Dry ground

[Grzyadms4x4]

He said even going days without striking even an old track helps make really good solid dirt dogs because they have to have the patience to continue to turn down junk and wait.

I must have the best dogs around! We can't even catch a cold, just sunburn, raw noses and feet!

I much prefer the dry ground to snow. Snow can be easier at times, but seems like it is more of a pain in ass than anything else. I tried hunting in some snow last winter. I walked a ridgeline of a canyon. Nothing but some scrub grass. Started to work my way down to the bottom of the canyon and by the time I reached the middle to bottom it was nothing but manzanita covered with ice and snow. When I reached the bottom I was soaked from the nipples down! That was pretty much the end of my hunt that day.

Give me dry ground any day, Just not dryground at 100 degrees by 7a.m.

-Zach

[Benny G]

I was the one that caught it

I caught one once also, but it was a kitten, and I hadn't put my pack of hounds together yet!

[dwalton]

I don't lion hunt and have not in many years. I learned under Cap Atwood in Colorado. Lion hunting is bare ground hunting to me. When I came back to Oregon and started hunting lion here on snow that is just lion catching not hunting. For many years I went to Nevada or Arizona to hunt the desert on bare ground. That's lion hunting. I hunt bobcats now nothing I would rather do than listen to dogs cold trailing a bobcat on dry ground in dry hot conditions. I may not catch many then but when moisture comes the dogs look great. Working the dogs on tracks that they can not catch is what makes cat dogs. Be it lion or bobcats. Most people want to catch a cat not hunt it. Dewey

[jonet plotts]

the only thing better than catching a lion is trailing one.

There is a ton of truth to what is said here.
There are guys that catch lions on dry ground i have seen it with my own eyes. I have made it priority to put my dogs to this test a couple of trips a year at young ages to guage there abilities. If they can't show the ability by 2 years old to grub a track all day by 2 they get cut from my pack. Only because i have the addiction of seeing a hound do this kind of work. Granted some cats that have been chased before and don't have a belly full of food hears a dog comming it can get away. But on the most part when one figures out how to do it and has the endurance and patience one will set his or her standards a little higher.
There are a lot of people that don't understand this. Maybe it comes with age. I KNOW that it comes from dry gound hunting. If you talk to any of the serious dry grounders you will find out that they get very real pleasure out of watching dogs pound and hammer on a track that isn't going anywhere fast. To know that the only thing that drives that or those dogs is the challenge to trail far enough to cut the distance betrween the hunter and the hunted, and then put enough pressure on their quarry to make it throw in the towel, well it just can't get any better than that!

It has been my experience that without seeing it for themselves, most dog hunters will never completely understand the warped mentality of a sun parched hound follower.

A few weeks back, Steve Smith told several folks settin around having a visit that to make a GOOD hound, trail a lion for 20 days straight before catching it. Most hound hunters today don't seem to have that sort of patience, OR determiation!

Pack plenty of water!

[bency]

+2 dwalton

[Big Horn Posse]

Ah becareful listening to ol Mike and Benny on this topic. They will give you pup from them that is the color of a Puma and not only will run anything on the dirt, lions, elk, deer, rockchuck, bear, anything that has crossed her path, but she will rig a cat from the air vent going 60 mph down the road. Yep, those guys are the original dry ground legends of the southwest and you may get more than you bargained for in listening to them. Better get some good boots as you will wear the soles off in a hurry trying to catch up to one of those pups. Will wear you out hunting for your pup trailing something that might have crossed days ago. Guess thats why those guys ride mules and horses.

But in all seriousness, for me I rather run on the dirt over the snow cause it is easier for me physically as I have bad knees and braking through deep snow is a killer for me. I also like to look for lion sign, scratches and kills as it helps me learn where the cats have been traveling, establishing residency and what and where they are hunting and living. Think the dogs learn more hunting this way even though you might not be as successful as finding a fresh snow track. You will learn more about your dogs and their abilities hunting them on the dirt as well. That is just my opinion.

[Orion Guide]

I like to travel the roads, hoping to find one that's been run over and can't move very fast. These old mutts of mine might stop one of those!

I like this kinda hunting myself

[Orion Guide]

There are a number of hunters that do run them and catch them as well but most dry ground hunters are a little weird. LOL!

Benny I know we resemble the last part of that comment. LOL!

People always look at me funny when I tell them them the only thing better than catching a lion is trailing one. LOL! Now that is what I mean by weird!

i agree on the wierd part for sure!!!

[Big N' Blue]

Benny G and Mike, ya'll sure are my type of hound men!! As for as the original post there are some really good hunters on the forum even when they act silly! LOL It really does take a lot of time and effort to hunt dry ground and most people do not have the time or resourses to hunt that way. The few that do have the time to spend, it is very rewarding when you get lucky and finally get r done. Proud to say that I have a 98% failure rate! LOL

[Orion Guide]

I think i beat your failure rate with my dogs now!!! Sorry to one up you!!