Cullbuck,
I have been hog hunting for well over 20 years now and in a lot of ways I am still new to the sport. Especially when it comes to catch dogs. I started out and spent years catching hogs with just curs and a rope for the man hogs. My biggest hog to date was a monster about 17 years ago. I had no catch dog. I legged him backing out of a briar thicket without a dog touching him. No amazing feet though. The hog was completely worn out after 3 and a half hours of baying! I legged him and he fell over in exhaustion. I couldnt even get my hands around both legs so I used both hands around one leg!
After all those years of catch and tie with only 2 good catch dogs, I scaled down and shot hogs mostly for 10 years unless I was hunting with friends. The past 3 years I have been catching hogs again and have had a bad run with catch dogs.
I have not been around a lot of goods catch dogs but I have had a few in my opinion.
I guess I tell you all of this because I have never been 100% confident in a catch dog holding when I went in to leg a big hog. Its not even a requirement for me on the big ones.
Give me a thinking catch dog with some brains. Thats what I require. A dog that will help me catch a big nasty hog and not catch one for me. Give me a catch dog with handle and a desire to please. Self preservation is fine with me as long as he is not willing to sacrifice me! lol.
My standards are a little different with catch dogs because I dont expect them to kill themselves catching a big hog! I would rather them have the brains to help me get it cought in time and live to catch another.
Maybe I am just a little naive when it comes to CD,s but "my" limited experience has brought me around to my way of thinking!
If you cull him I will give him a try!
