echo ( Gr Nt Quail Ck Jimmy X Nt Ch Natural Blue Bell)
Gr Nt Smokey River Chief's Joe (JBS Chief X Gr Nt Jeans Ruby)
Gr. Nt. Ch. Natural Smokey River Lucy (Chief's Joe X Muggins)
And Many More

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6868

I can't speak for others but I can't think of anything more annoying then a dog catching a coon in the middle of a corn or bean field.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Columbus, Ks
Posts: 5398

If you have never had a hound that could do it I can completly understand.

__________________
Home Of:
Gr Nt Ch, Ch Natural Smokey River Irene a coondog (Mailes Bob X Nt Ch Utchman Blue Two)
Gr Nt Ch Natural Smokey River Flo UKC Top 20 placing 15th UKC World 2011, top 100 2014 (Rebel x Mailes Lil)


The Hounds I Enjoyed Hunting:
Dual Gr Natural Smokey River Rebel, A buddy of mine
Gr. Nt Natural Blue Echo ( Gr Nt Quail Ck Jimmy X Nt Ch Natural Blue Bell)
Gr Nt Smokey River Chief's Joe (JBS Chief X Gr Nt Jeans Ruby)
Gr. Nt. Ch. Natural Smokey River Lucy (Chief's Joe X Muggins)
And Many More

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged