starting young hound

[coondogger80]

Hey, I got a 6 mnth old bluetick, who's showing that he's def. ready to start.So far he's been on 3 road killed coon at 1-3 mnths and a live coon twice at 6 mnths. Before he ever saw a live coon though, at 5 mnths he was scenting and tracking short distances all on his own. Opening some too!

Now I want to take him out, but I want to take him somewhere he can scent a coon pretty eaisily. There is an area on some state game land that would prob. be pretty good. There's a creek running at the bottom of a hollow, but man, I never seen so many thickets and thorns in my life. I mean the whole hollow right up to the creek bank is dense thickets shoulder high! and over my head in many places! I was there once in the daylight, believe me it's miserable, to say the least.

So anyway, do you think this would be a good starting location for a young hound starting out all on his own? I never started a hound by himself and any ideas would be appreciated.

[michael.magorian]

Ya it would be a good starting location, but why don't you just leave the pup alone. Most pups that never make it are that way because the owner started the pup too young. I am not trying to be mean, but why does everyone think that their pups have to be finishing tracks at six months old.

[TomJr]

I don't know about finishing but I sure don't think it will hurt to have a young dog in the woods. Just don't expect too much and don't let him run too hard, he is still growing Also make sure you help him out fast if he accualy catches one on the ground! So if you don't think you could get to him fast if he is in trouble might be better to wait for him to gain some exper before those thicker areas.

[coondogger80]

Thanks guys, ya know, I had him on a live coon 2-3 times yesterday and man he really wants to fight! He pulled the tail of one coon through the roll cage and wouldn't let go. Then I had him on another coon later, and this rascal was real mean! and my ol dog caught that ol coon by the front paw and started tugin it through that roll cage!

but as far as startin the dog at such an early age, your gonna have to read your dog, and if ya pay close enough attention, he'll let ya know when he's ready to start. And this dogs ready, every time I let him out of the kennel, he takes off for the woods! The last time I had the dog out in the woods, he scented something and took off after it and disappeared. bout 4-5 minutes later he came back. Now I'm not asking the dog to finish a track and tree me 20 coon a night , but I'm just wanting to start him.

[montananative]

i think you would be ok, cant let the thick get in the way of where you hunt, if i did i woulnt hunt at all. just slap on the cahartts and wear a hood. we got those russian olvies and those thorns will penetrate cotton clothing in a snap, it sucks. also, if it were me, NO MORE CAGED COONS!!! hit the woods and get him on the real thing. jmo. good luck