Free casting

[ilchaf]

Any Colorado hunters free cast with success? I am new to this and have tried both driving roads and free casting. I have an older pup trainer and a 1 yr old pup. We drove roads a few times this season without seeing fresh tracks and I free casted 4 times this season. What I am considering for next season is driving roads and if no fresh track, just pick a good looking area and free cast the dogs. May get lucky, but also at least work the dogs some and get some excercize for me and my hunting buddies as well! Just wondering if people have had success with this type of hunting or free casting in Colorado in general. Thanks in advance.

[Pagosa]

Never free-casted in Colorado, but used too a lot in eastern Oklahoma for coons/bobcat. We would always hunt on foot or mule. Being a former resident of Colorado I used to find fresh tracks fairly often in the winter. I think it would open up lots of country if your dog's handled good and we're trash broke. I free cast my current hound, but she needs older dogs to help her on the track. I bet you will find game that the road hunters drive by. Good luck. Preston

[FullCryHounds]

We caught three this year just hiking down a rough looking canyon with a couple of dogs when there wasn't enough snow to find a track. The key is to find the most remote, rough looking canyon anywhere around. The cats know where these canyons are and know they are safe there. I hunted exclusively private property this year so that also had something to do with catching as many as we did but find a canyon that no one thinks about hiking and you should find a cat layed up there.

[ilchaf]

Thanks for the pointers. I like free casting and will look for that nasty terrain, but wouldn't pass up a good fresh track. This year was more of a learning year for me, my hunting buddy and my pup. Will have another pup here shortly and can't wait to start working him also. I have caught the bug and hope to post some pics next year with a lion in the tree. For now, the only pictures I have are from my game cameras.

[Dozerdog]

i live up in wy. I have two little wilderness areas that i hunt. I free cast my dogs every day. Every time I go into the woods i have all my dogs with me. They have never been on leashes or chains. Once you know they are trash broke just let them hike with you and the biggest thing i can tell you is trust them if they strike and have the patience to let them work it. It takes some time and you will have some clusters. I have actually watched lions tree that were bedded up that i never would have seen if they were on leashes or if i was in the truck. Once you try it you will love it. you and your dogs will be happier and healthier.