Hog hunting with Dogs

[Skinner]

We go every year to a place north of Okeechobee a couple days after the Daytona 500.  Yes you have to have a guide who understands what you need.  I have had good luck so far and they have gotten to know us and how we are - both shooting wise and attitude wise.

With some of their other clientele though we have seen when we are there - I can see why they are so short with them.  All I can say is that there are some real winners out there toting firearms / bows around calling themselves "hunters".

Last year I seen 3 jokers put about 9-10 arrows into some sort of African cow.  Mostly all gut / rear hip shots.  One of them (the main shooter) was shooting a LB - 42 lbs and light carbon arrows (not even a cut on contact head) taking on a 600 - 700 lb animal.  Almost made me ashamed to be a bow hunter.

 

Then the three of them preceded to drink beer and stand there with their thumbs up their arse.  Meanwhile the owner, guide, myself and two other buddies loaded this damn thing into the trailer to go back to camp - they wouldn't lift one finger to help at all.  That is just one of the incidences I have seen over the years I have been going to this place.

We just go cause it is something we don't get to do around home.  I love the meat but I wouldn't classify it as "hunting" per-say, more like hog shooting.

Skinner

[J-dog]

CSU, I have seen one dog bit by a snake. They swell a bit but then they go back to normal.

What I dont understand is why some people look down there noses at hunting hogs with dogs, but will shoot a cougar out of a tree that was run up that tree with dogs, or bear. Guys run bears up trees with dogs yet that is fine.

I do agree with Biggie though you are just the killer - it is just I have no problem with that? But this applies to ANYthing hunted with hounds.

J

[Biggie Hoffman]

Yeah J-dog but with cats and bears, the dogs don't catch em either.

I've found dead piglets by the dozen after guys have dog hunted a place for hogs. If you've ever seen dogs catch a hog, it's downright cruel. I know, I know it's nature and all that and I don't mind listening to coon hounds ringing in the cool December air either but again, as it relaytes to bowhunters, I just don't understand.

You're right about the cats and bears too. I know that dogs are the only legitimate way to arrow a cat, so, I don't have one on my list of hunts. Never will because of that.

[J-dog]

Biggie they run em up a tree, they are not going anywhere?? not like they have an escape route from the top of a pine.LOL. And I been in on a many bear hunts where they bay em, then bear is shot with a pistol. Here in eatern NC bears with dogs is a big thing though I have never killed one that way. I have been in on many dog runs for hogs and have seen the piglets killed - course where I was azt they wishin they were eradicated anyhow.

Yeah I shot one pig with dogs, the rest have been spot and stalk kills. Like I said it is not like a good spot and stalk kill. Just aint the same. Won't be hunting cats either, I am with you on that one.

Coons?? Jerry clower said you have to climb the tree and poke em out with a stick, so they have a fair chance, they have the choice of whoopin those twenty head of dogs and walkin off or they loose their hide. LOL!

I'll stand with the dog guys when the ARA crews get after em, even though I do not do it much no more.

Later

Jason

[Leland]

You have to remember that those dogs love to be in the woods as much as we do.I understand each person's point of view,but it's a pleasure watching a dog work a track.
   Leland

[Soilarch]

I'm with Leland on this.  A dog is a tool among other things, just like a firearm or a bow.  The difference is they are a tool that feels emotion.  The dogs love it.  
(My background is hounds..coonhounds to be exact, and YES a 30# coon versus a 60#hound can be a very even match.)
There's not a one of them, who makes it into an adult hunting pack, that would rather stay on the porch to old old age than go out in a bloody brawl after 4 years.  It's who they are.  The ones that aren't like that never really make a decent hound and get weeded out real fast.  Now, like I said earlier...they're a tool, and like a gun or a bow a fabulous and worthy tool can be used shamefully by it's owner.  It's not the tools fault.  It's simply doing what it was designed and made for.

One of the kindest and funniest dogs I've ever known was a whole different BEAST when let go on a coon track.  He knew when it was family time and when it was all-out-war. Never got the two confused, not for a moment..even with other dogs.  No doubt him or a coon would not be alive at the end of the hunt.

They love it.  How they are handled isn't their fault.


Now as to the actual subject of the thread:

This is good to know.  There's a decent chance I'll find myself in Georgia when I graduate and the prospect of year-round hog hunting is nice.  One of my buddies/mentors down there LIVES for hog hunting, but he's not an archer...he just runs 'em with pits then either 'harvests' them or brings them back ALIVE!! Not sure if his dogs bay or catch sense he says he likes 'em alive but in the same breath talks about loosing 9 dogs to one old boar!?!??   :confused:

[BEETLE GUY]

You need someone that has a great catch dog or dogs

[tarponnut]

The dog the guide had was not a catch dog, it would just distract the hog and then you try and get close for a shot. I was just afarid of shooting the dog by mistake, which was a real possibility.
It's just not for me, I can see why it would appeal to some, though. The chase was exciting, we ran a lot before I got a shot.
I've taken several hogs since by spot and stalk, to me that is the ultimate.
I appreciate all of the feedback.

[Mint]

I "helped" the dog get this hog down in Florida. You are right that the dog is a big part of the hunt and you really hunt as a team if you have a good dog. I can see what Biggie is saying with catch dogs because the hog is basically immobilized but with a bay dog the hog can charge and run and get away. This hog had me nailed clean when i was backing up to take a shot and tripped over a big root. I went down hard and he came right at me and would have gotten me good except the dog rushed in and protected me at the last second. My friends and I go down to hunt hogs in florida every year and I like stalking much more than hunting with the dogs I would recommend itto everyone since it can be a blast especially with a big boar. I have been charged a bunch oftimes by hogs and it is always with bay dogs in the thick stuff.

[Mint]

[LITTLE JON]

hi guys, i hunt hogs with my dogs also. but we do knife kills or live transport once the the dogs catch. i catch with bull dogs.
hound and cur dog men are differant they will let you shoot over there dogs to make a buck!">) curs are cheap in there eyes.
i would not let fred bear shoot an arrow past my dogs. plain stupid from a dog handlers stand point.

j

[David Mitchell]

Mint, great shot of the hog and hog-dog.  I know that dog and have hunted over it with Hoppy.  Use of dogs to hunt is a very different experience but one I'm glad I have had.  Don't generally hunt that way now unless hogs are just holed up and not moving.  Hunting with the dogs is more about the dogs than the hunt to me.  I love to watch good dogs work a scent trail and then bay up the hog.  Like many other forms of hunting with dogs, the kill is not the challenging part. I can understand why it is not everybodies cup of tea, but it should not be dismissed out of hand--sporting dogs have a long and celebrated history among hunters of all stripes....Dave

[Ragnarok Forge]

What does a hog hunt with dogs run for prices in Florida.  It sounds like a lot of fun.  I have run Cougars and Bears with hounds when it was legal here and it is a lot of fun.  It let's you pick and choose the animal you kill.  Leaving the young and females to grow and breed while allowing the harvest of older animals that are approaching old age and a slow death in a year or two from tooth loss and starvation.

Wolves and coyotes are hard on their prey.  So are hunting dogs, it is what they do.  Hogs in most states are a nuisance that people want to be rid of. I believe in trying something before I decide against it.

[David Mitchell]

I hunt with Osceola Outfitters near St. Cloud, FL.  Hoppy Kempfer is the owner.  It's a 25,000 acre cattle ranch that has to keep theh og population in check.  Hoppy has a web site with all the info on it.  He charges the same for all his hunts.  On the same hunt you can spot and stalk, sit stands over feeders, or hunt with the dogs--or a bit of all of it.  He's agreat guy with a first rate hunt and excellent accomodations and meals. He also runs a cool gator hunt and you can do both while there if you want to.

[sawtoothscream]

a guy i know went hog hunting with dogs using his compound and had a great time. said it was deffinatly different and tricky to get the shot withthe dogs running around and the pig moving all over.  i think i rather just spot and stalk personally and not risk shooting the dog. makes me nervous even if i had a gun

[Dawnpatrol]

Sounds like a little communication (effective range, appropriate shot angles, ect.) up front would have made a big difference in this situation.

[Gehrke145]

I'm the odd man out, I love running hounds!  Hogs, cats, bears if its legal Im up for chasing it.  Is it the same as a nice spot and stalk hunt killing an animal you spotted a mile away or killing a big buck you patterned all summer out of a well placed stand, no.  Is it fun, you bet!

[tarponnut]

When the guide said "load your bow", I knew I was in trouble.
I told him before the hunt that I need to get "close" but he's probably used to wheel bow guys.
I have had some hunts with dogs that were a lot of fun and very exciting. With the right guide and dogs it's great.

[nc recurveman]

hog huntin with dog is fun its kinda sensory overload thee is so much happening at once. From my exp. with dog huntin about everything at one time or another I would venture o say bear huntin CAN be more brutal on the dog and bear a like the hog huntin. If they bay up and not tree it can get ugly fast. Again this is one of those subjects that is based solely on personal exp., if you had a bad exp. your thoughts on the subject will reflect it.

[chopx2]

This thread is great. I'm headed to Florida this summer for a archery hog hunt and was thinking about adding a day in the schedule to try a dog hunt and maybe using a pig sticker instead of my bow for the kill.