Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1604

With all this modern "wonders" hunters have now with GPS and thermal imaging to tell you "if" your hound is really pulling it's own weight when out hunting AND when it finally gets treed and you can tell "if" there is really something there---Are you going to cull the duds??? Or are you still going to feed those that are just "me too" dogs and still think 50/60 percent having a raccoon are a good hound. Because if you don't use the tool, why spend the money?

I am glad that I was able to hunt when you needed the furs for Christmas money and hounds would pack. And we had the equipment we had because the hounds hunted for you and when they didn't find a track to work they would check back and you would load and hit another spot.

Sure we didn't win thousands of dollars, but we also had more fun and enjoyed the hound and the game we were after. You can brag all you want about these independent, hot nose go until treed dogs today, but I'm not sure where you are going to hunt these in the next couple years with the lost of hunting ground happening every day.

Like a friend of mine said the other day, "I sure miss pulling into a field and dropping the tail gate, letting out the hounds, pouring a cup of coffee and sitting on the tail gate listening to them work, BSing with you and knowing when they treed we could load the gun." Well, I still hunt that way and I'm not going to lower my standards. Having to much fun.

Have a Great Fall and may you see a set of eyes, in at least a couple of
the trees.😉😉

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OLD TIMER

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Sheridan, WY
Posts: 1165

The old boys that would take me out coon hunting screen I was a kid always had a thermos of coffee and some cookies to enjoy on the tailgate. One of the best parts for a 15 year old kid.

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Seeking Soli Deo Gloria through the hounds.

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Registered: Feb 2013
Location: Indiana
Posts: 4550

The Coonhunting I grew up around was much like you described it OLD TIMER.
Hunting with my Dad & my Mom's 2 Brothers and always enjoyed when a few Close Friends would join us. It was always a Good Hunt whether we treed any Coons or not.
I have watched this New Age Coonhunter evolve overnight, wearing their Caps cocked sideways & their Skinny Jeans on.....LOL.
They Won a few Bigger Hunts & now they suddenly have become the Know It All about Coonhunting.....LMAO....🙄😉. They even Post about getting a Cast Win at your Local Hunt even though not enough to Win it....😊.
Makes me want to hang close to Home & Coonhunt the way my Dad taught me and Enjoy the sound of a Good Hound working that Cold Feed Track.
Tim

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

To answer your first question. "Are you going to cull the duds" My answer is yes, faster than you can say dud! You have to be honest with yourself FIRST, or your never honest with anyone else. And you will struggle to have a coonhound.

I hunt like you described, if it isn't raining. Twice a week. On Tuesday and Thursday night. Seems like rain is at a record high this year. We do take cold water instead of coffee. Have one man that has moved down here from Ohio with an English dog and he makes the 1 1/2 hour trip to my house twice a week to hunt. We try and take someone else that is interested in getting into coonhounds. At present a friend that use to bear hunt is wanting to coon hunt with his son. They go with us and are trying to understand how these coon hounds operate. Due to most of our land being under water right now. We are not getting a bunch of tracks to enjoy. Last Thursday was different and they pounded around on one for about 20 minutes. We had two dogs circle and criss cross and cover a lot of ground trying to find that coon. The Garmin said they didn't work together, went by one another plenty, and they didn't beat the same track they had just run to death. They Finally came treed together. Two big trees together and we did not see a coon. I actually stayed at the truck and forgot to give one of the guys the thermal device. I will say my buddies English dog is a very accurate dog. I think Old Timer would be happy with his accuracy. Lin took him and went to English Days a couple months ago and won 2 cast out of 3. He is one you can enjoy on a weeknight and win some if you want to comp hunt.

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Registered: Nov 2012
Location: Roseville Kentucky
Posts: 187

With work and the kids schedule, my nights to hunt are limited. I don't have time to chase around a dud all night. Some drops i thinks he's a dud but they are few and far between. But id say I got the best dog I can afford right now and I'm happy with that. I can see the competition side taking some of the fun out, to me its $30 entertainment like going to the movies. I've met some new friends and I've hunted some amazing places for $30.

It kind of got off topic at the end coffee kicking in and typing fingers going wild!!!

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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Yadkin County NC
Posts: 1671

Bruce I'm not trying to hurt your sales but guess I'm too old school for todays hunting. It is almost disgusting to me to see a hunter have to look at a screen all night to know what his dog is doing. Same with a thermal. I don't consider a man a houndsman until he can sit on the tailgate and by listening to his dog tell the kind of track like when he's crossing the swamp or working through the big blowdown on the bluff and by the way he goes on the wood and trees and is sure of himself or if it's a desperation tree. Spend enough nights in the woods with your dog and learn all this. Let your dog tell you if he's there and if there is doubt learn how to make him look. It's not unusal for a man that knows what he's doing to get one to stick his head out of a hole. I just feel like there is too much dependence on gadgets instead of learning the basics.

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Registered: Jun 2013
Location: Pilot,Va.
Posts: 136

to yadkinriver:Amen , I like the old way also . Being 75 yrs. young may have something to do with that .

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Registered: Jun 2014
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 3466

Well, I'm 78 years old and I refuse to break a dog from slick treeing. If he doesn't have enough sense to know what he's doing, he can do it somewhere else.

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Registered: Feb 2012
Location: airville,pa
Posts: 2078

U make some fine points of view..
I personally have done old school and new. I look at that Garmin a lot today. Not because I need to but because I can learn far more from it than sitting on the tailgate thinking I know what my dog is doing. Same for a thermal. These gadgets don't lie. Like Bruce said we need to be honest with ourselves 1st.

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Registered: Jan 2004
Location: North MO
Posts: 2353

My last 6 casts dogs have made 39 trees, with 33 raccoons seen. One tree had a coon that bailed and couldn't be scored, and one tree didn't matter so nobody shined it. That dog had already treed 4 singles off to herself, so I am guessing she had that one too.

I hate to tell y'all, but these dogs are better than they were when coon hides were paying bills, and a lot of it has to do with all the technology and information available to the hunters.

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Registered: Nov 2011
Location: Freeport,TX
Posts: 2008

A great dog of today will be a great dog 50 years ago and 50 years in the future…and that’s if hunting with dogs will be allowed…

Something else besides the gadgets…forums like this one has been very educational to most of us learning from each other…back then we didn’t have computers…

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Sheridan, WY
Posts: 1165

quote:

---

Originally posted by Josh Michaelis
My last 6 casts dogs have made 39 trees, with 33 raccoons seen. One tree had a coon that bailed and couldn't be scored, and one tree didn't matter so nobody shined it. That dog had already treed 4 singles off to herself, so I am guessing she had that one too.

I hate to tell y'all, but these dogs are better than they were when coon hides were paying bills, and a lot of it has to do with all the technology and information available to the hunters.

---

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Seeking Soli Deo Gloria through the hounds.

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

Here is the secret to a bright future which is what is important. Why because from the moment you read this everything will be in the future and that is what is important.

We get on here and want to compare the past with the future, The northern dogs to the southern dogs. The red ones with the white ones and the black ones to the blue ones. When the facts are we are all on the same ship. We love to coon hunt. We love our dogs and working with them. Doing it in a different way, with different gadgets doesn't make any persons way better or worse than someone else's way. We share what is going on in the world with our dogs and hunting gadgets in case someone wants to follow that path. I can respect every path any man takes and I know it will be an enjoyable one as long as it has GOD charting the course, a spouse to share it with and a coondog at your side.

I have been on this board since the beginning of it, around 2005 or 2006. Wanting to show how a white dog was better than some other colored dog. Wanting to make fun of how someone else does it. I said many hurtful things in the past to some. I have tried to come to an understanding of life and this sport and acknowledge everyones way of doing it. And encourage them to keep on doing it. Their way, in their hunting conditions and with their dog of choice.

Speaking just to the point of technology. I love it until I am out hunting and a malfunction, either caused by me or my equipment. Causes technology to interfere with the hunt. That is why I try to understand it and keep it simple and find the right equipment that is simple to use in the middle of a swamp in the middle of the night. Just like knowing your dog. It is important to know your gun and your other hunting equipment. If you are out there miles deep in the pitch black with just your dog and nothing else. It is important to know the stars to find your way out. Done that with confidence many a night. Could I do that tonight. Probably struggle with it. I have relied on technology too long. But what ever the future brings. To enjoy the sport I can handle it. If all the satellites fell to earth and landed in the ocean. I could still hunt my dog and get home safely. Just might take me longer. Because I ain't leaving my dog behind.

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Last edited by Bruce m. Conkey on 08-21-2021 at 12:02 PM

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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Yadkin County NC
Posts: 1671

Good post Bruce! I respect the diplomatic approach to it and agree.

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Registered: Nov 2012
Location: Roseville Kentucky
Posts: 187

Unfortunately for some the good ol days of setting on tail gate are far few between. Ya on good night I might be able to get someone to go hunting. But most have moved on or grown up with family and don't hunt. Its turned into setting on tail gate and watching dog run his track and comparing what you hear to what you see on the screen.

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God only knows who we'd be without soldiers and Jesus.

Rack'em Up Willy pup
--County Line's Rammy(Rambo)

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TREE BANGIN White Boy
*UKC win Friday night Red Bone days 2021
BnT TREE BANGIN BUFFORD the start of it all

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Registered: May 2015
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 59

Mr. Conkey I always learn from your posts. You are always more than willing to help anyone. I appreciate and respect you for that. What a treasure your wealth of knowledge is. Not to mention how great an ambassador you are for our sport. Thank you for that.

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Registered: Jul 2021
Location: Tenn.
Posts: 282

I started coonhuntin in the early 70s. Started hearing about shock collars back then but didnt know anyone that had one.The first one i saw was huge and not reliable.I have great memories hunting back then but loosing hounds and cuttin off dogs and having to use the stick and boot method for running deer aint none of them.I LOVE THE NEWEST TECHNOLOGY.lol.You young guys are lucky to have it.I was looking in to getting a thermal just for the fun of it but ive found that its illegal in Tenn to use one while carrying a fire arm from sunset to sunrise.I would like to see one in action.If it will show a squirrel in the day time i might would still get one.My eyes dont work as good as they use to.ha.But i need to see one in action before i spend the money.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1604

1958, took a Model A coil and 6 V square battery

Ran an extension cord from coil to two bolts on a collar

Toggle switch Would turn it on and off. Of course had to have hound on a lead, but it broke them.

I still have it

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OLD TIMER

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Registered: Jul 2021
Location: Tenn.
Posts: 282

quote:

---

Originally posted by OLD TIMER
1958, took a Model A coil and 6 V square battery

Ran an extension cord from coil to two bolts on a collar

Toggle switch Would turn it on and off. Of course had to have hound on a lead, but it broke them.

I still have it

---

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1604

Foxhounds that we would walk across the Government Goat tracks and if they wanted to take it, they would get a loud NO the same time we flipped the switch.

You would be surprised how a couple “lessons” and the word NO would mean to them😉😉

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OLD TIMER

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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Yadkin County NC
Posts: 1671

quote:

---

Originally posted by Josh Michaelis
My last 6 casts dogs have made 39 trees, with 33 raccoons seen. One tree had a coon that bailed and couldn't be scored, and one tree didn't matter so nobody shined it. That dog had already treed 4 singles off to herself, so I am guessing she had that one too.

I hate to tell y'all, but these dogs are better than they were when coon hides were paying bills, and a lot of it has to do with all the technology and information available to the hunters.

---

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Registered: Jul 2021
Location: Tenn.
Posts: 282

quote:

---

Originally posted by OLD TIMER
Foxhounds that we would walk across the Government Goat tracks and if they wanted to take it, they would get a loud NO the same time we flipped the switch.

You would be surprised how a couple “lessons” and the word NO would mean to them😉😉

---

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