Post by ike on May 5, 2007 10:06:02 GMT -5
I loaded six hounds yesterday and took them out looking for a bear to chase, it was our first outing for those critters this year as we've been chasing the lions. I was hoping to get this new yearling plott of mine a little bear action.
Our first couple of cuts didn't provide any bear so I went to another place hoping for action. I had Ryan (10), Ike (8), Choco (6), and Griz (3) on top for striking. Underneath I had Kody (3) and Maverick (1). The dogs all blew air pretty hard in this one spot and so I cut Choco and Ike (my two redbones) down to show me a track. Ike ran right over in the cedar trees and stuck his nose in a tom lion scratch. He raised his head and opened then Choco was there and they both started the track, so I threw Ryan down as well.
I walked over and identified the scratch and track then cut the other three dogs into the race. They went out at a walking speed and just a hammering on the tracks. It was around 10:00 AM and lots of the good trailing time was behind us. The road followed the run for about half a mile and that young tom lion was headed for an area minus any roads. I got out of the truck and listened for a spell and decided they'd be miles catching that lion if the sun didn't come out and wipe away the scent, so I called all six dogs off the track.
When the hounds got back to the truck I drove around to a canyon that had some water in it and decided to go for a walk. After about a mile, the hounds starting opening and I picked up the pace trying hard to see the track. After a few hundred yards they trailed past a crusted pile of bear crap that was soft on the inside. The chase lead up the canyon for about a mile and then turned up the side and out on top, so I left the hunt and returned to the truck.
After reaching the truck, the first of two snow storms started putting it down. The dogs trailed through the first then it melted off. I walked in and tried to cut them off and a second storm hit that sent me back to the truck. The hounds quit the track or at least didn't seem to be opening on it anymore after that storm ended. It was around 5:30 yesterday afternoon and I was able to call them out of a canyon.
I certainly hope this weather gets better, cause it sure doesn't seem like bear season......................
keep'em treed,
ike
Our first couple of cuts didn't provide any bear so I went to another place hoping for action. I had Ryan (10), Ike (8), Choco (6), and Griz (3) on top for striking. Underneath I had Kody (3) and Maverick (1). The dogs all blew air pretty hard in this one spot and so I cut Choco and Ike (my two redbones) down to show me a track. Ike ran right over in the cedar trees and stuck his nose in a tom lion scratch. He raised his head and opened then Choco was there and they both started the track, so I threw Ryan down as well.
I walked over and identified the scratch and track then cut the other three dogs into the race. They went out at a walking speed and just a hammering on the tracks. It was around 10:00 AM and lots of the good trailing time was behind us. The road followed the run for about half a mile and that young tom lion was headed for an area minus any roads. I got out of the truck and listened for a spell and decided they'd be miles catching that lion if the sun didn't come out and wipe away the scent, so I called all six dogs off the track.
When the hounds got back to the truck I drove around to a canyon that had some water in it and decided to go for a walk. After about a mile, the hounds starting opening and I picked up the pace trying hard to see the track. After a few hundred yards they trailed past a crusted pile of bear crap that was soft on the inside. The chase lead up the canyon for about a mile and then turned up the side and out on top, so I left the hunt and returned to the truck.
After reaching the truck, the first of two snow storms started putting it down. The dogs trailed through the first then it melted off. I walked in and tried to cut them off and a second storm hit that sent me back to the truck. The hounds quit the track or at least didn't seem to be opening on it anymore after that storm ended. It was around 5:30 yesterday afternoon and I was able to call them out of a canyon.
I certainly hope this weather gets better, cause it sure doesn't seem like bear season......................
keep'em treed,
ike