I agree with you Slim on most all that you posted. One thing that " turns those game dogs on" is a dang growly cur dog that challenges them. Either way the catch dog is done. I have been happy with my Jeep/Rascal/Redboy stuff as it has not been real dog aggressive but I'm looking to cross it into friends non-game catchdog stuff to get that "perfect cross". Time will tell. The only thing I was unhappy about with my blood was it didn't pick a spot well enuf. They were too excited and grabbed the first thing they got. If I lived down there and hunted more it might be fixed but I am only there for a month in the winter. And your comments on Gary being honest are right on. One of very few still around who saw Bullyson and know the truth!
10-4 on that West. Best catch dog I ever saw is dog named Norman. He is sired by some scatter bred Stompanato stuff, Floyd's stuff, Tommy
Curry's old stuff, and mixed with some non gamebred stuff. Smart, gets along with all dogs, and a straight up bulldog on a hog, no quit whatsoever. I think it is that mix of game to non-game that gives you the best dogs. They have the staying power and the BRAINS without the problems. I think you could take a big stout 65 lb non-game bitch (blue dog or whatever) that catches good. Cross her with a standard size game dog and that is a good recipe to give you some sic em get em type 50-55 lb dogs that are athletic and can function in the woods. But as we know, whatever catches good and gets the job done is all you need, no matter the breeding.
A very good friend of mine passed away this year, Cecil Pond. He saw Bullyson and Eli Jr. and their daddy Eli. He said that Bullyson did in fact quit against Benny Bob, but that has always been a debate depending on who you ask. I have heard several guys who saw both, said Eli Jr was better than Bully, but who cares right?
As for Gary Hammonds, not a more honest dog man alive.
