Bow or Rifle...Finally made it!

[boarhunter67]

For those of you who remember my question about whether to hunt dogs or in a stand with a bow, I finally was able to make it on New Years Day. It was a blast. It was much harder hunting than I expected. It started out about 7:30. We had to walk in about a mile before the dogs struck scent. The rancher usually has six dogs but he only had four that day because he had loaned two to a person in L.A. He had told me that I could come and hunt anyway, but that he was short a couple of dogs.
Well, the dogs hit the scent and I saw a huge red boar take off and a very large black one take off the other way. The dogs split up and it was so fast we didn't have a chance to shoot even though we had our pistols out. The rancher said that the dogs usually have the pigs bayed in the first 40-50 yards, but because they split up there were only two dogs per hog. One of the dogs, a black pit and lab mix, got cut up pretty bad and so it came back. The dog that was with it wasn't a chaser or whatever you call it so because it was by itself, it came back.
By now it started to rain and one of the other dogs came back. We were now following one dog that wouldn't give up and it was chasing both hogs because they had regrouped. After an hour of crawling through thick stuff, we got close enough for my buddy to see one but not get a shot off. The other dogs joined back in and gave chase again. This time there were three dogs because the pit/lab was too injured. We chased it for about a half hour more and then the rain and wind got to be too much and the dogs came back. Now two of the dogs were injured. One, I carried back, and one made it back on its own.
I didn't get my hog but I had a heck of a hunt. I now know that big hogs (300+ pounds) can tear up a dog as much as small, quick hogs). The rancher said I could come back since the weather and dogs weren't cooperating so I will post the next episode later. The hunts are in groups of three and my friends are doing their hunts next weekend. I won't be able to go next weekend so I need to find two or more people to go with me. If anyone is interested, shoot me an email. I have to have at least two other people come. All will be hunting on 2 day hunts led by dogs. It was really rough terrain. I can't wait until next time. I took some pictures with my friend's camera, but he hasn't emailed them to me yet. Next time, we will have more dogs so I should be able to post pictures of my trophy.

 

[Lurediver]

I'd rather stick to bow.

 

[EvBouret]

Chaser=Tracker

 

[Speckmisser]

You had fun, BH... that's the main thing. Good luck on your next try. Very cool of the rancher to give you another go.

 

[bayedsolid]

I hate to go and crap on someone else's dogs, but I also hate for you to think that is the way running dogs works either. You don't need 6 dogs to catch hogs. Just one good dog. It's nice to have a few to help out and work it, especially if the hog wants to run, but if you need 6 or more to catch a hog it's because they're not very good. We run a few down but end up with multiple bays too many times. Maybe he lent out his best 2 and was left with young dogs or something. Who knows. Also, if the dogs are doing what they are supposed to you should never see the hog until after it is bayed up. The dogs should find it way before you are in position or close enough to see it. And the reason they got away was not because it was a big boar either. Those are the easiest to find because they stink like big boar hog, and the easiest to keep at bay because they aren't afraid to stand and fight. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself but that is not the way it's supposed to work.

 

[boarhunter67]

This is just guessing, but I think we saw the hogs because the dogs stayed with us as we were walking until they caught the scent. They didn't catch the scent earlier because of the wind and rain. Later, I think they lost the hog because the wind and rain got to be too much. Just guessing. Hopefully, next time I'll have some pictures.

 

[RIFLEMAN]

boarhunter,
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

This is just guessing, but I think we saw the hogs because the dogs stayed with us as we were walking until they caught the scent. They didn't catch the scent earlier because of the wind and rain. Later, I think they lost the hog because the wind and rain got to be too much.[/b]

Your instincts are probably correct.

That is going to be an issue when hunting with certain types of dogs. Labs, pits or lab/pit crosses are not bred as coursing dogs, and as such, are not the most ideally suited for this application. They typically do not hunt in the same way nor detect scent in challenging circumstance as well as other breeds such as bayedsolid's curs or my hounds.

I am not saying that they can't or won't catch hogs by any means. I am saying that there is a definite handicap with their use. They are generally less hardy, have less hunt drive, and are less able to detect and pursue hog scent in unfavorable conditions. Go into it knowing this so that you won't set yourself up for disappointment. It sounds like you had a lot of fun despite not coming home with a hog which is, above all, the most important thing. Good luck to you next time.

 

[boarhunter67]

That makes sense because the dog that stayed on the scent the longest was the hound. I had heard though that pits were good pig dogs because they don't give up and are so aggressive. I spoke to the rancher and it sounds like next time he will have a friend and his dogs with him. The other person uses vests so the dogs shouldn't get injured. It will be this weekend if I have it free. Otherwise, I have to find a couple of people to go with me since he likes to have parties of three. I'll let you know how I did next time.

 

[RIFLEMAN]

boarhunter,

Pits are ideally suited as catch dogs. Catch dogs are dogs that are released after the hog is bayed in order to grab and hold the hog until the hunter arrives to kill or tie it. The most popular breeds used for this purpose include pitbulls, bulldogs, and other breeds of similar origin or intent.

Though some individuals may be used successfully, these breeds do not generally make complete hog dogs. Their physiology does not give them the same stamina as other breeds and aggression towards hogs is not an intergral part of successfully hunting hogs--grit, yes, but aggression, no.

 

[boarhunter67]

I'm learning more all the time. I talked with a friend of mine who runs hog dogs and he said much the same thing and described in depth which breeds are best suited for what jobs and why some people crossbreed. It was very enlightening.

 

[YumaHntr]

Either way it sounds like you made a good choice and had a good hunt. Glad to hear that you are happy with your choice and have not been turned off to a different way of hunting.

 

[RIFLEMAN]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

I'm learning more all the time. I talked with a friend of mine who runs hog dogs and he said much the same thing and described in depth which breeds are best suited for what jobs and why some people crossbreed. It was very enlightening.[/b]

It's a whole 'nother world; not only must you learn the habits of the game you hunt, but you have to learn the ins and outs of coursing dogs in order to use them to hunt your desired game.

Any dog hunter who says he knows all there is to know about hunting with dogs is either ignorant or lying!!!

 

[boarhunter67]

Went again this weekend. Saw lots of huge tracks. Finally took a meat pig about 170lbs. On Sunday two other hunters each took a hog over 350lbs. Probably some of the big tracks we were seeing.

 

[boarhunter67]

If I'm doing this right, this should be another picture of the hog.

 

[boarhunter67]

Sorry about that. This should work.http://www.jesseshunting.com/photopost/data/509/18023Jan_06_005B.jpg[/img]

 

[bayedsolid]

Right on. Glad you got one.

 

[boarhunter67]

Here is a pig backpack we made with the pig by taping the front legs to the back legs. It's a good way to carry it.http://www.jesseshunting.com/photopost/data/509/18023Jan_06_013B.jpg[/img] ]pig backpack://http://www.jesseshunting.com/photop... ]pig backpack

 

[BobcatJess]

Nice Job BoarHunter

That Pig backpack works great. I'v done it my self a few times...just need to watch out for the ticks.

Jess.