Michigan dogs compared to western dogs

yotehunter1 · Post by **yotehunter1** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 10:00 am

Was told, by better houndsmen than myself, that a fair bear dog in Michigan would be a good dog out west. And that most good dogs from the west are only fair dogs in Michigan.

He says because of all the thick stuff, in Michigan, the dogs can't see very far and have to be used to running into a mean bear without seeing it first unlike out west.

What is your opinion?

kickemall · Post by **kickemall** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 11:45 am

Apparently that houndsman hasn't hunted the west much. While the brush out here is a different type its still the same thick, can't see, crawl on your belly brush that bears love to get in and its usually on fairly steep ground. I've only hunted Ca., Id. and Or. so maybe the places he hunted were open timber. A good bear dog may take a short time to adjust but its a good dog where ever you put it down.

bearbredplotts · Post by **bearbredplotts** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 12:12 am

he obviously never hunted western washington's olympic peninsula. out on the coast is ruff country- thick, and nasty! steep ass ravines, thick ass salal and underbrush. try humpin through the reprod that has been thinned out- your wadin balls deep in cut trees- oh yeah, bear love takin the dogs through that!
when it rains you dont even need a rain jacket because you're gonna be soakin wet from sweat!

Catch · Post by **Catch** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:08 am

Well I don't know what your friend meant by out West, but I assure you that if you can tree in this part of Idaho you can tree them any where in the world.

A few pics of real bear hunting.
[img][img]http://i37.tinypic.com/34zcdja.jpg[/img][/img]
[img][img]http://i33.tinypic.com/2ekuqyq.jpg[/img][/img]

The white spots are snow, so you can bet we aren't at see level in Sept.[img][img]http://i34.tinypic.com/35jj7yo.jpg[/img][/img]

Oh, there are four dogs in those boxes and not a road for a 100 miles.

Hunter · Post by **Hunter** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:24 am

Man those are some awesome pictures Catch.

Catch · Post by **Catch** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:34 am

Thank You.

I have hunted all over the West and parts of B.C. When you unsnap a dog and wonder if you will see it again you know you are hunting in hell. But on the bright side, you don't have to get up early to beat all the hound hunters! lol

TKC · Post by **TKC** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:50 am

Now thats extreme houndin!!!!!!!

sow flat slim · Post by **sow flat slim** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:19 pm

Damn, them are some good pictures Catch

bigcat · Post by **bigcat** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:28 pm

I have heard that a good hound guy from Michigan only makes a average hound guy in the west, and that a average hound guy from out west makes a great hound guy in Michigan.....sound about right? And you wonder why you guys can't ever beat the Buckeyes- go figure!

Kevin D · Post by **Kevin D** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:00 am

Every region of the country offers its own unique challenges to a bear dog, whether it's the hot and dry of Arizona and New Mexico, the verticalness of Idaho, or the manzanita brush of California. Every houndsman in each region will tell you their area is the toughest to catch a bear in. So take what your partner says with a grain of salt yotehunter.......he's just being a typical hound dogger. I'd be disappointed if he'd of said anything else.

STUNTMAN · Post by **STUNTMAN** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:13 am

Catch-Very nice pics

Now thats real hunting right there.

Nolte · Post by **Nolte** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:52 pm

I really don't know on this one. I've seen supposedly good dogs from Out West, suck balls running bear here. I've also heard of good dogs from here going there, and doing the same.

I don't think anywhere is easy. And if it is once, it might not be the next twenty times.

I also know that I'd rather be balls deep in brush, than neck deep in loon shit. It's sad when you can see water two inches deep and then step in go up to your eyeballs.

Flop a dog up in WI up in the Beldon, Empire, or Bibbon Swamp. Or any other of the countles shitholes we've got. Then tree it or better yet catch it on the ground smack dab in the middle. Hoof it in there and out and tell me how easy it is. It might not be as big as out West, but that doesn't mean it doesn't suck.

onalimb · Post by **onalimb** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:22 pm

LOL! Good post Nolte.

rich h · Post by **rich h** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:09 pm

Hey Nolte, we're sort of lucky in a way...we don't have rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, or gators in those floating bogs. And not to take anything from the western dog guys, but I'd venture to say any bear in Wisconsin or Michigan having reached 2 years of age has already had an experience with bear dogs. Is it possible we have more tennis shoe bears because of that?

Dan Edwards · Post by **Dan Edwards** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:43 am

Idaho's bear season runs from about April to November with a break or two here and there. I would think them bears have seen a dog or two also.

Michigan dogs compared to western dogs

Michigan dogs compared to western dogs

Just for the record!

in a way we're lucky Nolte