New to the game advice

[Iamjbarter]

Hey yall.

I was lucky enough to go out for a weeks worth of cat hunting with a friend this year and I have caught the bug.
I'm looking to spend the next 6 months to a year doing some research and learning all I can about the lifestyle before purchasing a dog. I'm also hoping to possibly get out for bears if I can find someone local that's interested in taking a newb out.
I'd greatly appreciate any advice or links to forums, books, videos or any other sources where I can learn about the tricks of the trade. I did learn a lot about the hunting aspect while out this year but I'd really like to learn a lot more about the training aspect. I'm thinking about going with a started dog first and then getting a pup after the first year.
Anyways thanks for the add and looking forward to the adventures.

[Beebout-it]

Go hunt with any dog before you buy it if your planning on purchasing a "started " dog peoples opinion of "started " may vary a whole lot.

[Henefer-hound-hunter]

Buy your equipment before you get a hound, makes for a lot more fun when you get your hound. That way you’re not worrying about coming up with money for this and that, your only worry is finding time to hunt:)

Cameron

[SASS]

Do your best to find someone local to you that is doing it the way you want to. They could be your first lead on where to get a dog from.

Also I would save up and get as close to a finished dog as you can afford and then you will be able to use that to train your other dogs in the future. Good luck.

[VARMIT HUNTER]

A lot of good advise on here, I say get some equipment first, in your area I believe there are places with few roads, I would go with at least a Garmin Alpha and tt15 collars for each dog, and maybe a Wildlife as well due to battery life etc. either find some one who has good dogs to hunt with and get no more than 2-4 pups. I prefer training my own from start to finish mostly by themselves. And if you buy a old dog get it from someone who is reputable and buy the dog under the tree or with one bayed /caught on the ground. JMHO