Post by aintdeadyet on Aug 3, 2007 2:06:54 GMT -5
we've been open on cat training in vermont and ny for a few weeks, have only run in vermont the last week or so
there are so few cats lately that i have been encouraging some younger dogs of mine to run hare and bunnies since we cut 60 hare tracks for every cat track, but they are not interested, if it wont tree or fight they leave it and come back wondering what in hell i was thinking setting them on a rabbit track. lol.
if your training season runs through trapping season it would be in your best interest to get a trapping license i'll tell you why.
a trapped cat either in a cage/ live trap or in a padded foot hold is as fresh a track as you can get a dog on, especially a young dog.
as i say i dont know it all and dont pretend to, but having looked up at many thousands of cats in my life so far i think i have found some good shortcuts at least ones that work for me and my style of hounding.
trapping season in vermont is a month and more before hunting season on cats, in my part of NY they run almost neck and neck, a dozen traps set out on drags will teach a young pup to follow a cat track pretty quick, imagine getting that new pup of yours on a half dozen cats in a day?
or at least a cat a week depending on where you are and your sets ofcourse.
when i know that the pup has the idea down, and that takes only a few cats, then i go in and release the cat before turning the pup out on the track, in some states releasing trapped game is illegal, so it goes without saying check your regs before doing anything i mention.
i move on to letting the cat go an hour before the dog is dropped, to half a day then a day, then no trap at all and just using scent posts or lure to get a fresh track to run.
if you dont want to trap the cats you can always make a trap set minus the trap and should have a fresh track to get going on each morning, at least it's a place you know the cats are coming sooner or later to scent up.
my two cents. what works for me might not for you, and vice versa but never doubt what another houndman says just because you aint seen it!
ever seen (5) FIVE!!! lynx together hunting? me neither...til i was sent these pics.
I hunt a single hound for cats, i find i tree more cats with one dog than two, and two beats hell outta a whole pack, but for that situation I think you'd have to DTB!
there are so few cats lately that i have been encouraging some younger dogs of mine to run hare and bunnies since we cut 60 hare tracks for every cat track, but they are not interested, if it wont tree or fight they leave it and come back wondering what in hell i was thinking setting them on a rabbit track. lol.
if your training season runs through trapping season it would be in your best interest to get a trapping license i'll tell you why.
a trapped cat either in a cage/ live trap or in a padded foot hold is as fresh a track as you can get a dog on, especially a young dog.
as i say i dont know it all and dont pretend to, but having looked up at many thousands of cats in my life so far i think i have found some good shortcuts at least ones that work for me and my style of hounding.
trapping season in vermont is a month and more before hunting season on cats, in my part of NY they run almost neck and neck, a dozen traps set out on drags will teach a young pup to follow a cat track pretty quick, imagine getting that new pup of yours on a half dozen cats in a day?
or at least a cat a week depending on where you are and your sets ofcourse.
when i know that the pup has the idea down, and that takes only a few cats, then i go in and release the cat before turning the pup out on the track, in some states releasing trapped game is illegal, so it goes without saying check your regs before doing anything i mention.
i move on to letting the cat go an hour before the dog is dropped, to half a day then a day, then no trap at all and just using scent posts or lure to get a fresh track to run.
if you dont want to trap the cats you can always make a trap set minus the trap and should have a fresh track to get going on each morning, at least it's a place you know the cats are coming sooner or later to scent up.
my two cents. what works for me might not for you, and vice versa but never doubt what another houndman says just because you aint seen it!
ever seen (5) FIVE!!! lynx together hunting? me neither...til i was sent these pics.
I hunt a single hound for cats, i find i tree more cats with one dog than two, and two beats hell outta a whole pack, but for that situation I think you'd have to DTB!
