Here are some of my thoughts on why and how to keep large packs:
Twenty years ago, lot's of deer and fox hunters in Florida and Alabama owned and hunted 50-100 hounds. Now, the guys that are real serious still own 15-30 dogs. There is no season limit and I know plenty of guys that still kill well over 20 deer per year. Land leasing, Tree stand hunters, and unreasonable dog laws have changed the hunting culture in the South.
Dog food was cheap at one time, and there are still some low cost dog foods for maintenance. There are other ways to keep dogs for less money. I don't use all of these anymore, but sure some do. Dogs can be fed every other day, with food scraps, restaurant scraps, game scraps, roadkill, fish, old bread, etc. (See the cost has been cut by over 50% already) They can be given only basic vaccines and human meds. A couple drops of bleach added to a water bowl rather than fresh water. Small pens to reduce movement, or kept on short chains. Kept skinny most of the year and gorged on fat and cream corn before hunting. These methods seem harsh to some, but they have been used for many years around here. Dogs are tougher than some people think.
For farm and business owners, there are ways to buy dog food and deduct it from taxes too
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There are some fox, and big game hunters that still own large packs. In case you don't know, there is some big money involved in fox and big game hounds.
Selection is one reason to keep large packs. I don't keep lot's of dogs anymore but did at one time. It is rare for me to have more than 8 dogs now. Of those only 1-3 will hunt regularly, the rest are on probation. I have a "revolving door" and while I don't claim to have the best, I do have the best that I can find. I don't sell dogs, and don't breed to try and make money back either. I limit my dogs to pen space also. My pens are numbered and so are the dogs. It's better to live in pens #1,2,&3 than in 4&5.
Now, I feed small portions of the highest fat and protein content I can find, and some of the methods listed earlier.
