Well there you have it git rid of the kennels! they hunt much harder if you let them lrun loose all day, If you keep them put up like I do they wont go hunting! My opinion seems to differ with about 90% of your guys so I guess all there is left to say is CUT EM LOOSE!!!!!
I wouldnt do it, for one if they have any hunt in them they are probably going to get gone but even if they dont get gone I believe it is sending them a mixed signal, you would be telling them its OK to hang around with you. Part of what gives a hunting dog its drive is penned up aggresion, meaning when he is penned up all week when you turn him loose on Sat. he should knock the back of the woods out looking for something to get into. This is my opinion, I went to Howard Carnithan's in Mississippi to pick up a couple of pups once and noticed he lived right on the highway but all 25 of his dogs were running loose and I asked him about it, he said nah! they know what time it is when I take them to the woods. I have owned hunting dogs for over 30 years and in my circle of friends the rule of thumb was when a pup starts treeing squirrls and cats, its time to put him up! just my two cents
i dont have as much experience as you but i have some dogs on chains and some run free in about 2 acres. 1 just hangs around the house because he is a houdini. the ones on chains are ankle hunters and houdini and the yard dogs are long range and 1 of them will leave the country.
