Roading the dogs while training.

[cattrak]

So, I decided to go out with the hounds two days ago. Keep in mind I am still training the hounds and they are training me. I parked the truck and took off acroos the desert with a caged animal (They didnt see it). I found a good wash and set the cage in it near the base of a tree. Then took a scent drag with Grawes lion scent on it and headed down the wash. It was about 200 yards from the road. I then ran the scent drag across the road. I walked back to the truck and drove away a while. then turned around and Roaded my two best dogs. After about a mile of roading we came across the wash and the dogs picked up on the scent and were off. They got to the cage right away and began bawling. So, the question is. Since they have got the general idea down, should I be out looking for a cat track now and see what they do or should I do some more scent training. Maybe more scent training, but with less scent on the drag? maybe a longer trail like a mile or so? What should my next step be?

[cfanno01]

Ive never hunted lion, but i say the best way to train a dog is on live game and real tracks...even if they dont run the track to the finish, putting them on a real track works well. just my opinion tho

[Nolte]

You can't beat live critter tracks. All the other stuff is just messing around. Once a dog fires on live game it's time to take them hunting. But just do it according to their age. If you want to do more, just release the critter wait awhile then walk the dogs by the track. Then extend out the times you turn out. Still the best training you can do is lacing up the boots and walking up a track til they can take it. Or shipping them down a track with a dog who can take it until they can figure out what's going on.

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[TomJr]

Sounds like your dogs are ready! Now all you need is to find a good area where lions cross a lot and walk the dogs. I don't know what part of AZ you call home but you said desert so sounds like southern. Look for tracks in sandy washes and up top of rises over looking areas where you see deer. Also check any water sources including tanks and other man made sources, lions need water same as other game and also like to ambush prey that's coming to water. Look for scrapes in passes and up under the edges of cliffs. Also if there is a big tree alone check those out especially if its up on a hill side overlooking a wash or other good forage area for deer.

Side note I hear they lost another transplanted big horn sheep in the Catalina Mountains ... that's 5 in a months time. At that rate they are not going to last the year, they only put 31 in. Must be a lot of lions in there. I know its a rugged mtn but I can't help thinking it would be a good place to find a runnable track or two if you live close.

[cattrak]

Side note I hear they lost another transplanted big horn sheep in the Catalina Mountains ... that's 5 in a months time. At that rate they are not going to last the year, they only put 31 in. Must be a lot of lions in there. I know its a rugged mtn but I can't help thinking it would be a good place to find a runnable track or two if you live close.

I live in Florence. and I spend some time up on the catalinas. Mainly around Charleau gap area. It is a pretty tough area to access. I havent had the dogs in there yet though. I spend some time down in your neck of the woods also. I have a close friend in Whetstone. Do you run your dogs much down there? any success?

[TomJr]

I live in the Huachucas and only hunt from my house. There is enough game within 5 miles of my house to keep me busy. I take my dogs out almost every morning for a few hours. I have not tried taking my dogs to another mtn range to hunt yet. Part of the reason is I don't have tracking collars, here they know the way home. But the main reason is I can just walk out my front door and be hunting in a few minutes.

Been putting the fox pelts up for the last two months because their numbers are way up due to the habitat left after the big fire in 2011. Foxes eat a lot of vegetation and after a fire like this one there is a lot more of what they eat growing, plus the ground cover is thicker now. Bobcats are still down, likely because the rabbit population has not recovered from the fire yet.

Lions are back to pre-fire levels, 5 were taken over my dogs last year, all within 1 mile of the house.

I hear the wetstones are good for lion hunting but also sounds like several groups hunt the area...