Closed Mouth Curs vs Open Mouth Hounds

[jpuckett]

I have a couple of cur dogs right now that are pretty good finished hog dogs. One of em in her prime I would have put up against any strike dog around. Well, we are getting permission to hunt some larger areas and I am thinking my curs that are a little hotter nosed might need some assistance from some colder nosed hounds. What are some of the problems you guys have had introducing open mouthed dogs to your pack. Most of the guys I hunt with won't be happy me bringing in some open mouthed dogs but I'll be damned if I let my pride get in the way of me catching hogs. I honestly think in those larger areas we'll need those rangier, colder nosed dogs.

[BA-IV]

You're forgetting the open mouthed cur dogs in this thread!

[Cajun]

First, I will start off saying, there are cold nose cur dogs out there that are long ranging dogs but for me, it has been easier to maintain those traits  in my plotts.  One of the biggest advantages to me, if I cant find a track or sign, I will cast a dog or two in one block  & go find another block & cast another dog in another block. When I start back checking, a lot of times, they will be bayed or running.
  Dogs opening on track has never been as much of a factor for me catching hogs. To me the amount of dogs on the ground determine if a hog breaks or stays bayed. They either have to be tough enough to hold him, or stay back & bay.

[Cajun]

Ben you are right. I was typing when you posted.

[hoghunter71409]

Twelve years ago I had closed mouth good curs like yourself; my hunting partners thought the same ways yours do to (against open mouth dogs).   Ten years I introduced a plott hound to my pack in order to find colder tracks.  I never looked back and today I have all plotts and one cur and I found some new hunting partners.  For me, getting the "right" hound was the best thing that happened to me.   If you are thinking the hounds may open your curs I would say not likely.  If anything, a hound may push your cur dogs and make them better.

[Mike]

If your dogs are "finished" and one you'd put up against any dog around... why do they need help?

Sounds like you have what you need already...

[T-Bob Parker]

If your dogs are "finished" and one you'd put up against any dog around... why do they need help?

Sounds like you have what you need already...

Exactly what I was thinking.

Here and on Facebook, I've been seeing that phrase "I'd put em against any dog around" a lot. I reckon schools out for the summer.



As far as your question of problems with bringing hounds in;
I always always say, if your dogs will run a track faster than the hog will lay it, you'll catch hogs. Doesn't matter where in the world your hunting, or how bad a runnin hogs your dealing with, if they have enough speed to make the hog sprint his whole track, and the bottom to stay on that azz till he doubles over huffing and puffing to catch his breath, you'll bay hogs. Cur hound terrier or mutt.

[jpuckett]

I actually said " in her prime, I would have put her up against any dog around"... Which implies that she is no longer in her prime. She is getting old and I honestly think with as much as we hunt she only has 2 more years left in her. But like i said, I am hunting an area that you need more than one good dog, and on top of that she isn't very long range anymore. No sense in being a jerk about the answer... Just a question about  open mouth dogs.

[Black Smith]

I say area don't matter they have curs that will go as far and run tracks as cold as any hound it is all about what you want to feed I like curs but most of all I like hog dogs!!!!

[BA-IV]

I don't think anybody was being a jerk, just giving you good insight based off their knowledge. 

A good cur dog is as hard to find as a good hound, and trying to breed them with consistency will leave you a pile of bones in your backyard from all the failed attempts.  I wouldn't worry so much about hound or curs as I would specific dogs and a line that suited my style.

[BigNoseKate]

I guess you could say we kind of have a situation similar enough to yours to understand where you are coming from.  We have a gyp, Roxy that I probably gave a lot more patience than she deserved bc she was VERY high energy, and did not care about a pig until she was every bit of a yr and a half... not even in a bay pen.  We now have a bmc that will bawl on a hot track.  Roxy (the pup that showed no interest at first) responds extremely well to his bawls UNLESS she is on a hog of her own... and by that, I mean, she's looking at it's arse run from her or she is staring it in the face. 

When we are roading them, and they start to get excited, I have seen him throw his nose up first, and I have also seen her outstrike him.  A huge barrier for us was to hunt the two together enough before Roxy would stick with Rowdy.  It was extremely frustrating at times, but she has finally began to stick with him when they hunt unless she is more confident in what she is doing than him- and that may not even be the correct way to describe it.  Like I said, Roxy is very high energy, very anxious- when she works a trail, she works it fast. (Maybe because she is young, I'm hoping she will grow out of this.) BUT for whatever reason, i.e., age, experience, etc... Rowdy is slow and steady, but I want so bad for our younger dogs to learn from him.  So to answer your question, I would say that just because you get an open dog or semi open dog, whatever breed it may be, do not be discouraged if at first they do not stick together - just keep hunting them! They will eventually learn what that bawl or bark means!!!

[Shotgun wg]

I have a redbone gyp that will pull all my dogs to her if she hits a track. She is open and when she gets going they all go to her. I have watched the others on the garmin cut loops short and use cut off angles to get to her. Even seen dogs run head on into the hog. If ur pack has a tendency to hunt spread out but will honor an open dog will pull them together quick. The close mouth dogs should stay that way. It can be difficult to find hunting buddies tho when u run open dogs without a doubt. If u decide to try some hounds if they open on track and u don't catch that first pig don't freak out cause u know as well as I u can have one get away from silent dogs also.

[BIG CHRIS]

I run my curs with a buddies open bluetick. They have adapted to know when he is just talking and when he is serious. But for the most part all the dogs on the ground are independent. The thing I see the most out of hunting a open hound with tight mouthed cur dogs is a hound won't honor them.

And you fellas are right on the phrase my dogs will hang with any dog. Just a month or so ago a fella said his dogs could hang with any dogs in the state of texas. I told him I would like to see em hunt and to this day I still haven't.... wonder whg hiat the deal is?

[Reuben]

If your dogs are "finished" and one you'd put up against any dog around... why do they need help?

Sounds like you have what you need already...

that's exactly what I was thinking Mike...when you say you can put your strike dog against anybody's dog then that to me means that your dog has a good balance of speed, nose, and the ability to find a good track pretty quick...if you have that then why a hound???there are curs out there that when you drop them out the box you might be getting them back the next day...

[Bo Pugh]

I think alot of people tend to go to looking for hounds when tey want more range and bottom and nose because their more common with these traits than a cur but its curs out there that have just as good noses and as much bottom and range but their not just running all over the place. You will just have to try one for a little while and see if it fits your pack or not

[BIG BEN]

If you want colder nose dogs find the right cur that has what your looking for any breed to him. Hounds are not the answer

[Tusk Hog]

  Sounds like to me your wanting to cover more country. What about rigging a cur on the hood or back of vehicle and driving?

[jpuckett]

I def like to hood hunt and I do some of the time, but one of the issues is with this particular property... it has reall steep banks and the hogs stay down in a ravine bottom. The bottom kind of spider webs over a lot of the country over there so if i am hooding the area I feel like the scent wont come out of the bottom very well. Do you guys disagree? Do you think the scent will come out of those deep creek bottoms and carry? Sorry guys I am def a new hunter but am trying to learn as much as possible because its an awesome sport.

[hoghunter71409]

I think you should go and get you a hound and try it.  Understanding others opinion is good, but I think you should go with your own gut feeling.  If you don't want to invest a lot in a good hound, invite someone with some hounds and see how your dog reacts and interacts.    I don't know where you are located, but I've got some hounds and would be willing to hunt with you.  You may see something you like and a whole lot you don't like.

[Monteria]

The bottom kind of spider webs over a lot of the country over there so if i am hooding the area I feel like the scent wont come out of the bottom very well. Do you guys disagree? Do you think the scent will come out of those deep creek bottoms and carry?

In the mornings, as temps are rising, thermoclines will pull the scent out of the bottom (warming air rises). In the evening, as the weather cools, thermoclines will push scent down into the bottom (cool air falls). Granted, wind can offset or counteract thermoclines at any time...

How big of a property is "bigger"? Bigger is a pretty subjective description.

Steve