SPRING IS THE WINDY SEASON

[Mike Leonard]

Lionhunters I have heard a lot of comments on wind and it's effects on a lion trail. In John Kibler's recent book (Lion Tales) which is by the way a fine read and available thru Safrai Press, he stated that he feels wind has they least direct effect on a lion trail of the many weather varibles he discusses.

Here in the spring lion hunts when the weather is warming up into the 70's at times for me and 80's or more for my brothers deeper south we get a lot of wind in this desert southwest in the spring. So I guess I thought I would see what you all feel about it and how it works on the trail and how productive your hounds can be in higher than normal wind patterns.

Share your experiences:

[bristolblue's]

it sucks, cause up here the wind can blow in a track in an hour depending on how hard the wind blows, we don't dry ground lions to often, so i don't know about that, but i do know that i makes my dogs drift a bear track.

[houndnem]

I will catch 30 + lions in an average season. 5 or so will usually be in the spring on dirt. I have hardly ever been able to get one going in the dirt when the wind is blowing.

[Benny G]

Mike, I'm not sure about "Sir Johnathan" and his experiences, but for me common sense says that ANY condition that has a drying effect would alter a track. When the sun beats down on a track that has a little dew on it, it's not long before that track can give the dogs considerable trouble. I have followed the dogs on a track in the spring that was 30 hours old. The lion was seen and wounded by a guy, that's how we knew the age of the track. The dogs moved the track right along in the brush and on the rocks, but once it left the protection of the canyon and traveled accross open grass land, the dogs could no longer move it. Oh yea, the wind was blowing steady at 35 mph that day. I believe that if the wind hadn't been blowing, although it would have been tougher in the open, the dogs could have continued to move the track with a little help. I have also seen the dogs have better success licking a rock or stick without the wind than with it. I sure don't know everything, and I hope to continue learning, so i'm looking forward to reading experiences from others "in the know".

[Tom White]

Its always amazed me that these mutts can trail just as good in a 40 mile an hr. wind as they can when its calm. Lion scent seems to be heavy and stay there close to the ground , even when its blowing.It ain"t as much fun cause I can"t hear them as far and I get sand in my eyes.

[Big Mike]

I cant say cuz when the wind blows 30-40mph my a$$ is sitting of the couch not a mule!! I hate the freakn wind.

But I do think of all the elements that effect scent wind might be the least. But ive trailed to where the wind whips over a ridge and the trail stops, so I believe it can ruin track just like moisture evaporating.

[pegleg]

i've had bad days in the wind. but then thinking on it i've had bad days in all weather conditions from time to time. but a warm wind blowing across a track made in cooler weather can warm then disappear pretty quick

[radar]

I think wind sometimes helps in the starting of a track a specialy while rigging,but yet the wind well hinder the dogs if the track already going I hate the wind cuz hearing the dogs and judgeing were there at becomes difficult

[Mike Leonard]

Tom White,

I concur with you on older tracks. Lion scent is heavy and laid low the dogs seem to be able to handle it if they are the kind. The damn problem comes at times when this wind is really howining and you the lion jumped in the bluffs and they go to circleing on you. Holy smokes you got lions scent high for a change and it's going this way and then swirling that way and man it can lead to some scratch your head deals.

Old wise man from deep Arizona told me one time: son that is why I have this yellow cur dog with me. He ain't all that much on a cold track even though some dummys thinks he is, but when scent it is high up and floating around old Evrett here will find the right vapor and suck right up on that panther's behind. LOL!

[Tom White]

I agree Mike. I"ve never been a cur man , but do keep one around just to aggrivate people. OH and the fact that they do often cut accross and go streight to a lion thats zigzagin and circling out in front of you.Sometimes thats the difference in treein one of these spoiled ones. However I have seen some hounds that are real good finishers also.

[Mike Leonard]

Tom,

You are a wise young man and it's always good hearing from you.


Hell I can't hear when the wind ain't blowing but at least the wind gives me an excuse. LOL!

[razorrb]

Well everybody has commented in the Southwest and in Utah. Here in Wyoming the damn wind blows 24-7 it seems like. Here is my experience. In the winter time it can be nasty out if it gets to 40+ and the temps can kill a man and dog if your out there walking or riding. I usually hunt up until it gets to 35mph. I am 22 and have a little more gusto than some of the others around here so thats why I stay out there longer. It does make life hard at times but I figured I might as well give it a try. Hell I might jump one right there. Anyways that about it for the winter time. The spring always brings strong winds 50+, so when we try to dry ground it we loose out scent on the ridges, but thats it. If the lion walked on either side of the ridge we were still ok it was when they ran up the ridge is when our dogs got confused. Keep in mind we were riding horse back and I felt like a flag on a flag pole! So i guess it depends on your dogs nose, experince and the temp. But most of all common sense always comes out in the end. Atleast thats what my great grandpa used to tell me. Mike I have really enjoyed your posts. Thanks for the laughs, and pondering ones too.