Rugged Cross Outfitters

[houndcrzy]

Hey I was just curious if anybody new anything of the Rugged Cross hounds or that outfit? Its David Welty out of New Mexico's deal?

Thanks

[Cowboyvon]

I don't know him personally but we hunt some of the same ranches.. he gets it done and in the dirt.. I had a rancher that had his own hounds in the past and is really knowledgeable tell me that David had the best two packs of lion hounds he had ever seen ..

[Mike Leonard]

Yes Dave and Darrel Welty and Clay Henderson are all top shelf dry ground hunters and ranchers. The older Weltys and Barty Henderson from the Datil to Winston area were neighbors of the Evans on the famous Slash Ranch in the Beaverhead country. They were also very close friend with the Lee Brothers from Arizona. Their foundation dogs go back to the Evans hounds and were known as the best in the southwest. I have not seen them for years but nearly every ranch in that country use to keep hounds becasue livestock losses to lions and bear are extreme. These guys are low key and you don't hear much about them but trust me they are the real deal.

I had some of the blood thru Homer Bryant who use to work over there so ask them if any of the dogs go back to Knothead or Hornet. Double tough dogs.

[Big Mike]

Ive run into David a couple times hunting. We trailed a lion to a huge boudler pile. Started to see some strange dogs show up. The david came off the hill with about 15 dogs. David had killed th lion we were trailing three days earlier with a hunter. He lost some of his dogs and was coming back to look for them(he doesnt use tracking collars to my knowledge). We visited for a spell he was very freindly. Now the impressive part. While we sat and visited, he had a least 10 dogs in a line cold trailng and moving that three day old track, it was impressive to say the least! I have much respect for his talents as a hunter and the caliber of dogs he has. I dont know anything about how he runs his business tho

[houndcrzy]

Thanks boys I appreciate the info!

[houndcrzy]

[houndcrzy]

Anymore info on these hounds would be appreciated if anyone has ever seen them work or heard anything about them!!!

Thanks

[Big Mike]

I have a friend that knows David well. Only other thing I can add is his dogs are mostly redticks and a few blueticks (mixed bred). His line of dogs goes back to his Granddad Bud and likely have a lot of influence from Homer Bryants stock ( i could be wrong about this) He hunts almost all females.

You wont find hardly anyone who runs his line of dogs because ive never know or heard of him selling dogs, or pups. The friend i know practically had to beg him to get a pup from him.

From the guys that i know that have hunted with him, they say his dogs are as good as they come. Keep in mind he hunts almost every day from Dec thru March

[houndcrzy]

Thanks alot Big Mike! How did that pup your buddy got happen to turn out?

[Big Mike]

Sent you a PM