Couple more questions

The Vise · Post by **The Vise** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:16 pm

I had a few questions on another thread and you all were so quick to help me out I figured I'd keep going. I hope sometime I can put something in a tree and report back to you all and give thanks! I'm started totaly from scratch here so here is a few more questions:

1. My dog dont know nothing but sitting on the couch and watchin re runs of Walker Texas Ranger so lets say one day I fugure out what a cat track looks like and I happen to cut one up in the mountains. What would I do? Show it to Axl (dog) and say "sick em!" For real I got no idea. I read some things on here about using scent and so forth to run drags and such and I'm going to go back and read up on it but is that where I should begin?

2. Whats a dog supposed to do when they are on a track? Some of you guys have some pretty sweet dogs that can "rig" game and from what I gather that means they alert you right off the ride that they got wind of something. Are they quiet and then just start bawling when they got something? When they get on the track I have heard some of you say they were "opening up". Does that mean they just start bawling more frequently and intensely cuz they are hot onto soemthing? Also what does "barking treed" mean? The dogs really sound different under a tree then when they're trailing?

3. I'm in Utah. I dont care to hunt just chase. If I have a dog in the mountains do I need a permit of some sort? Also I'm just curious about what does a guy do with a cat or a bear if he did harvest one? Are they worth eating at all or is the hide the only real value? Just curious on that stuff.

Thanks

Catman · Post by **Catman** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:36 pm

Vise,
Man you really need to meet up with someone who has been at it a while and go hunting a few times. I'm not trying to make you feel bad or anything, but you really are green

Yes dogs generally bark differently when they are treed, but not all of the time....some bark on track...some don't. Your dog is not going to know chit when you first go out. It would really surprise me if he is willing to trail at all, and if he is....you'll be runnin buckskin guaranteed. The best way is go to the traing section of this forum and read Mike Leonards training method....its good, and will help you both out. Next...try real hard to go out with someone and hunt....even if you have to leave your dog at home...he's got somethings he needs to work on before you take him anyway. Then once you get to know someone...ask em if you can bring ol axle along. Most guys don't like to mix hounds and definately will want to get to know you first. Keep asking questions. And yes in Utah you need a Cougar pursuit permit to run lions....and a bear pursuit permit for bear, and your too late this year for bobcat because you have to apply for them. The state does not issue elk, deer, or moose pursuit, and I'd advise you to keep that minimal

Good luck, but really try to hook up with a local hound hunter even if he/she only runs coons....there's no better training for you or your dog.

The Vise · Post by **The Vise** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:32 pm

Thanks dude. I know I need to go out with someone and I have had some very generous offers from a few guys here to let me come along I just haven't been able to yet. And yeah I am as green as it gets. My experience with this stuff is limited to what I read on here and watching "Where the Red Fern Grows" with my kids.

I feel like now that I am asking my own questions I am getting a little further than when I was just reading though. I was just real curious how a guy does it if he were to have to totaly start from scratch and I was wondering how much of the dogs job is just instinctive. Also I am just having more fun on this forum now that I am actually participating! Thanks for the feedback and I hope the questions are annoying to anyone. I also hope someday I can be the authority answering questions for someone else.

Hank

driftwood blue · Post by **driftwood blue** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 7:25 pm

do not ever pass up the chance to feast on lion meat..lion roast is very similar to pork roast without any grease..maybe better. the steaks are very good... ground meat might be a tad dry but very good---- you just have to get past that first bite and the thought of eating cat.

yotabluewalker · Post by **yotabluewalker** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 12:51 am

If you grind some pork fat with the ground cat it is exceptional. Adds a touch of flavor and plenty of moisture to cook. We also mix pork instead of beef with deer, elk, & moose.

houndcrzy · Post by **houndcrzy** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:02 pm

Hey Vise, reading your questions and concerns really reminded me of all the questions I had only a few weeks ago. I just wanted to tell you that I was lucky enough to accompany my friend on a Lion hunt this past week and the amount I learned on only one hunt was AMAZING. I am a very avid big game hunter but had never run a cat or hunted with dogs. If you keep your ears open and ask questions, after a few hunts you'll be amazed and what you'll learn from a good cat hunter!!! Dont get overwelmed trying to figure everything out to quick, I would say get hunting when you can and spend lots of time on here cause your gonna love it when you get out to hunt!!!!! Its an amazing experience!!!

Grzyadms4x4 · Post by **Grzyadms4x4** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:27 pm

What houndcrzy said is right. Listen to as many people as you can. Ask questions and listen well. Most of all go HUNT! You can read and be told all sorts of info, but you need to go out there and do it to put all the pieces together. I think it may be better to go without an experienced hunter, as you get to make lots of mistakes and you can learn a lot from 'em.

Zach

stacey robeson · Post by **stacey robeson** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 8:51 pm

lion is great . bear is good to but some dont like it because or the gamey flavor but you can do away with some of that buy rubbing it down with vinegar. bobcat tastes like crap and i only would feed it to dogs.(if they will eat it) IT DAMN BAD!! HAHA GOOD LUCK

chancemarquette · Post by **chancemarquette** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 9:41 pm

when you are learning how to cat hunt, do not listen to just everything one person has to say. Take a little from everyone and you will learn alot on your own.

The Vise · Post by **The Vise** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:11 pm

Thank guys. I'm gunna get out and look for a track with all this snow. Should I just take the wheeler up and look for tracks crossing the road and try and determine if its a cat track? Thats what it sounds like most of you all do......I'm gunna look up some images of cat tracks but what are some tips you might could tell me? Any secrets to identifying a cat track?

Ike · Post by **Ike** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:50 pm

old tom lion track in hardened mud turned dirt

Melted out tom lion track

Fresh tom lion track in a skiff of snow

Smoker bobcat track

The Vise · Post by **The Vise** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:30 pm

Thank Ike! I printed off a page with some track images and tips for identifying. I'm gettin a wheeler this weekend and lookin for a track. I'll post pictures if I find one. Lot of you guys get excited about a sweet catch and post pics for all of us to enjoy but I'm going to get the same excitement out of just finding my first track! I am appreciative of all the advice and willingness to help a newbee who want a part in your sport. I gunna post my training progress all the wway to the first catch someday!
As a side note I want to say that I am a dude with manners and ethics. Some of you have already offered me great advice and offered to bring me along with the dogs. I WILL NEVER INFRINGE UPON YOUR TERRITORIES, HUNTING GROUNDS, AND SO ON. I WILL NOT GO OUT AND KILL EVERYTHING IN A TREE. THE CHASE INTERESTS ME NOT THE KILL. THANKS TO ALL!!!

savage · Post by **savage** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 12:04 am

hey vise, heres a site where you can get some definitions to some houndsmen terms.
http://www.treehound.com/html/def.html

mpritchard · Post by **mpritchard** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 2:00 pm

Vise, you remind me of myself years ago when I got started. I knew nothing... and I mean nothing and no one, so I just went out and did it. I figured it out by not doing what didn't work. School of hard nox for sure, but when things went right it was all that much sweeter.

A buddy of mine never saw game in his life until last year. He stumbled into some hounds and started hunting them. Had a bear treed in his first year and didn't even know it. This year he managed to make it to 18 bear trees. I know your looking for cat trees, but its the same principle. My buddy is "just doin' it!!"

Good luck and have fun!!

The Vise · Post by **The Vise** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:30 pm

thanks for the incite man. i never thought I'd actually get into this stuff just always been fascinated by it but the more i dig into things I feel like I am actually gunna give it a serious effort. I am going to get out and try what I can. I ordered some of the scent Mike Leonard suggested in his training post and I'm gunna start experimenting with my dog. I also gunna pic up a trashbreaker this weekend and try and start with getting some of the house manners taken care of. My dog will come to me in the house or back yard but if he sees a chance to run out front free into the neighborhood he wont look back. He wont jump into the truck either and it aint that high. Anyhow, thanks again for all the input. I gunna start with looking for a track this weekend! Hope I can post a pic of one soon!