BigGameHoundsmen.com

Martin Ballard would be my pick, I started hunting with him in 1991 and hunted with him a lot until he died in 2005. He was a very good houndsman and trainer and a very hard hunter. He was a great person to learn hounding from. He would of loved these houndsman forums.

I'd like to spend a week a year. I guess my picks would be all living. I'd like to spend a week in NM with Mike L, a week in B.C. with Dan Lay, a week in colorado with Van J. a week in Ut with Kim P, and I'd like to spend a week in AZ but don't know any there except what I read on here. I think a guy would get in some horseback, backpack, soreback, with this group of hunters

Mike,

Tough question, but a good one. I don't think there is a way to narrow it down to just one guy for just one week, living or dead. All of the modern greats like Ben Lilly, any of the Lee Bros., Wiley Carrol, Bill Green, etc. I think for today, I'm really looking forward to spending a week with you and bignblue. Historically, I think I'd like to have spent a week with none other than David Crockett of Tennessee, but I'd rather it NOT be the 13 days from 23 February thru 6 March, 1836. The legend of "Davy" Crockett usually overshadows the man, then as now, but he earned his reputation as a houndsman of old and a bear hunter extrodinaire. I read once where he supposedly killed almost 200 bear in one season. He did that with hounds, not by grinning them to death.

Any of the Lee brothers but especially Ben Lilly. But, the list could go on. There are still a few old timers real close to me that a person could learn a lot from.

Coin Toss. Heads Dale Lee or Tails Ben Lilly for me.

With Larry, just because.

Dub Evans, Hack Smithdeal(just to see the amazing dog power that man had), Steve Mohr( so I could see a griz climb!)

As long as I could understand them, I'd like to spend a week with some African Trackers. I have been told some incredible stories about their abilities and I could learn alot from them.

I have to say it has been a pleasure to hunt with one of the greats. Van Johnson would have to be the one for me. I would be affaid to hunt with some that are in the books because I think I might be let down.
Here is a great picture my son took of me and Van Johnson hunting yesterday.
It was pretty cold and you can see the steam comming off the wet dogs in the morning sunlight.

Livin' the dream Paco......, guess neither of us got much to complain about do we?

But if I think of somethin' to gripe about we should at least get together and do it over a tall frosted bottle heh.......

We will Buddy. We will. The Whiskey will flow

I'll make it Weldon Hopman out of Arizona one of the best hounds men i know of and a great friend to have!!!

well out of all of the greats out there i would half to pick a more local legeng so i could learn all i could about the area i most often hunt in. that being said mine would be wendell hatch, only known him a few months but he has done alot to help me and set me in the right direction. i can only imagion the things he could teach me about hunting dogs in my own back yard.

If I could go back in time I would love to hunt with Mr. Weem's, Gene White and Von Plott. I love just sittin on the phone with Gene and just listen to his stories about runnin them Plott's in Canada and in the Smokey Mountains. Another person I would like to meet and do some huntin with is you Mr. Mike.