Need info on hog hunting

trahan welcome to the board..i don't know you so i won't say you are blowing smoke up anything..i would say just cause you have the cash doesn't mean you need to spend it foolishly.

if i were you i would get a garmin system first. i'd hunt with some people on different properties to test their dogs out. if you see something you really like(put them on the garmin and see which one covers the most ground and which one is out front). if you really like that dog. i would hunt with it a few more times and if it is still the one covering the most ground and leading the pack i would try to buy it.

dogs are different than buying hunting equip. most hunting equip will do what you ask it to do, dogs are different. they have minds so they don't always do what you want them to do. if i pay 40K for a corvette i'm pretty sure it will roast up most 10K sport cars. you can buy a 2K dog and my free gyp very well will out strike, out bay, and out stop your 2K dog(not saying she will but she very well could). in your mind you have now lost 2K on a dog that if you had just waited you would be more happy with.

there will be a lot of pms coming your way selling you dogs, some of them will be really good dogs some will be straight junk. i think it is a bad idea to say "i have the money i don't mind blowing it." even the really wealthy make educated choices. if i were you i would take one of these really experience dog men with you when you are testing out a dog to potentially buy and let them tell you whether you should spend your money on that dog. that way you have an unbiased experience opinion on the dog. get someone that doesn't know you from adam so there is no personal stock involved. if i had the cash that is what i would do...

with all that land if you ever want someone to run with you give me a buzz. i'm not selling you any of my dogs i just like hunting different areas to test my dogs, so if you would like to make a run holler at me.

if you want some names of some people who i think are good honest people that can help you evaluate a dog pm me and i will point you in their direction.

again welcome and i look forward to hearing your stories and maybe getting together for a hunt!!!