First of all I just wanted to say hello to everyone, and say thanks for all the great advice from everyone on here. I have just started hunting hogs with dog's about 8 month ago. I have got to say this has to be the most additive hunting that I have ever done. Me, and my family really enjoy it. I'm raising, and started training my catahoula pups with the help of my cousin, and the advice from people on here, and they are doing great so far.
I was just wondering at what age ya'll start taking your pups to the woods? My Cat pups are 9 months old. They bay great in a pen. I have also taken them to the woods one time, and let them run with my cousins more experienced dogs. The problem there was they wanted to stay wherever I was, until they heard my cousin's dogs bay up, and then they took off to the bay. Is there anything I can do to get them out hunting?
I would like to get them in the woods more, but it's hard for me , and my cousin to get together, and hunt, because I work shift work. So I was wondering if there is anyone that hunts near or around Dayton Tx. that doesn't mine a newbie, and newbie dogs hunting with them. I would like to meet more people that hunts hogs with dogs, and see the different ways people's dogs hunt. Just shoot me a pm or email and I will get back with you.
thanks
James
I have been hunting with dogs for 24 years, and my dad hunted hogs with dogs back in the 60's in Central Florida where I am from. I will say this.....it is a judgement call on when to take pups into the woods because there are lots of things that can go wrong in a switch cane patch or a briar patch, or (insert scenerio here) which might test the resolve of a pup. The bay pen is a good place to start a pup, but if done too long they may not want to range as much. I have started pups both ways, and it seems that when a pup is taken to the woods only it usually hunts better, because it knows to get to bay a hog it has to go look for a hog. There is no pen with hogs in it. This is just from my personal experience. My hunting buddy (Maverick) and I have some young dogs out of his line of dogs that have never been in a pen and they hunt like the woods are on fire. They go off with our strike dogs and stay with them. I have had bay pen dogs I took to the woods and you had to kick them out from under your feet until they bay started. Having said that...there are exceptions in every case that could go either way. but if a pup at 9 months will go to a bay, then you need to take them (as previously suggested) with the older dogs for a while. Then after several hunts, see what they will do on their own. This is just my opinion.......
