Hound stalked by Kitty!

dubl_t · 01-24-2009, 01:11 PM

Crazy!!! I didn't get any good pics due to adrenaline, but what I say is ABSOLUTELY the truth.
1st off, I'm brand new to hounds and what they hunt. I've only seen 2 other bobcats my whole life, and DAMB sure didn't expect to see one yesterday.
So anyways, having lots of "leisure time" lately, I try to run the dogs at least once a week. Yesterday was time to head over to the "D" and check things out. I decided the S. road out of Maupin, since I usually don't go there due to summertime crowds.

Hiked past the gate and the area was absolutely stunning. Chilly, but NOBODY was around and dead still regarding the wind. Belle, the hound, had her shock collar on as I wanted to break her off deer if we came across any. The dogs must have caught a wiff of something as they were dying to head to the top, but no deer in sight.

After going back down, they did their usual "run 'n' gun" type sniffing, except on occasion when they'd really give an area the once over. Here's Ruger double checking a culvert.

Belle, always in the lead, was unimpressed and pressed on down the road. Occasionally she'd stop to make sure we weren't too far behind.

Here's where it all kicks in and I lost track of, mostly, my senses. I'm on the road, Ruger's up ahead of my by 20yds, and Belle's working the riverbottom. I'm slightly ahead of her when she drops into a ditch so I wait. She pops up and comes 10yds toward me when THIS BOBCAT POPS UP AND STALKS HER!!! CRAP!!! Without thinking I frantically reach for rocks, as I'm not packing, the cat sees me, and does an about face. Now I'm kinda regaining my senses and run toward the direction the cat went. By this time Ruger is down with Belle and SHE'S GOT THE SCENT!! So she's baying, Ruger's confused, and we're all hauling a$$ down the river. About 40yds ahead I see the cat come up and bound over the road to head upland. Belle and Ruger get up to that point and and lose the scent as the cat leaped, must have been 10yds, across the opposite ditch in her escape. That's when Belle let out the MOST BEAUTIFUL siren I've EVER heard. Absolutely spine-tingling!!!
Well, I run up and congratulate both of them in the most enthusiastic manner I can, and get them running down road as I didn't want them chasing on after the cat.

These are the "best" pics I got of that feline, you can kinda make her out sneaking up through the brush and agian on the rock outcrop.

PERFECT DAY FOR A COUPLE OF POUND PUPPIES AND A 40+y.o. NOT KNOWING S&%T FROM SHINOLA.
Tom.

Flying Roast Beef · 01-24-2009, 02:33 PM

Nice. I'm glad you caught your hounds. That could have made for a long day looking for them.

duckboy · 01-24-2009, 03:28 PM

dubl_t,
Very cool to get a report like this. You know, It sounds really fun to run hounds.

I mean I have run my dogs (and those of you that know em, know they have hound/ collie/ retreiver, and maybe some wolverine in em too) for Jackrabbits and badgers (on accident).
Alex has treed bear, (also on accident) ... naa, that is not right, He treed them like a good dog does, but never a bark.
IN silence.

I reckon that is what happens when a bird dog goes off after non birds...

I think it is cool to see stories about dog adventures,
there is nothing like following a good dog when it gets lit.
Pointing a covey, or flushing a rooster, or digging up a badger, or baying up after a cat.
It is cool to see a dog do what it was designed by god to do.

Lunkerlander · 01-24-2009, 09:36 PM

What are you wanting your hounds to run? Are you not wanting them to run cats? I only ask because it seems like you wasted a rare opportunity if you were ever going to run them on shortails. I am not trying to sound rude I was just curious as most houndsmen would jump at that situation. Bobcats are the hardest animal to run from what I hear. Let us know some more about your dogs, I Love hearing hound stories and great to see the sport still alive and breathing here in the west.

stlhdr1 · 01-24-2009, 10:00 PM

It's extremely tough to get a pup or young dogs to "zero" in and run a bobcat scent trail, even when they're 50 yards ahead of them. The dogs are capable but sometimes just don't recognize the end result........

You missed an extremely rare opportunity for the dogs, it's a bummer you didn't have a solid trained cat dog with them. That cat would have been caught on the ground or bayed in a hole looking at the terrain with the dogs we used to run with.......

Get them rolling on coons (on wet days for the best scent trails) then move them over to the cats. Don't be afraid to let them run a house cat around and tree it and congradulate them for doing so..... Always remember cold dry days are the toughest on the best cat dogs, very little scent is left behind except in February when they're in the breeding mode..... Best of luck in your adventures.

In time you'll have some educated dogs to work with. It's a tough feat to train a cat dog, but when you have the finished product you'll be amazed at how few cats will get away........ It's saddening to see such a fun tradition fall behind with the wrongful laws passed where I live.......

Great story and good luck in your pursuits!

Keith

MarlinMark · 01-24-2009, 10:57 PM

I'm confused. Why did you pull your dogs off of the chase? I thought that was what hounds were for and you were out there to run them. I'm not flamining at all. You can do whatever you like with your hounds. I just don't get it. It sounds like you lucked into a great thing and then you opted out.

It's cool you had fun and I wish you more fun adventures.

Mark

feisty's wife · 01-25-2009, 02:14 AM

Beautiful dogs

BanannaMan · 01-25-2009, 05:43 AM

Are you sure thats a cat in the picture? It looks like all the pictures of bigfoot I've seen

.

dubl_t · 01-25-2009, 05:57 AM

No offense taken by anybody. I really questioned whether we should've pursued, but bottom line is I wasn't prepared. No flashlight, no training on MY part. Im just happy to have been in the right place at the right time, and really impressed with how Belle reacted.

Belle's a pound puppy from the pound on Columbia Blvd, and was told she's a mix. roughly 1yr now. She can be a sweetheart, eager to please, but sometimes that "feminine" side comes out too.
Ruger's a pit mix from the Troutdale pound, probably a little over a year old. He's like the ultimate companion, happy-go-lucky and really passive (I say he's a little slow if you know what I mean, but the family doesn't like that).

Yea, thinking back maybe I should've pressed on, but it's not the 1st or the last mistake I'm gonna make. Also, Ruger's actually my son's dog, and if I lost him, both our worlds would be crushed (it almost happened once already).

and BanannaMan, change your avatar, I'm tired of watching the fat man dance

Scoop · 01-26-2009, 06:53 PM

Tommy, nice to see you're back on the net my friend!! I had a chance to run hounds with my nephew last Saturday down by the coast. We saw 3 deer..........and a moth. Not alot of action, but it's been a lloonngg time since I pulled an all nighter like that. Really cold and really dry, tough to get on a scent. We went in his girlfriends 4runner with a broken back window, talk about cold. But his buddy got a 30lb cat Friday not to far from my place. My nephew has been out with me to check and set traps a few times in the last couple of weeks and is now thinking about getting rid of his hounds because of the expense involved. Broke 19 year old trying to get away from Mom and Dad thing.

stlhdr1 · 01-26-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubl_t

No offense taken by anybody. I really questioned whether we should've pursued, but bottom line is I wasn't prepared. No flashlight, no training on MY part. Im just happy to have been in the right place at the right time, and really impressed with how Belle reacted.

Belle's a pound puppy from the pound on Columbia Blvd, and was told she's a mix. roughly 1yr now. She can be a sweetheart, eager to please, but sometimes that "feminine" side comes out too.
Ruger's a pit mix from the Troutdale pound, probably a little over a year old. He's like the ultimate companion, happy-go-lucky and really passive (I say he's a little slow if you know what I mean, but the family doesn't like that).

Yea, thinking back maybe I should've pressed on, but it's not the 1st or the last mistake I'm gonna make. Also, Ruger's actually my son's dog, and if I lost him, both our worlds would be crushed (it almost happened once already).

and BanannaMan, change your avatar, I'm tired of watching the fat man dance

Just remember, if you're dogs are on the loose and stand the chance to run something make sure they have their tracking collars on. It sure makes it easy finding them........

Keith

dubl_t · 01-27-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlhdr1

Just remember, if you're dogs are on the loose and stand the chance to run something make sure they have their tracking collars on. It sure makes it easy finding them........

Keith

Reason #7 that I'm kinda leary about just letting 'em run...NO TRACKING ELECTRONICS!!

Belle got her training collar for Christmas, maybe "she'll" get at least a radio collar for father's day