How many dogs?

[newdawg]

I am just getting started with hounds. How many dogs do you need for lion hunting? Is there a minimum?

[Brindle]

As far as law goes here in utah there is no minimum. And I never run more than three on lion and I know you can catch em with just one. I just like to have a couple extra for when times get a little western. Also where I hunt you have to use a four wheeler or a snowmobile and three is about all I can comfortably fit in the pet porter.

[larry]

wouldn't dump more than 4 at once, 2 if u really wanna catch it.

[sheimer]

However many are in your dog box

Minimum of one.

Scott

[Mike Leonard]

I think there is a huge amount of dialogue on this same subject on this forum if you will do a search.It is better than beating the old dead horse...

[houndnem]

in my opinion it only takes one good dog to tree a lion. however if your gona consistantly catch em you better have back up. a bad lion could take out a few good dogs pretty quick. you don't want to have to start over every few years so have some up and coming. also if you get a pack that learns to work together they will put up cats that might have been otherwise missed. Ideal for me was 4 two broke and two up and coming. now that I run bear 6-8 is perfect for me. you could start with a couple and then build up the pack as you see fit.

Mike, I respect you alot but I disagree about beating a dead horse. Everytime we hash a topic we get some of the same old same old. we also get new people chiming in and adding more to it. I would rather rehash and try to learn more than read through the archives and look for old topics that were possably hashed when things were a little different. it is good advise that you give to go back and look at it, but the fun is in the current debate. thanks for all you bring to the table on this forum mike. keep it coming so it don't get too boring on here. maybe when I have been on here as long as you I will feel the same way. really what could we talk about that hasn't been hashed before??

[Big Mike]

Anywhere from 1 to 20 works for me!!LOL. I usually hunt 6-8 at a time regardless of snow or dirt. They dont learn nothin at home on a chain

If you are just starting out, stick with two. Once you get those two trained and catchin game then you can add more if you like. But two dogs can get it done just fine

[goneropn]

I don't feed them to stay home so I bring and dump everything I've got. Which is seven. Good luck.

[chilcotin hillbilly]

When I am guiding I take 2 most of the time. For recreational hunting I take all which is 4.

[walkin w/ some blue]

I like anywhere from 2 to 4 most of the time over that is just a crowd especially in deep snow. After the first two the scent has been churned into the snow so much that the dogs behind wont get much. But I also hate to leave dogs in the box that could use the experience. A lot of it depends also on how good you pack trusts and honors each other. at least thats my opinion

[George Streepy]

I agree with sheimer. I usually hunt 4 or 5 depending on how many young dogs I am working with. Next year will be 6, got to get young dogs out there too.

[southwestwalkers]

Two hounds works for me but I do feel the more paws on the ground the better

Robb

[Lance Bell]

1-4 Remeber you have to drag out the dogs you turn in. Alot sounds cool but when your draging them though waist deep snow and over rocks the cool wears off in a hurry.

[Melanie Hampton]

I know a guy locally that has been hunting since he was able to walk.. So he got to hunt in OR before they banned the lion and bear.. He said he will turn out one dog on a bear but nothing less then his whole dogbox on a lion.. He thinks people are nuts for only turning out one or two or three dogs on a lion.. I just thought it was kinda interesting...