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Just curious as to what type of ground you dry ground cat hunters run on
And how scent comparies to us guys in the snow changing from snow to frozen
and sometimes in late season snow to thawed

I suppose only the hounds can tell you exactly how scent in different conditions compare. I think a hard freeze locks up the scent tight but its still there in quantity and given a chance a hound may breathe in and thaw enough to trail it. I've run my hounds on frozen tracks in the high single low teens with out snow just frost and while it was SLOW they didn't waver. If a track was made by a animal really traveling in those conditions I doubt you could overcome much of a head start. A real thaw Hard freeze cycle locks scent up pretty completely if its not laid on the surface. I have conditions that make trailing on dirt hard like rain that sheets and runs followed by evaporation or winds etc. One of the biggest factors in my mind so far as temp is concerned is that while hounds can be bred with thicker fur or undercoats, no hound can withstand to much heat I've often thought some of the better dirt dogs were so not soley because they trail somewhat slowly but they choose to trail in that manner until they're fairly confident they will catch their game. That might not be clear but ill try to explain MY thoughts. The same hound same conditions so far as general age of track and humidity along with past and current weather. But one track is run in a Cooler temp that hound always pushes harder on that track from the beginning. He's not hot or likely to overheat and seems to know it. His breathing is easy and regular through his nose. not panting, heaving, slinging slobber. One of the biggest obstacles for a young hound here is trailing on hot ground persistently with out getting so worked up they loose their ability. Frozen conditions are dry conditions no doubt but most scent is soluble so if a hound is able to make use of it through moist sinuses by thawing it or hydration. It is more likely to trail well. Cold saps strength and energy but in a different way then heat you can feed hounds better or more to help fuel them through cold weather among other options to increase their success through durability. Dogs in general are poorly adapted to extreme heat or lack of moisture. I don't know if that was what you were looking for or if it was understandable but hope it was

Thanks for the reply That kinds of explaines things. Have more questions but cant get from brain to here so you understand

There seems to be a lull in sucess rate when temps are getting into the upper 40des but still freezing at nite rate goes up when temp gets so its not freezing so hard at nite.
I have a high sucess rate moving from snow to frozen but wondering if its the dogs or conditions the reason for the lull.

Down where I'm at the ground is dirt or rock even in the winter. There's no moisture to act as a scent solvent and glue down the aroma. The sun just cooks off the scent even when it's cooler out.

schnell wrote:Down where I'm at the ground is dirt or rock even in the winter. There's no moisture to act as a scent solvent and glue down the aroma. The sun just cooks off the scent even when it's cooler out.

i agree, makes me wonder how everyone is running the 2,3,4 day old tracks??? alledgedly.

I have hunted cat and lion in most western states in all conditions, but will never know what really goes on until I teach my dogs to talk to me. I think any change in conditions effect the trailing of a track. Supper cold or hot is hard on a dog trailing. A dog over heating will stop his ability to trail, dehydration will do the same. Wind,rain or sun will kill a track. Dogs can be conditioned to work these type tracks if worked on them and helped pass the bad spots. A good cat dog knows where a cat should go when he hits a spot with no scent goes there looking for scent. In different conditions I see different dogs work better than others. Some conditions a dog needs to work the track with his nose to the ground and at times he needs his head up to take it off the brush. Heat, dry, cold, wet,wind,fog and barometer pressure all can effect scent conditions. You can work threw some and some not. Any day in the woods trailing is better than a day not. If you tree something the all the better. Dewey

Dewey,

I agree with you it is a whole lot better out there!

Heck 85-93 degree heat today and pretty bare country makes for tuff tracking even on an overnight track this time of year on a lion but you creep along with hope in your heart until the thunder boomers ahead signal monsoon rain and in 5 minutes everything is gone but hope. So you just re-group and hope for the best next time.

Hell if it was easy everybody would do it! LOL!

Keep the faith!

snow and temp and humity are a weird combo i have had fresh tracks they could not run one day come back the next day thats warmer and run and catch . who knows how them dam dogs work every time i get it they do something so i dont .