Well I don't know who said that, but I would not agree. Most of the bear hunters I know are up in the MI, WI, VA, and NC states. They all use plotts and other gritty hounds. Some bears need little pressure to tree and some need a lot (thus the need for a gritty dog); some bears will just stand and fight (bay). Gritty pack of hounds will catch a bear like a hog and the hunter better be on top of the bay to kill the bear or he will end up with a caught bear and most likely some cut/killed dogs. Bear hunters like gritty dogs and most of them have certain line bred dogs that get the job done without adding any bulldog. Bear hunters also like open mouth dogs.
I would have to agree. Most bearhunters who use plotts, do not need to add bulldog to get more grit. I can see it in the other breeds, Walker, bluetic, english or Redbone, B & T. Dont get me wrong, there are gritty hounds in all breeds, but overall, there are more gtitty plotts within their breed.
Some bears will tree at the first bark when they hear a hound, some will run. some will fight. Some of the ones that fight, with a little persuasion will go up a tree. On the other hand, there are bears that no amount of dogs will make tree. They will fight or bay & no amount of pressure will put them up. I have seen as many as 15 dogs on a bear & he would not tree & believe me the pressure was on him. He was putting a lot of pressure on the dogs as well.
Another thing about adding bulldog. While you need a gritty dog for bearhunting You better make darn sure you do not have a mean dog at the tree because it does not matter who starts it, whatever dog goes down, normally the whole pack will jump on him. The level of excitement that dogs go thru at the tree is very intense.On a hog, the hog is on the ground where the dogs can focus their attention on it, where a bear in a tree (which they might not even be able to see) a mean dog might start some crap.
This bear did not tree.
This bear treed with 6 dogs
Good pic is that some of your plotts?
