I made a two hole box trying to rig during the cold months here in WI. While this has nothing to do with dry conditions, I did have good success with this box and the dogs stayed pretty comfortable.
It's a box that covers the distance between a Owen's aluminum box and the front of the truck bed (Toyota Tacoma). It only has two holes but I think that is why it worked so well. When the two dogs in the box put their heads out the holes they stay warm from the neck down. When only one dog has it's head out it keeps to much wind from circulating quickly around the box. If you only put two dogs in the box the air can never be cut off too much for a dog inside to run out of air. Even when it's -20 degrees, if two dogs have their heads in the rig holes it's very warm on the inside of the box. Anyhow, this worked very well for rigging during the coldest time of the year and I don't think it would work as well with any more holes than two.
Here's a picture:
If I've explained this correctly, I think it will help some others in cold-country.
I will have to say this there may be a certain type of dog that can strike and tree in this area on lions in our dry conditions of our season and like I have said I have had guys say they have done it here or know of someone here that strikes and trees bobcat CONSISTANTLY but when the talk gets right down to the real show there is always an excuse . I have in know way ment this to offend any dry ground hunters in other states or have ever asked them to come and prove it can be done here if one of them ever offered to give it a whirl I would sure be up to it but have never expected anyone from out of state to back thier claims here in this area on dry groung during our season. Just want the claimer in this state and area to back their claims. Yhere is another fairly successful bobcat hunter in my area that has been at it for a good 40+ yrs and between the two of us believe me if it could be done at a consistant rate we would be doing it. This has been a very good post and my hat is off to everyone for sharing their experiances. Andy
Correct me if i am wrong, isn't Butch a dog you got from Dewey ???? Have you ever had him open or give tail while rigging him or roading him?? I would think that if he was used for a strike dog in Oregon, from what is being said he should be getting it done in your country! How does butch handle a 12-14 hr old track ?How would you compare butch to your Maggie and Sally dogs ???? I have not hunted with Butch but i hunted the Shit out of Maggie last year and i do know she had no troubles with tracks 12-14 hrs old and older . She was only about 10 months old at the time, i think .
I did sale Butch to Andy he is not a box dog. The sons I have out of Butch are out of my running dog and are good cold trailers. Butch did not fit in with my dogs. The running dog put the cold trailing into his sons. Dewey
Did you ever road that dog and have him strike or give tail on cats? maybe not a box dog, but you must of seen something in him to breed a couple times, other wise i cant imagine you breeding a dog that didnt fit into your breeding program . Todd
He is half Finely River Bred to Dan blood lines that I feel cross with the running dogs. The first litter of pups were a accident they turned out very good. I breed him again to the same female a proven cross that produced what I wanted. Butch was on a lot of cat with me I do not consider him a cat dog or the type of dog that I hunt. That does not make him a bad dog just not what I want. Yes I could catch cat with him but I also have a Airedale that have caught cat with I do not use it for breeding. Why would anyone out of state go to Montana to cat hunt we can not hunt them there legally. There are far more cat caught with running dogs or part than anything else. I would guess a 100 to 1 all over the country in far worst areas than Montana. Why can't it be done there? Dewey
Let me tell you a story about a two year old dog out of Butch and my running dog I sold this winter for $4000. I do not sell dogs on trial.She has been on over 200 Bobcat trees. Runs only bobcat with ME. The buyer hunted with three days we tree 5 cats, she tree one by her self. His dog that he brought would not even go with her on most of the cold tracks. She is one of the better box dogs I have ever owned. He is catching cat with her and hunted with a dog that is considered one of the better cats in this area and sold for $6000. Hunting together in a snow storm Vicky opened from the box. They found a dimple in the snow put Vicky out she sold out at run the $6000 dog would not even go. It was the 4th road she crossed before it went with her and she treed the cat. So why did I sell her she did not fit in with my dogs. She moved a cold track to slow, would get behind and not pack up, come in behind and wander at the tree. If she is the lead dog she locates and trees hard great box and more speed them most people get to see. Great cat dog the guy has a far better dog than he thought he was buying because I told him and showed him ever thing she did wrong. He is completely happy with the dog and catching more cats with her. She is where she needs to be as a lead dog. So why I sale her? I keep only dogs that I think are worth breeding and can improve my dogs. A close friend of mine that I consider the best cat hunter in Oregon would of probably shot her. Most people will never own a bobcat dog as good as her. His main dog is a full sister to Vicky out of the accidental breeding, his lead dog since she was 1 year old striking and treeing. There is always a better dog out there and someone that can prove it can be done. Dewey
i sure like to all these hot rod bob dogs go, price of bob fur,man get rich with these never miss dirt dogs,come on out,powder river counrty is hot as hell,cold bastard all winter,wet,frozen,muddy,dry,dirt,hate to bust anybodys balls,head west i 'd like to see them go,larry
There is good money in cats now. I sold over $26000 last year a little harder this year with no snow on the east side $20000 to $22000. I have thought about hitting Wyoming in November. California does not open until the 24 of November, Oregon the 1 of December. Thanks for the invite most locals don't like to see me show up. I will bring Tom with this year. Ryan in Lakeview made that comment. Also that I was the only guy he seen that could tree them on bare ground or that the dogs could catch them on the ground of all the years he hunted there. Where do you live and where is the best place to hunt there. Thanks again for the invite. Dewey
slycat, to answer your question about Butch he is what I would call a medium nosed hound here he has had trouble starting some tracks that were made the night before and then there are some he does start. He is not a consistant cold trailer but once the track is warmed up he will carry a track as well as any of my dogs his one great addition is his great speed on a jumped cat . I have hauled my dogs many a mile on the box here just playing and have never had them strike so dont know if its me or the dogs. The two females you are talking of, Sally out of my old Nance strain and Maggie out of Topper Again are two of the nicest young hounds I have set foot behind they are both not perfect but together on a bobcat they are real close. They both have alot of brains and the ability to start a cold track here and finish it with blistering track and jump speed. One day I will have the perfect bobcat hound! But then my wife will wake me up(only in my dreams) lol. Great post gentlemen my hat is off to all who have chimmed in and thanks for keeping it from turning into a bickering match. That shows just how class us BOBCAT HUNTERS real are. Andy
You have to have a trappers license but can catch them with hounds. In California you have to use live traps to trap some guys do very well at it.Dewey
Hey Andy , I have a little female that is the same breeding that Dewey breed to butch to get them great dogs. Brandy is out of Mike Kemps PLAY BOY dog . If you are interested we could breed her to butch and see what we get. Todd
Bring her down when she is in and we will give it a whirl. Never know until we try. How does her nose and tracking ability and locate and tree ability, compare to your Topper Again dogs for the area you are hunting?
. I have in know way ment this to offend any dry ground hunters in other states or have ever asked them to come and prove it can be done here if one of them ever offered to give it a whirl I would sure be up to it but have never expected anyone from out of state to back thier claims here in this area on dry groung during our season. Just want the claimer in this state and area to back their claims. Yhere is another fairly successful bobcat hunter in my area that has been at it for a good 40+ yrs and between the two of us believe me if it could be done at a consistant rate we would be doing it. This has been a very good post and my hat is off to everyone for sharing their experiances. Andy
Andy