Mathis bred stuff

[razorrb]

Who is this man, where does he live and what about his dogs?

[Mike Leonard]

Steve Matthes was a California State Lion hunter and famous big game outfitter from Paso Robles California. He was the last true State hunter they had before the over haul moretorium kicked in in 1972. Now most of the problem lions in Ca. are handled by the Fed. U.S. Wildlife Service Professional Hunters and Trappers.

Steve was a remarkable man and I am proud to say he was a good friend of mine. He took time to help a dumb kid like me out that was trying to learn about lions. Wiley Carroll of Nevada introduced me to Steve and we corresponded regularly until his death. Steve also spent much time in Mexico, and British Honduras hunting jaguars. He was one of the most successful jaguar outfitters ever his dogs excelled on them. Steve was a great dog breeder and trainer. In his excellent book ( Brave and other Stories) he details many of the methods he used to train up what many felt were the finest of big game hounds of that time. Other excellent hunters from California like Ray Nelson also used his bloodline. Steve actually registered his small red and hi tan dogs as a seperate breed with the NKC ( Mattes Lion Hound) are what they were regisitered as. they were and are a very distinct line of dogs. Mostly rather small 40-50 pounds higher eared than most hounds and extreemly athletic and fast. Most have excellent noses and are natural tree dogs. Most have very good endurance and can take extreme heat hence they excelled in the steamy jungles of the tropics. Steve has been gone many years now but left a legacy in his dogs and writing. If you can ever get your hands on a copy of that book treasure it. My first pernonal signed copy of Brave was stolen from me, but Maynard Small a relative of Steve's and also a ADC man from California rounded me up another hard back and sent it to me when he heard mine was stolen. I will be for ever greatfull.


At this time I have only one of Steve's straight line dogs at my place. He is coming 6 and came from the last breeding of Dick Muldoon before he passed. Dick along with several others took over Steve's breeding program when he died. Little Rip is out of Esau's Red and a full Matthes bred female. Very nice dog unfortunatly he was neutered before I got him.I enjoy hunting Rip and evertime I see him come trottong by in his determined matter it makes me think of Steve's Little Red and Frisco dogs.


Hope that answered a few questions about Steve.

[razorrb]

Thats exactly what I wanted to know. Good stuff Mike thanks.

[BULFYTR]

I have 2 real nice 1/2 matthes 1/2 shockly dogs long legged deep chested don't know about lions but they sure like them bears!!!

[Idaho Bison]

There was a local guy had one for sale on here. He catches a pile of bobcats I hear.

[fox hunter]

the local guy idaho bison refered to is travis latier he cathes plenty of bear as well