EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

Just wanted to say hello... New to the forum.

Welcome. Theres a crap load of good knowledgeable folks on here that can answer any question you may have. Heck they can even tell the difference between a hog and deer track !! Haha..all jokes aside thats why i joined this forum. Everytime id be on the internet looking up a dog hunting question i'd end up on here getting my answer. What kind of dogs do you have ?

Had always wanted to hog hunt behind dogs. Was raised with beagles hunting rabbits with my dad, but about a year ago I decided I was going to try and get into hunting hogs with dogs. Right now I have 3 catahoulas that I am working with. They have all been started in the pen, and made a couple hunts so far. Just started hunting with an experienced guy, trying to learn everything I can. Still trying to figure out what I need to track and find hogs. Don't know if my catahoulas have it in em, but time will tell.

welcome.

Hunting with an experienced guy is the way to go. You may find some other guys on here near you to help you get going. Lotsa good folks and good info. You have a chance with those dogs if they were bred for hunt and not color. This sport will keep you broke cause there is always something you want or need that you don't have. Hope you are handy with your hands, it saves a bunch of money to build what you can!

Pretty hand with a wrench like they say... So hopefully that helps save some money. Ya my dogs were bred for hunting, nothing very pretty about em.. LOL... Anyways biggest thing is to know what things I actually "NEED" to get started well. Seems like I need a good tracking colar system for sure as of now. Anything else that is required in your opinion?

I think a tracking device is one of the most important parts of the hunt. Even if the dogs are young and not ranging out that far. Let them jump a runner out of its bed and see what happens..lol..

Welcome to the forum

Welcome to the site and the sport. This is a love heart breaking sport that can take you high as a kite and low as the gutters. I would get the best garmin and 3 collars first and then vest cut collars lead on and on when your dogs are ready to go I would suggest taking them with some good dogs first few times before on your own. And break them of live stock before you just cut them lose I would do this after you have let them work a hog few times so they know what they are after. Even on the first few hunts I would hold them back till the other experience dogs are bayed this will short cut on later training seems they will pick it up faster to me lol. When you are ready to try your dogs on there own get the best cd you can find this will pay off soon as your dogs find and bay and speed them up becuz  of the reward of catching the hog.  Good luck to ya and be safe

True words judge.welcome to the board.good folks for sure..

Where are you at?

Thank ya

Central Louisiana

I am thinking collars will make a world of dirrernce, and get everything off to a good start.. I was reading up on the new garmin T-5 collars. Read somewhere there is KO bark decect.. That true? Shouldn't they be an upgrade to the DC 50? Any input on collars would be great as well.

Central LA...there's quite a few guys around you that's been doing it alil while including myself. Where are you from in central LA?

Ville Platte Louisiana... You?

I'm close to Leesville, LA.

Oh sleesville I like the area when I was at Polk 25 yrd ago lol

Leesville isn't that far from home.. pass that way many times.

If I'm not working I'm hunting, you get up around there let me know. I got trashy open mutts, they need a blind hog that's crippled to bay one most of the time.

Lol... That I seriously doubt.. Might have to take you up on that one

Work on getting a tracking system. If u plan to buy new I would suggest an alpha and TT-15 or whatever they are combo track and correction collars.  At minimum the 320 and 50's or TT-5's.  The 5's will work with either 320 or alpha.  Buying used I would go with a 320 and either 40 or 50's. The bark detect can be nice on the 50. Built in trash breaker is nice in the alpha.

To me u have the most important part. The knowledgeable guy that is willing to show the ropes.

Welcome and good luck.


Shotgun
Arkansas

I agree...also turning the pups in to the bay reduces the chance of the pups running trash...turn them out on heavy sign...after a while they will be straight hog dogs...

What would be my best route, always looking to save a  few bucks... Brand new unit or shoot for something used?

Will definitely remember this one... Also read some other articles on trash breaking, not 100% sure how that works... Figure its something I will have to figure out one of these days.

A  320 new runs $350 now. The dc50 runs touch over $200. Most used units run around $400 for a 220 and dc40. U can find used 320 for around 300 or so. Unless u realy do a lot of looking and look for a deal the $ difference between new and used on a 320 DC 50 combo isn't much. Alphas are much higher. Tight on money I would be looking at the 320 with either a 40 or 50 collar. Preferably 50.


Shotgun
Arkansas

Welcome to the forum. 

Are your dogs rough, loose, short or long range?  If they are rough and you want to start them, I would suggest getting a decent cut kit and some collars/vest first before the tracking system.  If they are loose and long range id go with the tracking system first.  A lot of us started with no tracking systems and managed to get by. lol 

Oh and the first thing I would do, is look at your bank account, and maybe take a picture so you remember what it was like to have money in there.  ;) :D

They are fairly rough and would consider them short range.. Maybe some collars would be a good start. All great info and advice everyone.. Please keep it coming..

Collars are always good cuz chances are experienced guys have a Garmin already and they shouldn't mind adding your collars in. I remember running dogs off horses that looking back weren't much more then bay dogs that I had to put on top of hogs, but we bayed lots of hogs and most of em without owning a tracking system, but the kicker is hogs run real bad these days and if the dog has any kind of bottom they can get outta pocket fast.

Starting to realize how fast they can get away from ya..

Cajun rookie if you ever want travel to the northeast corner of the state.we can try tie one.just a thought..

If you go to Uncle Earles next weekend in Windfield they will have all the tracking systems/ hunting supplys you need for sale.