Registered: Apr 2014
Location: Woodbury, Pa
Posts: 64

I was given a 2.5 year old bluetick female this past winter. I need some opinions on what to do. I hunted her over the winter, but it was cold and lots of snow and she didn't do much, which I figured was ok under the conditions. I have know idea what was really done with the do prior to me getting her. I figured when the weather broke I would be able to see what she could do. Well, I have hunted her about 45 days the last 2 months and she hasn't done very much. She has started a few tracks at times, but doesn't run them very far and hasn't treed anything yet, coon or trash. She seems to run track and then give up and come in to me. I did use a drag with her and she tracked and treed it. This week I released 2 coons on 2 different nights and put her on the track. She ran the track about 200 yards, did a small circle and then quit and came in. I found 1 of the coons in the tree and brought her over and tied her off to the tree. She showed no interest and just stood around. Have I given her enough time in the woods or should I just keep hunting her? I'm new to coonhunting, but I thought maybe at her age she would be doing a little more or showing more interest. She barks at the caged coon and like I said has tracked it, but just doesn't seem to get overly fired up about it. Should I keep hunting her or give up on her, not sure if this is enough time to tell if she would make a coondog or not. Thanks for any help or advice.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: North GA
Posts: 14395

I'd start over with something else. Something you can put 45 days of hunting on and it show improvement. Thats plenty of hunting and one should be doing it if it has it in it.

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Registered: Oct 2014
Location: Woods
Posts: 246

time to move on

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Registered: Oct 2012
Location: burnt district MO/KS border
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quote:

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Originally posted by NiteHeat
time to move on

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Registered: Apr 2014
Location: NC
Posts: 119

Move on

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Registered: Nov 2013
Location: Convoy,Ohio
Posts: 1693

quote:

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Originally posted by GA DAWG
I'd start over with something else. Something you can put 45 days of hunting on and it show improvement. Thats plenty of hunting and one should be doing it if it has it in it.

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Your having some bad luck. I see this post from last year and it is almost the same thing all over again. What happen with the walker? Hope you find a good one soon.

paridgerunner wrote the following
Well, i'm fairly new to coonhunting, have been running beagles for years, but just got my first coonhound of my own. I got a walker female 2 months ago, she just turned 2 years old in May. I got her from a guy who said she will track well, but hasn't started treeing real well yet. I took a chance and picked her up. Anyway, i've taken her out probably 20 times since I got her, I like the way she hunts, medium range and checks back in. She does seem to track real well, she'll run a coon and stick with it, but once it trees, she sort of just bawls around the area and never really changes over and trees it. After a while of this, maybe 15-20 mins of just back and forth around the area that I think a coon went up a tree and never treeing, she'll go off again and look for another track to run. I recently took her out with a caged coon 2 different times and let her track it and tree, she trees beautifully, I let her tree for about 10 minutes and then hook her up. I let her do this 3 times each night on 2 different nights. Each time she would stay and change over to a chop and stay right on the tree. I thought maybe she'd get the idea, so I started running her again, but again, she'll find a track and run it, but it's like she can't figure out it went up a tree or something, she won't tree, the track is gone and I can tell the coon went up a tree, but I haven't been able to find one and she won't tree, just wanders around the area bawling. Does anybody have any suggestions on what I could try, i don't know many other coonhunters to run with. Do you think at this age it's something she'll be able to figure out or do you think I should move on to another hound? Thanks for any advice you guys can give me.

Last edited by on 04-16-2015 at 09:34 PM

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Registered: Oct 2014
Location: Woods
Posts: 246

man just find you a tree dog. You will walk to alot of trees, some coon, some not, but you wont have one pounding the ground or checking back in.

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Registered: Apr 2014
Location: Woodbury, Pa
Posts: 64

Yeah, that's what I thought, doesn't seem good. Bruce, your right, i'm either having bad luck or not meant to be a coonhunter. The walker your talking about I just could never handle, or atleast break from trash. I would drop her and she would hunt everything that walked, some I would get a call in the middle of the night that she was treeing a house cat in someones yard 4-5 miles away from where I dropped her. I got rid of her, I bought a nite champion walker from someone a few hours away from me, and hunted it 2 weeks every night and it treed great, about 5-10 times a night, I never did see a coon with him, I would drop him and he would tree within 5-10 minutes on an empty tree and as the night went on, he would tree even faster, sometimes on trees the size of your wrist...never once had a coon in it, don't know how he made nite champion. Thankfully i took him back and got my money back. Then I got this bluetick and that's where I'm at now. I'm about done with it I think, basically i've been going at this 3-5 nights a week the last 2 years or so and haven't treed a wild coon yet. But I do enjoy it, just going out, but dang, there has to be a dog out there that can tree a coon. I just don't have a couple grand up front to drop on a dog. Anyway, thank you guys for the advice, I think I figured that was what I should do, but being as i'm learning all this on my own, didn't want to give up too quick. Thanks again.

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Keep plugging away. You will find one.

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Registered: Jan 2011
Location: Rockmart, Ga.
Posts: 2652

quote:

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Originally posted by paridgerunner
Yeah, that's what I thought, doesn't seem good. Bruce, your right, i'm either having bad luck or not meant to be a coonhunter. The walker your talking about I just could never handle, or atleast break from trash. I would drop her and she would hunt everything that walked, some I would get a call in the middle of the night that she was treeing a house cat in someones yard 4-5 miles away from where I dropped her. I got rid of her, I bought a nite champion walker from someone a few hours away from me, and hunted it 2 weeks every night and it treed great, about 5-10 times a night, I never did see a coon with him, I would drop him and he would tree within 5-10 minutes on an empty tree and as the night went on, he would tree even faster, sometimes on trees the size of your wrist...never once had a coon in it, don't know how he made nite champion. Thankfully i took him back and got my money back. Then I got this bluetick and that's where I'm at now. I'm about done with it I think, basically i've been going at this 3-5 nights a week the last 2 years or so and haven't treed a wild coon yet. But I do enjoy it, just going out, but dang, there has to be a dog out there that can tree a coon. I just don't have a couple grand up front to drop on a dog. Anyway, thank you guys for the advice, I think I figured that was what I should do, but being as i'm learning all this on my own, didn't want to give up too quick. Thanks again.

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Registered: Dec 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 2027

You hunted her 45 nights,but are you keeping her in thick coon?

It's not always how much time you put into a dog, but the quality of the time.

I don't ever give up on a dog unless I know why.
For example you gave back that ntch because he was slick treeing, his hole was he wasn't very accurate.

This blue tick sounds like it start a track and run the coon but hasn't learned to tree yet. Most blues are more track oriented. If you bought a blue dog, I assume this why?

Just guessing but with out seeing, I'm just guessing.

She will run and tree the drag,because you leave the drag where she can see it.

She will run the caged coon, but won't tree it, because she can't see it. In another words she hasn't learned to tree by scent.

Ok so now that we know what the problem, is its a cullable offense. Imo this is not, in fact I would go a step further and point out, that the problem isn't the dog, it's your in inexperience to realize what the issue is and how to correct it.

Getting a dog to tree by scent can be challenging.
The best way is to keep them on hot coon, another option would be to work her on a collared coon, where you can control your coon and dog, letting her see the coon climb up a tree. Another option would be to some drags,but make sure she doesn't see the drag,and is forced to tree by scent.

Do you have any feeders out? This is a good way, to ensure that your hunting dog in coon, and can ensure your pup will get a track.Once they start running and treeing hunt them in woods with out feeders. When I first started hunting, I wasted many of a night, hunting woods that simply wouldn't hold coon. I have been to comp hunts and drawn out guides that have taken me to the some of worst woods to hunt,and then claim we are going to see some coon!!! Every dog ends up looking like crap, and we all end up standing around scratching our heads.
So learn where your coon are at, and this will help ensure your not wasting your time or the pups.

When she runs a track, watch where she gives up, get in there and try to find the coon for her.

If you have done all of these things then yes I would move on. However imo, under a good trainer most dogs will make it.

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Last edited by Fisher13 on 04-16-2015 at 10:45 PM

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Registered: Dec 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 2027

P.S.
Read study learn all that you can about dogs, coon hound related or not.

Oh yeah, and when I first turn a caged coon loose for the first time, wet it down good, this makes it easier on the pup.

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Registered: Apr 2014
Location: Woodbury, Pa
Posts: 64

Fisher, thanks for your reply. The drag I used I never left the hide in tree for her to see it. I would drag it, rub it up on the tree a few feet and put it back in a plastic bag and back in the truck. I would cut her loose on the track and she did track and tree on the tree she smelled the coon go up. I can't say I always put her in thick coon, I try to, but don't know if I do or not. I do have feeders out in 2 spots and have a camera put on them to know when the coon are hitting them. I have put her in on them a lot of times, but same results, actually maybe worse because she has a hard time figuring out the tracks I think, which ones were coming and going. The cage coon I never show her when I'm going to release them, I do dump a bottle of water on them to make the scent better, I cut them loose, give them a few minute head start, remove the cage and get the dog out of the truck and walk her over near where I let the coon go and let her find the trail, which she has. I did find one of the coons in the tree the other night and brought her to the base of the tree, she just stood there for 15 minutes, even after encouraging her to get on the tree. I have read walk with wick volume 1 and 2 cover to cover several times, read these forums everyday. Can't find too many other books on coonhounds. I have had beagles my whole life, never ran into quite a challenge with them as I have with coonhounds, it's a whole new adventure. I never had any gray hair before I started coonhunting! I appreciate your thoughts and ideas. I did join my local coon club also and have gone on several nite hunts as a spectator, so I have seen some good and bad in more than just the dogs I've had. I've hunted a few times with my dog and a few other guys from the club, she does about the same then too. It'll happen someday, just not sure it's going to be with this dog yet.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Weyers Cave Va
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My advice would be to stop getting other peoples junk. Look up a well known breeder and buy a pup from them and start that way.. Or save up around $800 and buy and older broke dog and hunt it. A lot of times a 9 or 10 year old dog can teach someone new to the sport more than juts tagging along with others.

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Registered: Jun 2012
Location: McRae Ar
Posts: 3701

Don't start with a pup, save a little money and by an older dog. You can find a nice dog that is getting up in age fairly cheap. Let that dog teach you to coon hunt. Make sure and not trust anyone. Go hint with the dog or you will be in the same boat.

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Registered: Sep 2013
Location: south carolina
Posts: 86

quote:

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Originally posted by HOBO
My advice would be to stop getting other peoples junk. Look up a well known breeder and buy a pup from them and start that way.. Or save up around $800 and buy and older broke dog and hunt it. A lot of times a 9 or 10 year old dog can teach someone new to the sport more than juts tagging along with others.

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Registered: Jun 2014
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 3466

Fisher gave you some good tips. You've done them all without much success. I think it's time to go Hobo's route. There's not much that is more rewarding than starting your own pup and seeing him tree his first coon.

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Registered: Dec 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 2027

Sounds like its time to move on, sorry about your luck.
Get with a reputable breeder, buy your pups at 8 weeks old. So you know exactly where they have been, and they haven't been Ruined. Randy Smith with Lone Pine Kennels, I don't think is to far from you.
PA can be tough to find a finished hound, because were kind of out of the loop.
You can find plenty of hounds for under a thousand that tree coon, they will pry just have a hole, like no mouth, or will check in to much.

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Registered: Jun 2013
Location: PA 16646
Posts: 1120

Panitehunter, your an hour away from me, you wanna cutem loose give me a call or text 814-691-5732

I hunt 4-6 nites a week and on thursday and friday nites ill hunt as long as you want, i also have a leopard male that needs to be started hes a
Year old and has a good handle on him and very loud not
Sure what my plan is for him yet but you can handle him if you wanna
Come out with me

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Registered: Oct 2014
Location: East Texas
Posts: 442

quote:

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Originally posted by dchartt
Panitehunter, your an hour away from me, you wanna cutem loose give me a call or text 814-691-5732

I hunt 4-6 nites a week and on thursday and friday nites ill hunt as long as you want, i also have a leopard male that needs to be started hes a
Year old and has a good handle on him and very loud not
Sure what my plan is for him yet but you can handle him if you wanna
Come out with me

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Registered: Mar 2013
Location:
Posts: 618

it will take you 6- 7 mths to get 1 big enough to hunt.
I would see if I could find a buddy with a older dog and see what I had. I don't know what you coon population is but as they have kittens are is cut in 1/2 on a slim population.

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Registered: Apr 2014
Location: Woodbury, Pa
Posts: 64

Thanks everyone for the information and advice, I do really appreciate it. Dchartt, I will definitely get in touch with you and take you up on your offer, thank you, I'll give you a call and we can make some plans.

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Registered: Jan 2011
Location: Rockmart, Ga.
Posts: 2652

quote:

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Originally posted by dchartt
Panitehunter, your an hour away from me, you wanna cutem loose give me a call or text 814-691-5732

I hunt 4-6 nites a week and on thursday and friday nites ill hunt as long as you want, i also have a leopard male that needs to be started hes a
Year old and has a good handle on him and very loud not
Sure what my plan is for him yet but you can handle him if you wanna
Come out with me

---

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Registered: Oct 2014
Location: Woods
Posts: 246

How much do you think you have paid for those three dogs and the food/care for them? A decent lil coondog you have to look at like an investment. If money was tight, I would just tag along with people this summer and kindly save up some money. Then when fall hits you should have a lil nest egg and an idea of what you really want out of a dog and this sport. Just my 2 cents

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