BigGameHoundsmen.com

Nice post couch this is what KYboy is looking for.

Great pictures Cooch!

Thankyou, gentlemen.

I've developed quite a liking for the running-dogs. Not only is it superb watching a good one mow a fox down in the open, but when switched off, they are so relaxed that they are easier to deal with than many imagine. When switched on...



Terriers don't have an off switch.

.... But they will go wherever a fox can.

I'm in grave danger of hijacking the thread, but this is what happened this morning.

I'm still doing the fitness thing. Maybe I'm, in denial about getting older, but it gives me a good excuse to be out, on foot, in the cool of the morning. The pack is more-or-less with me, the "less" being when they deviate a little. There are so many smells to investigate. My regular track passes a very big, old log that has been home to fox in the past, but not regularly. This time, tho, I get 50 yards past it and realise that I've lost my company.



Sure enough, Shortie has the occupant bailed up within, and is giving it merry hell, to the vocal accompaniment of the two younger dogs. I have no tools with me, so I con the Jacks out of there - which takes a while - then back off to give the fox an opportunity to bolt. After another ten minutes, I'm getting bloody cold in the early morning breeze so it's drop a broken branch into the entry hole to block it up, and puff my way off home.

The rest of the day was busy, so the fox had a reprieve while the old lady rested a very swollen muzzle. It's no fun after the adrenaline wears off.  :(

This morning, it's firewood time, the perfect excuse to have the chainsaw on the ute, along with a few other tools. Cutting a chock out of the log doesn't take long.... and I am promptly told to stand back and let the experts take over.... a certain "exhausted  and pathetic" old girl suddenly demonstrating a new level of energy.



Unblocking the entry hole at the front end, soon had a couple of Jacks in behind it, and it attempted to bolt out the new exit. Unfortunately, it came face to face with an impatient Stag.



It often seems to take a little trial and error before Tessa works out that she cannot always follow where the Jacks lead, but it doesn't stop her from trying. After that, it was sit and wait, while the little dogs continued the debate. Fifteen or twenty minutes later, after swapping the Jacks from one entry hole to another a couple of times, the vixen showed signs of wanting to vacate the premises again. With young Jimmy chewing on its bum, I'm not surprised.



This time, I managed to pull the long-dogs back for a brief period, and a very desperate (and deafened) red critter made a bolt.

It didn't work.



Although the old girl was the only one sporting any new scars - a beautiful slash across the top of the muzzle to add to her collection - they each seemed to have a bucketful of adrenaline to work off. A very dead and tatty fox continued to cop a flogging for the next 20 minutes.



I like to let the young dogs work it off, as the ragging seems to reinforce the lesson that they can take on a fox and win.  Not a bad little confidence booster, even if they haven't taken any hits.

Damn nice photos and nice hunting story Do u get fox that much when u go out? or do u rarely get some? Cause here in MN i dont get much preys when i take my jagds out :\

JOKER09 wrote:Damn nice photos and nice hunting story Do u get fox that much when u go out? or do u rarely get some? Cause here in MN i dont get much preys when i take my jagds out :\

I live on about 1800 acres, and have hunting access to as much again. So-far, I've taken about 2 dozen fox of that are this year, some with the dogs, some by shooting.

A fair proportion of those I pick up with the dogs are not when I'm "hunting" as such, but when I'm working around the place and have the dogs with me. Foxes are where you find them. I can visit a lot of known dens and not find one.... then put one out of a tree or patch of thistles that I hadn't really suspected.

Wow 1800 acres? sounds like you can have a lot of fun hunting and training ur pups

I do OK.... and the dog'ns are good company, besides.

thinke you all i been intrestd in hunting withe sight hounds for sometime mostl becuse i rell like the old ways of hunting but i got a few ? maybe somone can help me withe i have heard most dog that hunt withe eyes need to be in the open counter but were i love is mostl hills it in S.E KY if anyone know this counte so do the dogs do ok in the hills

While sighthounds are more suited to the open country dogs will adapt to the country they are hunted in we catch alot foxes each year mostly farm land, swamps, tree plantions and open forest in the hills and the flat country. really from what you have described you would be best off with a lurcher type.

thinks man lurcher they are sighthounds crossed withe a terrier right'

Other popular crosses include Boarder Collie X's and Bull X's For tighter country you might consider the terrier X's though.

Cooch, Those are some outstanding pics. I myself hunt the little Jacks. Best earth dog breed there is in my opinion. Some things are nice about the jagd dogs but they just have to much leg and to large of chest circumference to work a hole with most Fox in it. It can be done for sure, but lots of digging too. I like the idea of using the stag hounds for sight/running dogs and then let the Jacks take over. Id really enjoy seeing some more pics of your dogs and the terrrain over there. Keep us up to date!

Matt R

Heres a Pic of two of my terriers from today Coon hunting

well you guys sure have help me lean a lot but just wonden what would make the terriers x moure suted to the hill counte

KYBoy,

The amount of leg on a terrier doesn't matter. For going in holes, all that matters is chest circumference so if your going to have a hole-dog, why handicap it with short legs? A little bit longer body is better for the hills. Keep your dogs in shape and they won't know if they are better designed for hills or flatland. It'a the style of hunting dog that you should be concerned with. Having something there with some speed is definately more fun so if you can get even one dog (like a lurcher) to stand guard on holes, you'll have quite a time.