Gear List

[huntinweim]

This may seem like another dumb question. I have a couple footlockers full of stuff (and then some) to train and run my bird dog. What kind of stuff do you need to train andrun coon hounds or big game hounds? Is there some can't do without items, stuff that I might not normally think about?

Essentially what would you recommend a new kid on the block to put in his starter kit?

[Buddyw]

Lunch and a sense of humor..

Honestly, Tracking Collars, and Tri-tronics are two things that I never leave the house with.. Everything else is Hit or miss. Even the gun..

[Melanie Hampton]

Tracking collars IMO are a must..
If you can't get a tracking box, find someone in the area who would let you borrow their's if need be and get a collar freq that they can track..

Tri-tronics shock collar.. again a houndsperson's best friend in the whole wide world..

Regular collars with your updated info on it..

Those and you are off to a great start.. Heck..we never remember the gun, lunch and someone (not me ) generally forgets his sense of humor halfway into us getting our asses kicked

[nmplott]

There is a lot of stuff that is needed, some more than others. Ladycat hunter is right tracking collars is a must but before the tracking collar you need a hound!

[huntinweim]

Well I have a source that will hook me up whenever i say I'm ready. He apparently has some really nice redbones. I wanted to find out if there were some things i needed before I start with the dogs so I am not left with my tail between my legs if you know what I mean.

Already had the tracker on the wish list for my bird dog, not that she'll go that far. Want to get a light (as coon hunting will make up the bulk of my hound hunting I think). Getting ready to upgrade my ecollar as well.

Thanks for the input!

[chris]

ME
snake chaps
beltlight
knife
pistol
dog
Shocker
lead straps
couple bottles of water
cell phone
compass
spare batterys
boots
tracking system
backpack
lighter
TP
First aid in case dog gets hurt or human is acting stupid

[Bearkiller]

Want to get a light (as coon hunting will make up the bulk of my hound hunting I think).

Nothing wrong with a good old fashioned flash light either. I'd get the tri-tronics and the tracker first. Even if its just a collar and the rest of the tracking system comes later. If you lose a dog there is bound to be someone to loan you a reciever. If you have the money the light is hand but I've been doing this for 12 years without a fancy light. I got a light for christmas my first year and when I dropped it to the bottom of a roaring creek it never got replaced.

[Blue Man]

Man, my list is easy BEER!!!!!!

[Emily]

I only got into this sport five years ago, so I still remember what I got in what order.

First, if you're hunting redbones (I do), they're very hard to see in the shadows, day or night. Get them neon color collars or a light collar. If you're hunting somewhere where there's coyotes, I'd recommend the light collars, which seem to spook the yotes. They also help keep them safe near roads.

2) tree tie leads. These aren't strictly necessary, but they are cheap and very convenient. These are leads with an extra snap hook on the handle and a floating ring on the main part that make it easy to tie back your hound quickly and securely.

3) Good boots. I used my hiking boots for the first year or two, but coons love going in swamps and river bottoms. A pair of tall, water proof boots will make your life in the woods at night much pleasanter. Most coon hunters like Muck boots. You can get them with briarproof chaps attached, which are helpful in places with a lot of briars.

4) A compass--cheap, reliable, and very helpful to those new to navigating in the dark and/or with practical jokers for hunting buddies.

As for the more expensive gear--get the tracking system as soon as you can. You don't need one most of the time, but when you do, they're invaluable. Hounds get to places you'd never expect--someone's garage, an old foundation, ten or twenty miles from the drop point. Nothing feels worse than leaving your coat behind in hopes that the dog will come back when you can't find it. The dog probably will come back eventually, but it will save you many sleepless nights if you can find it quickly.

I rarely use the shock collar, but that may depend on what dog you get. If you start with a finished dog, you may not want one until you're trying to train a pup.

As for the light, it sure makes coon hunting more fun. However, you don't have to start with the most expensive light on the market. Start out with a second hand light or one of the cheaper models aimed at kids, for $75. If you have a maglite or other decent flashlight, that will work--its just a pain to carry because you constantly need one hand to hold it. You can get an LED that clips onto the brim of your ball cap for relatively little. That won't last all night every night for coon season, but it will make a good backup light later and is more than adequate to see your way home in the woods.

Also, a good, experienced hunting buddy is very important. While I mostly learned from my hound, it sure speeds things up if you go into the woods with a person who knows what they are doing. If you don't have someone experienced to hunt with, read everything you can to learn. A good training manual, the coonhound magazines, even old time hunting stories and the Internet boards. Don't believe everything you hear or read though! Listen to your dog closely, and you will figure things out.