BigGameHoundsmen.com

which do you prefer to hunt for cats or no preference as long as they get it done?

I have thought about asking the same question on here, I dont remember a male vs. femail discussion since I joined. With that said I will start off with my 02. Most females I have been around come on sooner or impress me sooner. I do believe they finish out a little faster than a compareable male liter mate. But once both are finished out. I do believe the male, day in and day out is more reliable or the more consistant of the two. Femails seem to hump up more for various reasons, roading, on the box in bad weather. Handling takes a lighter hand also. Females are also more aware of their handlers moods( some times they seem to know I'm mad before I do ?) For me male's are easier to read, simpler and more straight forward. I have seen some very coniving and decietful female's, finding way's to try and get themselves out of certain trouble. I do like the leader ship of a good male lead dog, but I have noticed if a hunter has the right male and female working together than the lead dog role seems to be shared, giving the hunter the best of both from the two. It's hard to beat a good male and female pair raised and trained together on bobcats. I could probably say alot more but its someone else's turn. My point of view is gathered from the line of dogs I grew up hunting. Other lines could be competely different. Have a nice day. John.

At this point my males are to young to say anything but my females seem to get it done. Im hoping bringing in a couple of males will help make more consistent catchs.

Dad has had more Very Good Females than Males; however the Best two Hounds he ever had were Males!

I would have to say I prefer to hunt females BUT, hunt both. There is niether one or the other better but you asked preference. Both have their good and bad points. A female seems be easier to work with in my eyes and tend to want to please their trainer alittle more than in a male (for the most part) but in the end as long as they can catch cats and do it in a smart manner Ill take whatever. Andy

My two favorite dogs were males but I've had a couple females that were considerably better dogs.

I do believe the females are a little smarter and require less work, most of the males I have owned were stubborn and stupid. The females would realize they were doing wrong with just a little bit of stink-eye, the males required a 2X4 upside the head.






Disclaimer: I have never actually hit a dog with a 2X4, it is a figure of speech. Although sometimes I think that is exactly what a male dog needs.

George Streepy wrote:My two favorite dogs were males but I've had a couple females that were considerably better dogs.

I do believe the females are a little smarter and require less work, most of the males I have owned were stubborn and stupid. The females would realize they were doing wrong with just a little bit of stink-eye, the males required a 2X4 upside the head.






Disclaimer: I have never actually hit a dog with a 2X4, it is a figure of speech. Although sometimes I think that is exactly what a male dog needs.

On the floor rolling and laughing. awesome

cool stuff. I've seen pretty much the same. The females i have now and had seemed to be "easier" to hunt. They seemed to listen better from the start but don't seem to be as tuff as the males.
I have a litter on the way if the breeding took and i'm trying to figure out what to keep. 2 males, 2 females , or one of each.

I would keep one of each.

My males have been a little tougher, maybe a little more hard headed. But as ability can/t say much difference, some good & some not so good. Have had most of the females spayed, before or after first litter( sometimes regreted later) but I wanted to hunt & not lay them up during hunting season. Don/t keep a female, male combination pack any more, just eliminates some headaches. At present I have only males, at times wish they were all females. Females don/t run over & water the schrubs. Probley would be smart to cut any male not going to use for breeding. These are just my experiences and not meant to be a guideline for others. Can/t see that a mixed male & female pack is going to catch more. Mixing individuals with desired traits that offset eachothers weakness has worked best for me. But can/t say I have that at present time. Al Baldwin

All my females water the shrubs like the males. I prefer males for cats but will take a female over a male anyway for bear. I'm slowly converting over to all females though. A mixed pack is a headache when the females are in season. Right now all 3 females are in and my males could use a 2x4 in the kennel.

As I began bobcat hunting, there was a generation of cat hunters who were then dying. They hunted all females, and had them spayed. If they bred them at all, they were bred young and then spayed. They would not be bothered with males, nor would they be bothered with the female issues.

I just figured they knew something I didn't and started hunting all females also. I always have. Every time I have had a male, I have not been able to stand his antics. They drive me crazy. I don't have the patience for them and do not keep them very long.

If I could find a male that wanted to hunt worse than he wanted to do all the sexual and territorial behaviors, I would keep him and hunt him. I have always wanted a male like that and know that they exist. Maybe some day I will get the privilege. I can see how a persons most favorite and least favorite dogs would each be males.

Still looking for that male to be more favorite than my favorite females. Anything is possible I guess. If he can overcome all the prejudice I have against male dogs, He will be a great dog indeed.

I had to edit this in case my great great grandson finds it on here after I am dead:
some words get used in wrong ways, like "Jesus" sometimes is used for a swear word. that does not change the original meaning, or at least it shouldn't. so, great great grandson: a bitch is a female dog. If she has a male pup it is her "son" you could say. So...

remember every male dog ever born was a son of a bitch. Ever wonder how that term became so negative? I think it was the old time cat hunters
I have never heard "daughter of a bitch" as a negative thing.

David, That's funny!

Ever wonder how that term became so negative? I think it was the old time cat hunters

I guess that makes me one too!
I always liked females better for all the same reasons mentioned above.
Nick

I've been around cat hunting since i was born and its been a big family thing for 50 years. been around all different types of hounds and seen amazing hounds both males and females. consistanly over 50 years of hunting females have always been prefered, much easier to work wth, much smarter, and typically seem to start much easier. however, males can blow your mind when handled right and when they are familliar with one another. i currently run two females (not spayed) and one male (who is uncut) and have never had a problem with any issues. when its time to hunt its time to hunt and thats the only thing on any of their minds. both my females have been in this season and my males hasn't so much as even smelt them. the combination of the 3 is the best combination i've ever had and it works great! as a preferance i would prefer females, and ask any breeder, they always get more money out of females than they do males. a good solid male is always nice to have around to help the girls out in the strength aspect though! great topic! i've enjoyed the responses

also females dont get hung up when they fall through the ice