My dogs caught their first bear

[TroutSlayer]

Keep on topic guys in repect to a fine thread started by brodieross.

[tom gobble]

Nice Bear congrats

[jaycee]

Here is a story about a famous houndsman in the U.S.;https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Lilly

A short exert from that story; [written by ; Theodore Roosevelt.

I never met any other man so indifferent to fatigue and hardship. The morning he joined us in camp, he had come on foot through the thick woods, followed by his two dogs, and had neither eaten nor drunk for twenty-four hours; for he did not like to drink the swamp water. It had rained hard throughout the night and he had no shelter, no rubber coat, nothing but the clothes he was wearing and the ground was too wet for him to lie on, so he perched in a crooked tree in the beating rain, much as if he had been a wild turkey. He equaled Cooper's Deerslayer in woodcraft, in hardihood, in simplicity–and also in loquacity.

[Bo D]

"Ben Lilly", a true legend in the hound hunting fraternity... There were a lot of true houndsmen back in that era that culled hard to better the breed of hounds being bred to catch, rather than just chase... Bred for scenting ability, dogs that were able to grub out a two or three day old track, stamina, tight feet and so on. Yes hounding does go back a long, long, ways and I for one hope it'll continue on into the next century...

[Sharon]

"Ben Lilly", a true legend in the hound hunting fraternity... There were a lot of true houndsmen back in that era that culled hard to better the breed of hounds being bred to catch, rather than just chase... Bred for scenting ability, dogs that were able to grub out a two or three day old track, stamina, tight feet and so on. Yes hounding does go back a long, long, ways and I for one hope it'll continue on into the next century...

Absolutely. Dad and I bred beagles for 25+ years and they brought around many a rabbit. If I was younger I'd have a coon hound of some kind.

[Gilroy]

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.

Had the same type of experience on my first property up Madoc way.Local guys would let their deer hounds out on land next to mine,their hounds chased deer past guys at my camp and we shot them.Worked out fine for us didn,t have to feed any dogs or license them,just sat on our own place and shot them (the deer I mean) .
Locals did not like it very much and bought me out after three years.

Congrad,s on the bear OP.

[Fenelon]

Gotta love the old hound in the background of the pic, hamming it up for the shot and stealing the show! Congrats on a fine bear.

[toddy]

Congrats on the bear!

I really sit on the fence with the use of dogs for hunting. My deer camp uses them, but honestly, if we didn't use them I wouldn't lose any sleep, but this is only because my preference of hunting is hard scouting and sitting and waiting (or sitting over a bait). I get burned a few times every season by hounds or beagles tearing through the property I am bow hunting while they are chasing whatever. This is on private land and it drives me insane.
I have also had my bear baits royally fudged up by bear dogs as well. Season starts first of Sept in my area, and guaranteed by the 2nd or 3rd day of the season 2 months worth of baiting and hard work was flushed down the tube. I was always convinced this guy started his dogs on my baits, had many pics of his dogs but never him. This is also on private land. Took about 3 fall seasons before I gave up baiting in the area.

I cant paint all houndsman with the same brush, but as a result of my bad experiences I sit on the fence.

[Sharon]

Good post.
Whenever dogs are let off leash there are a variety of possible problems ,and no easy answers. You said you were baiting on private property though; I'd be asking the owner if anyone else was to be on the property besides you, and if not, I'd do whatever it took to confront the trespasser.

[Gilroy]

Good post.
Whenever dogs are let off leash there are a variety of possible problems ,and no easy answers. You said you were baiting on private property though; I'd be asking the owner if anyone else was to be on the property besides you, and if not, I'd do whatever it took to confront the trespasser.

Therein lies the problem "they" do not consider themselves to be trespassing and we get the same age old reasons "ma dogs kaint,t read them signs" you know what I mean.Or "we been huntin that proparty for near 30 years and never had a problem". The problem being it was sold 30 years ago by the original owner who "might" have given permission and is now dead and gone. The solution maybe the Georgia one where you need a minimum 800 acres of private land to run dogs or your in the Big Woods on big acreages of Crown Land.The fact these guys still have kennels set up for wayward/lost hounds during deer season indicates its still a problem.

The MNR should insist on seeing written permission for all hunters who have it on private land and then set a minimum acreage for hounds running deer.