Registered: Aug 2013
Location: SW Michigan
Posts: 22

My son and I live in SW Michigan and really just getting started in coon hunting. Anyone living here knows the winters can be up and down, lots of snow and cold weather other times not so bad. Do the coon move in the deep snow? How does it effect the dogs?
When is the best time to hunt? Early evenings or late?

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Registered: Dec 2004
Location: Bearden AR
Posts: 1735

I used to live near flint. Coon will move year round. Just pick the nights that are a little warmer. During the January thaw the coon should start their rut. You will get some good races at that time. Good luck.

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: kellogg mn
Posts: 846

Great time to find out what style of track dog ya got too.

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Registered: Jan 2011
Location: MICHIGAN
Posts: 1309

boars move good during their rut in jan./feb.
no problem tree'n coon in the snow if temp. is above freezing.

below freezing temps coon don't move much.can still tree them around water.good tracks can be tough as they freeze over fast.

you'll know what kind of coondog you got when the ground gets cold/covered.

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Registered: Apr 2008
Location: michigan
Posts: 265

Treed coon in Feb when the temps
Was 4 degrees and a foot of snow
Some nights make dens and slick trees
But you can tree coon maybe not
Ever night some times the coon are
Smart and stay home lol

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Central Michigan
Posts: 6544

Coon hunting in the snow can be very educational. The snow doesn't lie.

The first night after a size-able snow fall they do tend to stay holed up unless the weather is on a significant warming trend. What everyone else has stated are true ... well except for maybe Strokin out hunting in the cold. LoL

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Larry Atherton

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Registered: Mar 2008
Location: Western N.Y.
Posts: 4005

We hunt on snow alot, If the coon are hungry they will move. If you get a bunch of fresh snow they will stay home but if the sun hits it enough during the day to put a crust on top they will move.
Tracking conditions can be hit or miss, if its real cold trackin can be great, if its warming the tracks deteriorate fast. Snow is easier trackin for the dogs than bare ground. We run coyote dogs on the snow no matter how cold it is but anything in the single digits keeps me home by the fire at night.

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Registered: Dec 2004
Location: Bearden AR
Posts: 1735

Larry, you keep out of this. Lol

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Registered: Jul 2004
Location: Jodaviess Co. N.W. IL.
Posts: 3597

OPPY IN HIS PRIME, IT WAS 4 ABOVE 0 THAT NIGHT.


OPPY'S DAUGHTER, GRNTCH. RUSHCREEK SAGE WITH THE MEAT. IT WAS 8 DEGREES IN THAT PHOTO. WE KILL QUITE A FEW COON IN THE DEAD OF WINTER IN SINGLE DIGIT AND COLDER WEATHER. WHEN THEY ARE RUTTING, YOU WILL GET ON A COON ABOUT ANY NIGHT YOU WANNA GO AROUND HERE. WHEN IT IS EXTREME, WE RIDE AROUND AND CUT LOOSE OFF OF ROCK DENS THAT WE KNOW OF. MAY NOT LIKE WHERE HE TAKES YOU, BUT THATS COON HUNTIN. <v>


ME AND BUCK WITH OPPY AND HIS SON, NTCH. BUCK'S RUSHCREEK BUD. IT WAS COLDER THAN A WELL DIGGER'S A$$ THAT NITE. <v>


ANOTHER LATE JANUARY COON. <v>


DEAD OF WINTER/DEEP SNOW/ OPPY, SAGE, GRNTCH. NIGHT TALKIN PEARL. <v>

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Blue Dog 1

Last edited by jodaviess1 on 10-17-2013 at 08:32 PM

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Registered: May 2004
Location: Sullivan IL.
Posts: 3060

As long as it stays cool and the snow stays fluffy might be the best tracking all year.

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Registered: Aug 2013
Location: SW Michigan
Posts: 22

Nice looking hounds jodaviess1. Im sure my 10 yr old has hunted in the snow he came from ohio but my 7 month old this will be his first. i guess any night in the woods beat setting at home lol.

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Registered: Jul 2004
Location: Jodaviess Co. N.W. IL.
Posts: 3597

THERE ARE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF SAID HUNTS. 28 OR 30 DEGREES AND WET SNOW, IF THEY CAN'T GET A COON TREED IN THOSE CONDITIONS, IT'S TIME TO GET A DIFFERENT DOG. THE PHOTOS POSTED ABOVE ARE ALL ON SINGLE DIGIT NITES WITH THE SNOW CRUSTED HARD ENOUGH TO WALK ON AND NOT BREAK THROUGH. THATS A BIT TOUGHER GOING IN THE TRACKIN DEPT., BUT TREE COON ON A REGULAR BASIS. <v>

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Blue Dog 1

Last edited by jodaviess1 on 10-23-2013 at 02:24 AM

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Registered: Jan 2011
Location: MICHIGAN
Posts: 1309

there is probably more scent in winter time.prime winter hunting conditions you can tree alot of big coon.
there all denned up urinating and etc on each other.

the freezing up part is whats hard on the dogs.

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Registered: Jul 2004
Location: Jodaviess Co. N.W. IL.
Posts: 3597

THAT'S FOR SURE PAT. WE ROTATE THROUGH A FEW DOGS AND FIND OUT WHO HAS THE REAL WANT TO WHEN THEIR FEET ARE ALL CUT UP AND THEY COME OUT OF THE BOX LIKE THEY ARE WALKING ON TACKS IF THEY WILL EVEN COME OUT. <v>

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Blue Dog 1

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Registered: Feb 2010
Location: off the res.
Posts: 3422

Well Minnesota coon season starts today and they are predicting 2" of snow by tomorrow morning so we will see how good our dogs track on snow or if they forgot since last year. LOL!

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Registered: Aug 2012
Location: galsberg Michigan
Posts: 97

Where ya from I'm right by galsberg love hunting on snow!

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Registered: Aug 2013
Location: SW Michigan
Posts: 22

I live in Kendall near gobles. I havent ran into too many coon hunters here in Michigan. My brother lives and hunts in Ohio, seems every other truck down ther has a dog box.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Central Michigan
Posts: 6544

rmccoy,

There is a coon club southwest of Bellevue. I believe they still have a fairly large membership. Most of the coon clubs in Michigan are finishing their competition hunt season, but you might want to start watching for hunts, shows, etc. starting in January. They start off slow with only one or two here and there. Bellevue usually has a decent sized hunt either in late February or early March.

I find the large river bottom land is best for winter hunting, but you do have to be wary of bad ice.

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Larry Atherton

Aim small miss small

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Registered: Aug 2013
Location: SW Michigan
Posts: 22

My son and i have talked about going to some hunts to just watch and see how they are, never been and dont know anything about them. Sounds like it could be fun. How does it work can anyone just show up and watch?

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Registered: Jan 2011
Location: MICHIGAN
Posts: 1309

there's a coon club in marcellus,mi.
might be closer to you.

anybody can go "spectate".

few things; spectators can't shine tree{s},and have no vote in anything that happens in cast.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Central Michigan
Posts: 6544

Yep, Pat is right Marcellus is only roughly 29 miles down M40. Bellevue is double that. The southwest side of the state is the area I am least familiar with in Michigan.

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Larry Atherton

Aim small miss small

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