Why do you do it???

[oconee]

This question was brought up on another site I visit and I would like to spin the question into the hog hunting world.   Its quite obvious we all have our different reasons for hog hunting and it will make for good and harmless conversation to share what drives each of us to follow these mutts we love and catch them nasty stinkin Ol' Swamp Donkeys.

I love to see the pups grow up and become awesome dogs.  Not many make the "awesome status" but thinking the next one is playing in the yard with my kids right now is what drives me to hunt the young dogs and see what each one has in them.  I also love to catch that big rank boar/barr that didn't think I could put him on his side and hold him down 5 minutes before I did, then slap him on his butt and watch him run off in embarrassment.  LOL

[dub]

Well I don't turn them loose. I have always loved dogs and hunting. The very first boar I caught I did not use any dogs. I was in the woods and heard a hog rooting around. The friend with me had called me a liar when I told him the I stalk deer. So he told me to sneak up behind the boar and grab his back legs. Well as he rooted I moved in slowly. He was moving and rooting. Well my friend stayed where he was or went up a tree I bet. In a while the hog was squealing and when he ran up and saw me holding the hogs legs his look was priceless. It was was most likely a little over a hundred pounds. I just looked at him and asked him what do I do with him now. He just told me not to let go and killed the hog. We ate good. Years later I found out people used dogs to get the hogs. It was like a dream come true. I love to run through the woods hearing the dogs. No need to quiet or move slow. Just rope a knife and some dogs. I guess God just put that drive in my bones.

[KevinN]

I'm with you Oconee....that's it!

[Judge peel]

It's simple this or dishes and the hallmark Chanel lol

[TazD]

It's all about the dogs for me. Could care less for the hogs, just like to breed, raise/train, and make good dogs!

[Cajun]

Ocone,  I will stand by my same answer to this post.lol

I went & made a hunt with Terry Blanchard on his ga. lease this past weekend. The first tree we had it pretty easy. We walked in a couple hundred yards & only had to chop about 75 yards to the tree. The second tree the dogs were treed 790 yrds in. We waded knee deep water for 500 yards & then we had to chop almost 300 yards to get to the tree. The third tree of the day was almost 600 yards in. Did not have to chop much but had to avoid some real thickets, cypress ponds & walk thru some wait a minute vines & saw briars. It was hot, in the mid 80's, leading dogs out, scratched up & you get back to the truck, you honestly think to your selves, Why in the hell do I do this. Not only getting up early, losing sleep, feeding dogs all year, spending all kinds of money on dogs, feed, gas, leases, vet bills, divorses & etc., etc.
  Well, this day we looked at 7 or 8 bears. One each in two of the trees & 5 in the last tree. That made it a pretty satisfying day but the main reason most of us do it is simple. We are dog men. There is no other explanation for us to drive ourselves to the point of exhaustion. Other people might play golf, tennis or have other hobbies but dog men simply live, breathe  & make dog hunting a way of life. If they are not hunting, they are thinking about hunting, dogs, breeding dogs, or training dogs. If they are not thinking about dogs, they are asleep or thinking about women.lol
Anyway, that is why I do it.

[Jmesonp1]

I have to agree with cajun. People ask me about my "hobby" and my response is that it is not a hobby, its a way of life. The average term of a dog hunter is 2 years. People get into it, see just how much time effort and devotion it takes and get right back out. True dog men never get out. They may run out of luck from time to time and run out of dogs but always seem to build back up and start hunting again. I guess the reason I continue is because after 23 years its just a lifestyle.

[Reuben]

Cajun said it all...I don't hunt like I used to but i work long hours now so that I will be able to do so as long as these old bones will let me...

Big mt curs I love....adding more gritt to shorten the race sounds better and better the older I get...but a dog that quits a track I do not keep...

I accidentally became a dogman at about eight or 9 years of age...back then I ran them almost every day and sometimes twice on weekends...lots of short runs on school days and when working or doing chores...but
walking out the door and hunting in any direction I pleased

[halfbreed]

   hell I don't know , I guess it's because dogs are a better class of people than most people   lol  I would have to say it's the thrill of the chase of whatever you are running that day with whatever breed of dog . that is most likely the reason I have been through so many '' relationships '' . once you catch one of them fast little women , it's off to the next chase   lol   

[Fixitlouie]

Yall rednecks made me do it...and I like it:D

[colecross]

This is why i do it,from a earlly age like 4 r 5,i would here grandad and dad talking bout the hogs,i would look in the yard and there was 20 spotted dogs,i was made to go wen it was time to mark.after the first time out i knew that dogs and hogs was my way of life,i use to hunt everyday ,and hunt alot nites.had 2 pks.run one during the day ,other at nite.it runs in our blood.iam not good with words,but i do know this,when them dogs start a bay ,and have a standing bay,and you raised them dogs ,and you raised there mom and dad ,there ant a better feeling for me.the bond you build with a pack of dogs is un beatable,and knowing what there going to do every time.good hunting folks..

[little al]

  rather listen to dogs lower jaw move than a females

[Shotgun wg]

I was raised running dogs. We always had hunting dogs till I got in my late teens and running deer lost favor in our areas. We kept a few for a while running where we could. Eventually the last few died and we was out. I then started duck hunting and used retrievers to fill that void. I enjoy watching them work and messing with them but it just wasn't the same. Once hogs became a problem on the farm I started getting guys to bring dogs. Now this was more like it. I had lots of guys come and saw how the different styles of dogs worked. I started to hunt regular with folks. Watching the dogs learning from them. Seeing what I did and didn't like about some dogs. After a while it got to the point I couldn't get folks to come run the farm cause it was to hot to dry not enough hogs or whatever reason. So I decided to try to put me a rag tag group together as I could. My dogs were barely started and not worth much beings most were culls to the ones I got them from but I saw potential in each. After lots and lots of work. Many dry runs and races that they lost the track I have a group of dogs that will find and stop or catch hogs. This made me proud because now the same guys that I got the dogs from want them back. The farm was sold and I no longer farm but I still have my dogs. Now my 3 year old has spent her life so far with dogs and going with my wife and I when I go. Now she ask when we are going again. Now she says let's go hunting. Now it's better than ever. I still get to work and train the dogs watching them turn on but I get to do it with my family and watch my lil girls eyes light up the way I know mine did as a child when daddy said load the dogs up. So I guess the reasons have changed slightly over the years to a degree but the love has never faded. Seeing that love pass on to the eyes of my lil girl is enough to tickle my soul. That is why I do it.

Sorry so long.


Shotgun
Arkansas

[ChanceandAnita]

We haven't been hunting with dogs  as long as some of u guys, kinda stumbled into it . Jus the right time with the right two dogs. We went with a friend who ran dogs took two of my young dogs that we're house pets. Was on the way back to the truck when my two dogs struck a pig . Almost lost them both got cut up really bad they didn't know anything that first time out. That was it for me I used to train horses and switched over to dogs. That first year was rough, asking questions to some old timers, probably talked a few people's ears off. We are still learning new things. My first litter  of pups hit the ground I started from the time they could walk, 7 pups all are hunting . I've got three young dogs starting in the woods this spring and a new litter of BMC hitting the ground this coming fall. So I say it's the love of the dogs ,training, and the accomplishments that makes us do what we do.  Special thanks to ones that have helped us along our way.

[WayOutWest]

I do it cause it's the most fun I can have with clothes on!

[Shotgun66]

Good timing on this post. Been focusing on developing some young dogs which will make you ask this question frequently!
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 I have 2 primary reasons for running dogs:
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#1 - Camaraderie/Partnership - I consider my dogs my hunting partners. I consider myself the steward of our efforts and the leader of our pack. We are in this thing together. It's our job to be "all in" for one another every time out. It's their responsibility to give full effort and to learn and progress from each experience. It's my job to be mentally in tune with the situation of each hunt and each dog. I need to put them in a position to succeed and provide them the proper form of reinforcement to help them learn. I particularly enjoy taking young dogs or any dog that is struggling and working them through their obstacles. Thinking like a dog instead of thinking like a human is required. I am fortunate to have a core group of 4 or 5 human hunting partners who share my views.
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#2 - Adventure - I am a curious and restless person by nature. I love a good mental and physical challenge. The proactive nature of running dogs is great medicine for these ailments. We travel to our target species home turf to challenge them to a battle where they have all the advantages. The results can be exhilarating or humiliating. I enjoy it either way.

[Judge peel]

Shotgun 66 right on bro

[Reuben]

Shotgun 66 right on bro

x2...great post

[warrent423]

Because the family and I like to eat lots of free range pork As for the dogs, its in my blood, and working both cattle and hogs is how they earn their feed.

[Nathan83]

Why do we do it?? It's not for the money thats for sure!! First time i heard that ole blue tick treed and grandad said grab your boots and come on. Got down to the bottom and had a 20lb coon treed then he asked if i wanted to see a fight not knowing what he was talking about he started scratching the tree and squawking coon jumped out and that blue caught it in the air and for sure the fight was on! Just being proud that ole blue did that all by her self she was just a pet. From then on you couldn't get me out of the river bottoms. Pellet gun and dog and be gone all day at 12-13 years old. Seeing the pride and the change in the dogs as they get the prize. That's it for the DOGS and the love of the woods.