Registered: Oct 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6868

At all the memories I have of this great sport and all the posts I've read on here is sure something to ponder. Looking back to when I first got into the sport 10 years ago many of the faces have changed at the hunts and the names of people who regularly post on here has also changed.

I have seen a lot as I have traveled all over this state and a few surrounding states chasing these coon dogs. I have dealt with some real embarrassing excuses for men and on the flip side seen and met some of the nicest people you could ask for.

So many of my friends in the sport dipped their feet in the water just to pull them right out. It's not a easy thing having and keeping a dog ready to compete at a high level month after month for many years and many throw in the towel. I'm proud to have the desire and the fire to chase these dogs around night after night. I'm thankful the good Lord allows me to do it and I hope it continues for many more years.

Fall is coming, the temps are finally dropping, and the leaves are falling. For me its a great time to be a coon hunter!

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Grand Nite Ch PKC CH(3) Main Street Blueberry Jam(Autumn Oaks Final 4 Grand Nite Ch 2015) UKC world finalist 2017 Ohio State Ch 2018
Grand Nite Ch(4) PKC Silver CH Main Street Blue SS quarterfinalist 2018. Autumn Oaks Grand 16 2018. Senior Showdown semifinalists 2020. UKC top 25 World hunt 2020. PKC quarterfinalist 2020
Grand Nite Ch HOF PKC Silver Ch Heatseaker Unleash the Kraken(Grand at 15 months old) BBOA Overall 1st place X2, Tournament of Champions Finalist, National Bluetic Days overall winner, Autumn Oaks Grand 16x2 PKC SS Semi Finalist PKC State Hunt Final 4 UKC World Top 20
GRNT CH BLUES AMAZING GRACE
Trevor Hack
567-231-7413

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1513

Right there with you Trevor. Still kicken through the underbrush of all the cut over we now have where nice woods used to be, but it is what it is and I don't plan to stop kicken for a long time.

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Registered: Jan 2016
Location: Bois d'Arc, MO.
Posts: 1823

Feel the same way. Even tho hides aren't worth anything I still get that feel in for opening night. The last few years I've hunted opening night with Brian downing he never has a very good dog but it sure is fun!lol

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Registered: Mar 2013
Location: Rover,Arkansas
Posts: 1133

quote:

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Originally posted by rob thompson
Feel the same way. Even tho hides aren't worth anything I still get that feel in for opening night. The last few years I've hunted opening night with Brian downing he never has a very good dog but it sure is fun!lol

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Registered: Jan 2016
Location: Bois d'Arc, MO.
Posts: 1823

Jeff that pup is bred good bone has won tons and the bird dog of the yr is in there too!

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Registered: Oct 2006
Location: ILLINOIS
Posts: 114

Rob Oh No Brian is here in Illinois at my house and oh boy he read what you wrote about opening night. buddy you're on your own when he return's home. i hope the smoke has cleared out by the time i come down there. Ooop this quote is from BD He say's in regards to looking back that's what his dog's have to do when hunting with your's ! Later Rob i am getting out of the middle of this conversation . Lol

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Registered: Oct 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6868

Any of you guys just sat back and recalled all the dogs, people, and memories you've seen come and go in this sport?

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Grand Nite Ch PKC CH(3) Main Street Blueberry Jam(Autumn Oaks Final 4 Grand Nite Ch 2015) UKC world finalist 2017 Ohio State Ch 2018
Grand Nite Ch(4) PKC Silver CH Main Street Blue SS quarterfinalist 2018. Autumn Oaks Grand 16 2018. Senior Showdown semifinalists 2020. UKC top 25 World hunt 2020. PKC quarterfinalist 2020
Grand Nite Ch HOF PKC Silver Ch Heatseaker Unleash the Kraken(Grand at 15 months old) BBOA Overall 1st place X2, Tournament of Champions Finalist, National Bluetic Days overall winner, Autumn Oaks Grand 16x2 PKC SS Semi Finalist PKC State Hunt Final 4 UKC World Top 20
GRNT CH BLUES AMAZING GRACE
Trevor Hack
567-231-7413

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Registered: May 2016
Location: Palatka, FL
Posts: 5106

A couple weeks ago on a rainy day I did a search and pulled up post on here from 15 years ago on here. Read some and the people that were posting then and it brought back memories.
Had a guy walk into the store just last week that I met in 1980 when I move into this area. We talked about how we traveled the country and wore the tires off a few trucks. He got smart and is not coon hunting any longer. lol
It is funny how your can remember every rattlesnake experience, every truck in the ditch, every goof up you had in the woods. Guess the crazy things stick with you and I have had many of craziness associated with my hunting. Actually way more fun and crazy things than any accomplishments most would consider valuable. I always traveled under the radar and never made waves and never had the dog anyone was talking about, but I had one I was dreaming about.
At Autumn Oaks I was sitting and talking with a friend about another friend that won the first two PCA PRO hunts back in the late 70's. We couldn't remember all the details but about the time he got up and went back to his booth. Roy Tramble called me and he filled in the blanks on those hunts as he was part of them also. Coon Hunting and the friends in it is an amazing world. No other like it.
I would say that this years Autumn Oaks might have been my most enjoyable. I met several people that I have talked to on here over the years but never met before. I really enjoyed meeting everyone.

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Last edited by Bruce m. Conkey on 10-21-2016 at 06:14 PM

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Registered: Jul 2014
Location: p.a.
Posts: 275

I like it back in the late 70 early 80 when i first started better than any other times because the thrill was there more than it is today and i think i liked the hunters of that time period the best to,things sure has changed from then to now,the dogs,people,places to hunt,hunting gear,its all changed and i have had good times and bad times from start to finish but i like the old days better,i would go back and leave all you fellers with all this hi-tech hunting gear and dogs and be happy, Lol.

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yellow gold!

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Registered: Jan 2013
Location: Marietta
Posts: 10790

Last night I took old one eyed granny and her son old girls in good health now when I went to the pens I got him took him to the truck she probly thought well I got to stay home again tonight too.when I went back to get her she was so happy so I get to where I was hunting it was just me and my dogs I cut them loose got out my thermos got some coffee I could see the steam off of it all the memories of the generations of dogs I have had behind those two. Then old granny opens with that big old bawl so many of my dogs have had seems like they have been gone forever only in about 300 yrds she is moving it pretty good the young dog is getting out run finally it gets better he is on the front end they make a loose and granny trees whamo he backs her it's cool the leaves are starting to crackle I take my time getting to the tree ace is is up on that tree putting on a show granny is setting on her butt about 3 ft from the tree telling it two great big coons in the tree I hit the squaller out one comes out the race is on go about 400 yrds whamo again this time I give him to them and come home man I love to coonhunt.

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Registered: May 2016
Location: Palatka, FL
Posts: 5106

Hoosier after you posted this and I put my first response, the rest of the day was done doing exactly what you asked about. Thinking about and discussing the past along with having some fun in the present.
Had a friend come to the store from about 60 miles away yesterday afternoon. He was coming over for a little hunt we had last night and was bored and just came early. Well that gave me an excuse to check out of work early and we went and got some dinner while we chatted about the past. Then he came over to the house and we chatted some more and got the wife in the conversation of being a coonhunters wife for 48 years and all the nonsense she has had to put up with. We had a few laughs and covered some history. Great evening spent with another coonhunter and we covered the area from the 80's till the present.
Then at 7 we had 4 dogs total for a little hunt. This hunt was more like a pleasure hunt with 4 friends than it was any comp hunt and thats the way we like to keep it here. When it is time to get serious I always know some larger hunts to attend. Anyway a female blue tick did an outstanding job last night and the coon were moving. Almost wish the score card wasn't there. Back female also done good. My dog zigged when he should zagged and just seemed to either be going the wrong direction or using the bathroom as the coon were moving and the blue female made two trees real quick right in front of the cast and had like 375 plus real quick. Not sure what happen but towards the end of the cast there was a little meltdown on the score card and some minus points were racked up real quick and when the dust settled the card showed her not winning. If it would have been that pleasure hunt you would have just walked away saying what a good job she did which was true as far as treeing those coon.
One thing we did discuss and falls into what is talked about on here is low turnout at the hunts. A week or so ago they had the FL State meeting to discuss the State Hunt early next year. Several guys drove a pretty fair distance discuss the plans for the hunt. Thing is after the meeting they had a hunt and 2 dogs were there. Today is the present and today and the future is all we have. The past is gone and apparently the days of large numbers of dogs at these hunts are gone also. The memories are fun but if you compare the memories to the reality of today and tomorrow, you can find yourself perhaps not liking the change and becoming bitter. That isn't fair to yourself and the young people around you that don't have the history the old timers do. Take today for what it is and what it brings.

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Registered: Jan 2012
Location: Goshen,Ohio
Posts: 2679

Trevor,Im sitting in my deer stand right now thinking about coonhunting.I had a young 7 point walk by a few mins ago at 10 yards.But still yet my mind is on them coondogs.Ive met a lot of good guys over the years at the local hunts, on here,and thru Facebook.Ive also met some guys that didn't care too much about making friends or having a good reputation.Ive made a lot of good memory's and hope to make a lot more this season.My old dog is 8 years old now.Ive tried real hard for 5 years to find another that I like.My mind will keep racing until I find It or atleast make some progress in the right direction.One things for sure where all getting older.

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Registered: May 2016
Location: Palatka, FL
Posts: 5106

Jackson, listen. Put down that phone I see a 12 point coming in from your left. Thats what I do to my Son when we are texting and he is in a stand. lol Happy Hunting!

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Registered: Jan 2012
Location: Goshen,Ohio
Posts: 2679

Haha.Bruce I got a freezer full of deer meat and the big bucks arnt running yet.I want a independent and accurate coondog worse then a stinking deer.

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