BigGameHoundsmen.com

looks good

sent email to buy your book.i have bin huntin earl davis.brian miller.an dotson dogs for over 20 years i have a 2year old dog now that is out of kevin blankenships tiger female. and a brother to buch nelsons jimmy dog.wood love to have this book thanks.

I sure have had an interesting ride since sending out books. They have gone out to those in the book, but it has gotten into the hands of others as well. It has been a bit of a roller coaster ride for me. One old bobcat hunter called me Saturday and told me it is the best book he has ever read. I kept waiting for him to qualify that statement with “about bobcat hunting” or something like that. But no, it was just a period. My first thought was “man, we gotta get you to the library” ha ha. But Even if it was the only book he ever read what is remarkable was that he read every page. And that is the one thing that most people tell me is that the book has disrupted their life because they have things they need to do other than sitting and reading a book. It seems to have a different effect on everyone though.

One old timer told me these things should never be written or even spoken. Suddenly I felt embarrassed that I had ever written anything about bobcat hunting. I struggled for a couple days with that. I had sent a book to the most prolific hound dog writer I know of, so I talked to him about it. He asked me why I wrote it. I said to hopefully help people like I was when I decided I wanted to be a bobcat hunter but didn’t know how. He said that is the same reason he wrote: to help people like he was when he was struggling and un-able to find help. He said I needed to continue with it no matter what other people say.

When I called him, he first said to me “you are the one that messed up my peaceful life” for the reason of getting nothing done for three days because of reading and re-reading the book. Then he told me he wants to help me with the book because as it stands I will miss helping a whole bunch of the very people that I wrote the book for. I will get the established bobcat hunters, but will miss a whole bunch of people who have thought about trying bobcat hunting.

Now let me tell you a quick fictional story:
Bobby was a bobcat hunter. He was a young man but respected for the strides he was making with his hounds. Where Bobby lives folks believe you can not catch a bobcat at night. It has been that way for generations. No one questions it. Everyone knows it beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Bobby is struggling though with the weather. He cant get any training done because it is too hot and dry. One day a truck pulls up beside his rig and the two men talk. Turns out it is E. F. Barnes; perhaps the greatest living bobcat hunter. Barnes tells Bobby he has been watching him from the ridge at times and feels he has some good dogs but knows how he can make them better. He tells Bobby he would like to mentor him and help him in every way.

Bobby is absolutely floored that Barnes would even take the time to come talk to him, but now he has the opportunity to get some coaching from him. His heart is pounding as he asks Barnes what he should do next.

Barnes tells Bobby he needs to hunt his dogs at night.

Bobby’s heart sinks. He knows you cant catch a cat at night and he has already been razzed without mercy from the local bobcat hunters for trying it. Every one there knows it is not the right thing to do. The two look at each other in silence. Bobby finally speaks up: “but you cant catch a cat at night”. Barnes changes the subject and finally they say their farewells and Barnes is on his way.

A week later, Barnes shows up again and the two talk. Barnes asks Bobby how it is going and Bobby tells him he is really struggling with the weather. Barnes asks Bobby if he has been hunting at night. Bobby is a little embarrassed but says that no, he has not. The conversation ends in a little bit, and Barnes drives away. Bobby never heard from Barnes again.

Some time later, Bobby is struggling with some issues and he has this thought: “I wonder where E.F Barnes is. I thought he said he was going to mentor me…”

Please read the above post if you have time and then help me with this question. The man who is to me the greatest living writer on hound related topics has offered to mentor me in my writing. He has strongly suggested that I do something that will be hard for me to do. I have mentioned his advice to friends and they say dont do it. You cant catch a bobcat at night.

Do you think I should take his advice and frustrate my friends, or ignore his advice and keep my friends happy?

david wrote:Please read the above post if you have time and then help me with this question. The man who is to me the greatest living writer on hound related topics has offered to mentor me in my writing. He has strongly suggested that I do something that will be hard for me to do. I have mentioned his advice to friends and they say dont do it. You cant catch a bobcat at night.

Do you think I should take his advice and frustrate my friends, or ignore his advice and keep my friends happy?

Mr. David, I believe you know the answer to your question. If not, I believe you have read the Bible.....How did the Disciples handle a situation when the crowd said one thing and Jesus said another? I guess a better question is how SHOULD they have handled it?

Just food for thought.....

Scott

Good words, and thank you. Yes, you can tell by my story above what my leanings are, but I dont want to be alone in struggling through this. I appreciate reasons why I should do what you might think I should do (like Scott has given). And once we get some of that out there to chew on I have at least one more tough question for you to help me with.

One thought on Scotts reply that makes it harder for me. With Jesus, you and I now know that he was not ever wrong about stuff. The only problem my friends are having is that even though this man is a great man and probably the best at what he does, he is not Jesus. They think he is wrong. So I grew up where they think you cant catch a bobcat at night, so to speak, so I have this concern of "well, what if he IS wrong". And then the thought of "well it does not matter if he is wrong because the process is more important than the final results, and if I reject his counsel then I have aborted the process..."

David: I always enjoy your writing a lot of thought goes into it. I learn years ago that no one is ready for the answer until they ask the question. Your explanation of the 4 levels of a bobcat hunter and a bobcat dog I have thought for a couple of weeks. It explains a lot that I have had trouble getting across to people about bobcat hunting. I have hunted hard all my life just as Tom has we spend more time in the woods in one year than most people get to in a life time. We have strode to have the best dogs and catch 100% of the bobcats we jump and most that we trail. That my not be a realistic goal but it is the only thing we can do. It has cost me a lot in life but also give me many rewards. I know that people can only relate to what they have experienced, new thoughts do not line up with what they know. The way you explained the different levels comes across as well as I have heard it explained by anyone. Thank you. Dewey

i wood love to have this book. how do i get one? thank you.

Thank you Dewey and all who have made encouraging remarks. It means a lot to me. I did not expect that experienced hunters would enjoy the book and I did not write with them in mind. It is a very nice surprise to hear from life-long hunters that they get something from the book.

Jake, the book is still in process but send me an email: tbdatb@yahoo.com I will inform people from there when they can get a copy. It might be awhile.

One of the dificult things I have decided to do as per the guidance of the above mentioned writer is to change the title. He would not give me any suggestions, and I suppose that was wisdom on his part.

It is a scary thing for some reason. It might not be a smart thing to put it out here, yet I have been helped here in the past so I am going to throw out an idea. I have made a firm decision to change the title so no use trying to convince me not to. You certainly could influence me on the title I choose though. You could give me feed back privately or openly and I will think on anything that is said (including suggestions for a title). Here is what I am thinking at the moment, (although it has changed many times):

Title: Bobcat Hunting with Dogs
Sub title: Mind behind Mind behind Mind

(or similar sub title: Mind behind Mind after Mind)

Thank you to Buddy for allowing this thread. I did not start it, and probably should not have ever posted on it because it has served to advertise the book. Buddy, you certainly will not offend me by deleting the thread if it has over reached the bounderies. And perhaps it should be deleted (although I have not sold one copy and have only spent a bunch of money).

But if participation might allow it: One of the things about this book that is so mysterious to me is that, I wrote this book three times thicker on the original Shade tree. It is just the same stuff only people dont fight me and challenge me and attack my credibility any more like they did back then so it is alot more boring now. Then with the stroke of a finger from an angry owner and it all was gone. But it is hard to understand why some one who knew my writing clear back then would some how think this is a good book. There are some other mysteries surrounding the book that I dont understand enough to talk about yet. Maybe some day I can.

David

I am fortunate to have snagged a copy of the book from a friend. I am half way through it for the second time. I have found it very interesting reading. Something for everyone interested in hunting bobcats with dogs to learn from and think about. For what its worth, i wouldn't change anything about it ( unless someone that is in it wanted something changed). I would take all the feedback on this book and apply it to a second book. Anyways i think you did a great job on it and thank you for writing it. Have me a hard back copy made so it wont wear out as fast as the rest of my cat hunting books.

thank you so much. wood like to buy more thin one book to give to some sons of eral dotson.hope to get some of the grate dotson boys to the cat hunters camp out:>) all hard copy like 3 or for!!!!!

David

I received my book and have got about half threw it. i just wanted to say thank you and it is a great book lots of things to take in to perspective. it's a great book ! and i would like to get a hard cover when you get some made to release to everyone thanks again!

-shawn

Folks another very good reason to be in Myrtle Point on June 15th is that besides a once in a lifetime chance to spend time with some of the BEST Bobcat Hunters of all time will be that if David's printer is shooting straight with him there will be a small number of Books available.

David will be there as well to answer questions and sign the Books!

So Come see everyone!