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Any tips for a hunter with no experience hunting with dogs?

Discussion in 'Sports & Activities' started by BootsOnTheGround, Feb 18, 2013.

  1. Well I have been hunting my whole life (well as much as I could). I have only hunted solo (just me and a rifle) and of course hunting with friends and family members. Unfortunately I have absolutely no experience hunting with dogs. I have owned APBTs pretty much since I was a kid but never went through the whole game dog thing with papers. More so rescue dogs or running into someone that had one left over from a litter (you know right time right place sort of thing). I just got out of the Army (Infantryman) and saw an ad on craigslist from a family that was trying to find a home for their APBT so it was one of those right time right place ordeals. He is 4 years old and 57lbs. I have always been interested in working with a dog or dogs on hog hunts and was wondering if any of you have any tips for me as far as training goes. Is it possible to hunt with one dog rather than a few of them? As of now, I would imagine that the dog I have now would probably not be the best choice of dog for this as he was raised in a family environment and any training outside of the general obedience training and the command tricks (sit, lay down, speak, etc.) is nonexistent to him. He is a great dog, don't get me wrong but being as he is already 4 years old, I just think it would be best if I got a puppy and began working with that dog as early as possible to get him ready for a hunt, I may be wrong for thinking that the dog I have now is not the best candidate to start training him but that's why I'm posting this. I'm very confident in my accuracy and shot selection when it comes to firearms in addition have a very sound understanding of external and terminal ballistics, with that being said would using a firearm to finish the job after the catch be ideal or would it be best if I use a knife like the videos I have seen on YouTube that feature hunting hogs with dogs. Like I said, I have no experience using dogs to hunt but I have great interest in getting into it. I just want to know if any of you have an good literature references or even a detailed process that I can expect to go through while I am learning and while my dog or dogs are being trained. The last thing I want to do is get out there and be close to a feral hog before me and my dog/s are ready and either myself or the dog/s get seriously injured due to my ignorance and trying to rush my objective. I just want to do the whole crawl, walk, run method. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Literature, instructional videos on youtube, some between the lines advice, even what kind of dog I should get for this (game bred APBT or would a rescue APBT do just as good of a job). Thanks in advance.
     
  2. bamaman

    bamaman GRCH Dog

    Find someone that lives close to you and uses dogs for catch work maybe they will take the time to help you.Age doesnt matter for catch work ,either he will take to it like a duck takes to water or he wont.Catching is very natural to a APBT.
     
  3. Yeah, the only problem is I don't know anyone that uses dogs around me, I'm on the out skirts of Houston, TX. I'm sure there is a few people that work dogs around here but they are outside my realm of associates. When I go hunting, it's about an hour and a half away or I'll head up into Arkansas to hunt with my brother. I guess I need to make some more friends. lol.
     
  4. bamaman

    bamaman GRCH Dog

    Yeah man you do lol.Thier is a ton of people huntin hogs in Texas and Arkansas..Shit the hog and dog rodeos started in Arkansas.Thier is plenty out there u just got to get out and talk to people.Hit up a couple confirmation and weightpull shows and talk to people.
     
  5. Cool man, appreciate it.
     
  6. Well I got hunting as much as work, the God Lord, and the wife allow it. Bamaman is correct he's eaither got it in him or he doesn't. I've been give dogs and even rescued dogs just like the one you have. And you be surprised because the dogs that you think wouldn't make it turn out to be the best ones
    where about on the in the Houston area do you live, if you don't mind me asking
     
  7. Where about in the Houston area do you live if you don't mind me asking
     
  8. bamaman

    bamaman GRCH Dog

    that a very true statement countryman.I have saw dogs u bet wouldnt be worth a shit at it and you have to use a breakin stick to get them off the first one they ever laid eyes on lol.
     
  9. bamaman

    bamaman GRCH Dog

    last litter I gave away 3 females 2 of them caught the first hog they ever saw at about 7 months old ..The third was the runt she didnt have any fear but she wanted to fight the hog instead of catching .The guy worked hard with her and says she is catchin fine now,i havent saw her work yet so I am just goin by what he said..All this I am saying dont matter I am just giving a example of how instinctive these dogs are for catching even as puppies.I am not bragging for sure..this is what I expect catch dogs to do.
     
  10. The funnest one I had was a black dog that looked like he could have whipped the world all by his self... but as soon as the hog gave him his fist love tap that dog tried climbing on my shoulder screaming like a pet monkey. Needless to say he never made a hunting dog he got placed with a family that lives on the beach
     
  11. ben brockton

    ben brockton CH Dog

    see if you can find them two hot ass girls from the television show. maybe they have guided hunts though you'd probably need to pay more.
     
  12. bamaman

    bamaman GRCH Dog

    lol id go with them in a second.
     
  13. Currdog

    Currdog Pup

    Yea if u can find someone around with some hogs u can work him first to see how he does wud b best. Where in AR is your brother. I live in Ar an have a pen we work dogs in. My son has a pup we will probally start working with this spring. Is ur dog very dog aggressive? That makes a difference. R u willing to bail in when he catches. That's another question lol ud b surprised how many folks wana do it but when time comes u turn round an they ain't to b found
     
  14. devonte151

    devonte151 Fast Lane Bulldogs

    Only is when im in the woods with my dog he may tree or find something and next he gone somewhere else we hunt in the back of my grandmas property so he knows where hes going that may be problem with your dog if he not use to hunting.
     
  15. CajunBoulette

    CajunBoulette CH Dog

    Shit yea man.... You talkin bout Crystal "pistol" and Leah..... I'd love to hunt with them.... The old man on that show kinda reminds me of ole Don! Lol
     
  16. bamaman

    bamaman GRCH Dog

    lol man i couldnt concentrate watchin them girls rife them dam horeses man.
     
  17. CajunBoulette

    CajunBoulette CH Dog

    That's only reason I watched the show lol
     

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