There is a book Big Thicket Legacy it was published about 1977. The entire book is interviews with old timers that settled in the Big Thicket of east Texas in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Some of the language wouldn't be politically correct today but it is in their own words. Several of them talk about using their cur dogs for hogs , cattle, bear and panthers. These people didn't just go hunting 3 or 4 times a month. They used their dogs every day. I think that is the key. Knowing your dogs and them knowing you. JMO
That is a very good read. And from all accounts, they had good dogs, Then again, I doubt they fed trash. If it didnt earn it's keep it didnt stay long. And from the stories, the cats and bears were pretty thick there.
