When to release on wounded lion

[super white hunter]

After the lion is shot how long do you wait or do you let the dogs go again.

I always hope they hit the ground and stay, but sometimes even with a good shot there gonna run. I usually will track them a ways and see what kind of hit we have, lung blood, broken leg, up hill-down hill and try to make a decision from there.
Just wondering what everbody elses thought and practices were. always worries me I dont want to get a dog torn up

[FullCryHounds]

SWH, when you figure that out, let the rest of us know. I'm like you, you just never know for sure. I had a dog bit in the face years ago. It blinded him. The guy holding the dog back let him go right away. I was seconds behind the dogs but when I got there, it was all over, the cat was dead and the dog saw his last tree.

[Mike Leonard]

I usually don't tie my dogs but when I am doing depredation work I know who is doing the shooting and there is not going to be a problem. If you have folks that are new to the game or some that come with weapons that you are really not comfortable with I would say tie back and judge the shot yourself, and keep them leashed and walk it up. A mortally hit lion is not going to go that far, and a wounded lion is just that a wounded lion and at that point you make the choice for your dogs. I would say if you have a hunter that can't kill a lion that is setting in a tree from 20-75 feet away then he shouldn't be hunting or he needs to finish the deal himself.


JMO>

Sorry Dean about your dog I have had some torn up too in the same situations. I say if they can't do it right do the PH thing and make things right. BOOM!

[dwalton]

If you do not tie your dogs back no matter what animal you are hunting you are going to regret it someday. I have lost hounds over bluffs on wounded lion, killed by wounded game or shot trying to finish off wounded game. If you have to turn a dog loose on wounded game let one go that will stay back and bay. I have seen it all happen it only takes a second to lose a good dog. Good dogs are hard to come by to waste them on human error. Dewey

[super white hunter]

SWH, when you figure that out, let the rest of us know. I'm like you, you just never know for sure. I had a dog bit in the face years ago. It blinded him. The guy holding the dog back let him go right away. I was seconds behind the dogs but when I got there, it was all over, the cat was dead and the dog saw his last tree.

Sorry about your dog

Alright here is scenario

The shot angle was from front of lion and he is holding his left leg back. The shot looks just right. Lions circles a second starts walking down then falls out of tree and takes off like a lightning bolt. He is throwing some pretty good blood but not tons. The brush on ground is so thick you can only see 20 yards. Your in the bottom of canyon next to frozen creek. The bottom is about 50 yards wide with steep canyons and cliffs on both sides.

do you let the dogs go

[sourdough]

Injured game is the most dangerous and the most stressful aspect of big game hunting. I wait for the animal to get some time and distance before I turn a hound loose. I don’t just turn one loose, but over whelm them with what I have, there is safety in numbers. I know that it is contradictory of what has been stated, but I will risk everything to keep from having what happened to Dean’s dog. If you’re having problems with dispatching the animal humanly then you had better buy a new firearm or take a camera. If you are not willing to wade in among the action to close the deal yourself then stick to deer hunting. Never ever allow anyone with a firearm around you or your hounds in a ground fight with an injured animal. Things happen regardless of your abilities. I used to pack a pistol, but have had enough well placed shot result in animals leaving the tree that it’s not an option anymore, a nice little short carbine chambered in .357 or .44mag will allow for a good accurate shot as well as enough energy to close the deal every time. Don’t go under gunned. You are asking for problems.

sourdough

[bency]

I always tie the dogs back. But if there is a misplaced shot, ill usually let a young hound go to find it....easier to replace an up in comer than an old veteran.

[twist]

I am with the tie up also on all game. to me if not is just looking for something bad to happen and if possible it will for me. Also just the possability of having something ranging from a 20 lb bobcat to a 100 and some lb lion coming out dead from a height of 15 feet to 80 feet or even more and landing on a dog is not good. I am with bency turn the young least valuable dog lose first. jmo Andy

[houndnem]

I'm kinda with bency on this. but I leave all my young dogs loose when I shoot and wish them the best of luck. if it sounds like they're getting mopped up I turn everything loose. Usuall all the dogs get a little tore up, but it just makes them that much better the next time out.

[M Evertsen]

I have shot two lions and one bear. The lions I did not tie the dogs out, and the bear we did. The difference in the trees were an 80 foot tall pine for the bear vs 20 foot tall intertwined pinon for the lions.

Here is my reason for not tying out on lions. I hunt alone, alot, and I would rather have the dogs loose when I shoot the lion out of the tree if I decide to do so. I think leaving 3 to 5 dogs loose on a lion is pretty good insurance, and I would rather take the risk of them getting hurt being loose then having the lion come out too much alive, and attack a dog that is tied up that I can't get to quick enough, or come after me. I am also sure of my shot, and know that it will be lethal.

[matt123huntinglion]

I have tied dogs up was way was done people hunted with have had had a bear fall out land on dog kill it dog was tied to other tree on side. had lion jump different tree fall on dog hill it. had dogs let loose after cat hit groundground waited a bit looked good shot lot blood went in cave lot dogs loose talked about wreck two dogs vet bill .we all know let dog loose who knows if you will ever see again.do let young dogs loose first do tie dogs.GOOD LUCK KEEP THEM SAFE TO THE BEST WE CAN no good dogs dont get hurt always are best ONES do THATS WHY THERE THE BEST

[Mike Leonard]

This thread was talking lions and in our area most lions treed are in relitively short trees or overgrown juniper schrubs. Bears i would say always tie back. Bears tree higher and usually in bigger timber and are usually much heavier and the bear crashing down along with some of the limbs he knocks off can really smunch a dog or a hunter so look out! I am sure in tall tre country the same could be said for lions.

Funny story: Long time ago i popped a pretty big coon up in a cottonwood and he didn't come right out but sort of circled the limb where I couldn't get another shot. Well my partner Leo was moving around the to get a better look and he had to step over a downed log, and about that time i heard him let out yell and hit the ground. the coon had bled out and come loose and dropped and hit him right on the back of the shoulders knocking him forward. He was rolling around thrashing to get up amid about 5 hounds trying each to get ahold of that coon, and i was just standing there laughing. He finally got up dusting himself off and looked at me and said. Pretty funny eh wise guy? Next time I will do the shooting! LOL!

[Spokerider]

SWH, when you figure that out, let the rest of us know. I'm like you, you just never know for sure. I had a dog bit in the face years ago. It blinded him. The guy holding the dog back let him go right away. I was seconds behind the dogs but when I got there, it was all over, the cat was dead and the dog saw his last tree.

Sorry about your dog

Alright here is scenario

The shot angle was from front of lion and he is holding his left leg back. The shot looks just right. Lions circles a second starts walking down then falls out of tree and takes off like a lightning bolt. He is throwing some pretty good blood but not tons. The brush on ground is so thick you can only see 20 yards. Your in the bottom of canyon next to frozen creek. The bottom is about 50 yards wide with steep canyons and cliffs on both sides.

do you let the dogs go

Wondering..........
What caliber and bullet weight were you shooting, and how did the hunt end? Did the lion expire shortly after hitting the ground, or?

[super white hunter]

SWH, when you figure that out, let the rest of us know. I'm like you, you just never know for sure. I had a dog bit in the face years ago. It blinded him. The guy holding the dog back let him go right away. I was seconds behind the dogs but when I got there, it was all over, the cat was dead and the dog saw his last tree.

Sorry about your dog

Alright here is scenario

The shot angle was from front of lion and he is holding his left leg back. The shot looks just right. Lions circles a second starts walking down then falls out of tree and takes off like a lightning bolt. He is throwing some pretty good blood but not tons. The brush on ground is so thick you can only see 20 yards. Your in the bottom of canyon next to frozen creek. The bottom is about 50 yards wide with steep canyons and cliffs on both sides.

do you let the dogs go

Wondering..........
What caliber and bullet weight were you shooting, and how did the hunt end? Did the lion expire shortly after hitting the ground, or?

He was using a 22-250 with 64 grain power point. The lion went about 60 yards and piled up. bullet had blown both lungs. So all ended well it just got me thinking about what to do and wondered what every one else would do or whats your views on what to do after the shot. Thanks I have learned something hope other people have to.

[cohoundsman]

we always tie dogs back. If he hits the ground dead excellent. If he hits the ground running usually we have one to two guys running after him and tracking him down. when we find him we call on the radio and let the others know whether or not to turn dogs lose. every now and again we leeve a few pups loose at the bottom of a tree when we shoot out, just to try to get a little fire and grit in them.