My dogs caught their first bear

[finsfurfeathers]

So if you want a personal account YD I'll share a story of a hunt that involved an incidental hound interaction.
Back in the day come winter dad and I would hunt Jacks (ya ya european hare get over it) one would block while the other pushed the fence row. This particular day turned out we had company in the valley. Although initially we tried to keep out of the way of the other party it was clear by the tracts in the snow and the baying of the dogs that there was a Jack being pushed by 2 beagles being followed by 2 guys. They were all over the area making it impossible for us to hunt the way we like. After several hours of listening and watching them loop around and around we realized it was in our best interest to pick at nice vantage spot anticipating their next loop around and wait. Wasn't long till way up the fence row could see the jack coming. Was interesting to watch it. Would take several bounds than stop to look over its shoulder to check the progress of the dogs. This repeated all the way down the fence row till it got in front of me and rolled it to its surprise. Wasn't long till the beagles showed up and a while later for the 2 guys to finally show up. Granted they were not pleased that we had shot their rabbit but after going over what happened and that their approach wasn't going to work all was good.
So long story short didn't find the jack anymore stressed than when we would push and block and certainly didn't find its heart exploded( cue the emotion personal attack).
Didn't know there was a time limit on how long one can pursue their quarry before it is deem cruel and unethical. For my information if my dog and I put up a woodcock and I miss it can I go after it and try and reflush it or is that too long of a chase making it cruel and unethical? Jaycee wasn't making a personal attack just trying to draw comparison to other types of hunting and the core of hunting pursuit needed.
You are entitled to you're opinion and can chose to hunt how you see fit as are others can decide how they hunt legally. You need not supported it but nor do you need to berate it with inflammatory comments especially as you stated non hunters are party to this site.
At the moment you are a lone voice on this subject and the majority of hunters here seem to believe hunt and let be.

[Bo D]

Well in 30 - 35 plus years of running hounds here in Ontario as well as in the US I've never heard one houndsmen say he is quitting or getting out of running dogs because it is an unethical way of hunting. That's 35 plus years. And as JC mentioned I've had farmers ask myself as well as my the vet if they knew anyone that runs hounds because of a coyote problem. I don't run coyotes anymore in my area because of traffic problems with the population explosion that now exists. All I can say is that it is nice to see the younger generation getting involved and keeping the tradition alive. Mind you this is just my opinion. That and a $1:75 will get you a coffee...

[sabmgb]

finsfurfeathers, you brought back a good memory that sort of goes along with this post. Years ago while still hunting deer up north, I could hear some hounds coming my way. I then see a deer come into clearing 100yds out, doe, no tag. I watch as deer goes out of sight and short time later dogs come along and go out of ear shot. 20min later I hear hounds again coming back. I watch and here comes the doe again this time I can see further. Like your jack it would go maybe 20yds stop and watch. When the tired out hounds got to about 100yds it would at a fast walk go about 100yds and stop and wait. Almost like it was playing with the dogs. It went by me at about 30yds doing the same over and over. It could have lost the dogs I'm sure, if it wanted too. I was funny watching this.

[brisuther]

I knew this bear from trail cam pictures and knew she was a legal bear.

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OK. Thanks

[TroutSlayer]

Than I suspect you are against running deer, and rabbit also. I'm not a hound guy but suspect you're not running the animal to exhaustion. You're pressuring the animal to realized running not working and up a tree is its best recourse. Just like a dog working a running pheasant or grouse to try and sit and hide.

Its not the hunt that's the problem but people who are ill informed and/or biased to a particular form of hunting.

Exactly!

[TroutSlayer]

Well, you have had your say in the matter, it is time now to drop the subject and do not condemn others for hunting the way they like , legally.

Exactly!

[TroutSlayer]

Last monday was a happy day! We turned out the dogs, 4 of them ran together on this bear for an hour and a half and then lost it. An older dog i borrowed quit and came out. After a while our old bluetick and my female pup found the bear, chasing it for a while and baying it up for about a half hour on the ground, she wasn't a nice bear. When they found it my male pup was quite a ways away and it took him a while to get to them but once he did they got it to tree. We walked in with the older dog that quit and got him in there. When he did he must have done something that made all the dogs want to grab the bear because all of a sudden the dogs spread way out and my female actually quit and followed our tracks out. From the limps the next day i could tell both my pups took a good wack from the bear but the male didnt quit. We got in there, the bear charged at us/the dogs and went back up the tree. We got then tied back and I took the shot. So happy to see the pups catch one their first bear and it was my biggest bear to date at that. When I get the video edited I will post it.

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Thanks for sharing your hunt. Great looking dogs.

[brodieross]

Thanks for the positive comments!

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[kokes]

any hunter with a tag in their pocket pursuing game in a legal way is a friend of mine...awesome pic and congrats on a great hunt brodie!

[glen]

Let me have a turn.
Nice report put up. Glad I got to read it. Congrats on a great hunt.