the turning in of dogs?

[bowtech36]

So when you guys rig a bear or cat how many dogs do you start right away and then whats your process of turning other dogs into them?

[bearsnva]

Whether it is smoking hot or somewhat cold turn several reliable dogs loose and make sure they are doing right, and if they are, start feeding in more dogs as you see fit. Some times you may want to feed younger dogs in before some older so if they get behind, the experienced ones will catch up to them and hopefully get them straightened out. I think the most important thing is making sure the dogs are going the right way before you put more dogs in wrong. Really easy to sit at a keyboard and do it right but much harder not to dump everything and screw up in the real world. I have seen hound hunters 70 years old act like rookies when they come on a smoking track or see a bear cross the road and just open the dog box doors. That track is just as strong going both ways so don't blame the dog for something you did wrong. Probably the best thing to do is just watch me and then do the opposite.

[Darvin Ecklund]

Personally, I would just drop one dog down and wait till he opens a few times and seems to have it lined out then add a few more. With adding younger dogs, it might be wise to hold them by the collar and let them hear the older dog open before u cut them loose. And turn them loose one at a time. It doesn't always work this way, but I believe this is the best way to assure things start out right.

[bowtech36]

i was just curious when we bear hunt we turn our strike dog loose and if he lines out good, we turn dogs in one at a time about every hundred feet.

[stevemac]

Sorry to jump on your topic with another question Ive owned a couple of hounds So as I read the above post with interest I was woundering about dropping the younger hounds to the call of the older hound, If in some ways you are teaching the young hounds to hunt the lead hound rather than what he is hunting. Ive seen this happen when a friend had smaller slower hounds than mine they seemed to hunt my bigger faster hounds wether they were on a trail or not. I might add these were fox hounds and I ran them in the forest.

[Darvin Ecklund]

When I get out of my truck and listen to my hounds baying a bear a hundred yards off the road, I want my dogs (that r in the truck and not turned in yet) to be able to located where my dogs are baying and turn them in so they get to the baying dogs. They shouldn't be barking until they get to where they can smell the track. Mind you, I hunt a lot by myself, so my dogs know each other. I want them to honor each other. I think if u hunt them enough together they learn that. I think hounds are a lot smarter than some people give them credit for. Turning an old dog down to start a track, gives u the assurance that u a) are getting the track lined out and b) it is the track u are wanting to run. The young dogs will take over in time, I haven't had too many hounds that would wait for me to say"Hey, dog, it's time for u to lead.