Being a little new to the beagle world I got yet another question for everyone. Does anyone here have a real tough time running on crusty, almost ice like snow? We got a good snow about Thanksgiving. It started to melt out some then suddenly we got real cold weather and it's been real crusty ever since. I'm praying that we will get a fresh snow sometime and that will help, what do you think? I've been trying to hunt my dogs real heavy, but man have they been having a hard time keeping a track going. Seems like they loose it every five minutes. (Ironicaly I got one dog that had absolutley no problem running a deer for 2 hours on the same crusty snow????) Are my dogs just real sorry dogs or do dogs usually have a tough time on hard crusty snow?
Thanks for any info...
DK
tough scenting conditions ???
Moderators: Pike Ridge Beagles, Aaron Bartlett
tough scenting conditions ???
Galatians 2:20 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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AV Spencer
it happens
Yes Danny it becomes tougher with tougher condtions. Some days your dogs can track on stuff like that others they cannot.
Adam Spencer
Adam Spencer
We dont get a lot of snow here but my dogs usually have a bit of a tougher time with it also. They do get better if I keep poundeing them in it as long as it hangs around. I try not to hunt when its real crusty though, seems to be a lot easier for the dogs pads to get cut up. Crusty snow and ice can be like a razor on a dogs feet if they slip. Then again it could just be my dogs like that. Dont particularly care for a dry powdered snow either but will take it anyday over a crusty frozen snow.
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wayne
the way i look at it when u run your dog(s) on crusty hard snow... its like taking a piece of fish out of your freezer. it wont have an odor till it starts to defrost same goes with hunting rabbits, bobcats ect.if u wait till late in the morning to go out hunting(10 or so) instead of 7am or ??? u will have better luck hope this helps :-)
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wayne
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Steve C.
Danny, the conditions you describe are often the norm for us here on the northeast coast of Maine. Many snowstorms end up as rain then freeze over making for tough running. A hound with a good nose can do the job but just as important is patience. Frequently hounds will try to push too hard on these conditions and the result is the "10 yard dash" followed by a loss. Yesterday we had about 8 inches of snow followed by several hours of rain/ sleet/ snow mix then another 3 inches of snow over night. This is pretty good for the dogs- the crust holds them up but the snow on top is ideal for scenting and cushions the feet. Not so good for hunters though as the crust makes moving around pretty noisy, tough walking. The worst conditions I know of is low ground fog over rotten, melting deep snow. Typical March conditions here and almost impossible scenting.
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Steve C.
Danny, that wind is a real killer. Ever since deer season ended the end of November, every day I've had off work the wind has blown at least 25 mph. Ran some anyway but a good way to lose the hounds. Last time out couldn't hear them 50 feet away. In the last month we've had 17 days the wind has blown at least 25 and a few times over 50. Today is perfect- 30 degrees, light breeze and fresh snow, but here I am at work while the dogs sit in the kennel.
sure wish I could be out in this new snow and windy conditions would be a good test for my dogs and a couple 4mth old pups to see how they can handle tracking in this,oh well friday is gettig closer.Danny if you want to hunt sometime let me know I've been up your way couple times around sturgeon lake area.Steve
Yeah Steve, I'd love to go hunting sometime. I remember talking on here to you about a year ago. I think you lived around Mora? Lots of hare up here, lots of deer to though. But anyway yes we should get together. I'd like to hunt with someone, no one around here runs hounds of any type. And I'd like to get my dogs around some more seasoned hounds. I bought an old dog for a pup trainer, nice hunting dog but his back hips went out on him earlier this season when I was hunting him real hard. He's up and walking good now, but I'm a little scared to take him out now, don't know if I should. I also bought a two year old male that does a pretty good job of running a hare, but seems equally interested in running a deer. So he needs some break work. And last but not least I have a young female, about a year and 2 o 3 months. She just had pups, accidental breeding, but they will all be gone this coming weekend. She should be ready to hunt again soon. I have a lot of hope for her turning into a fine dog over the next couple years. My e-mail is dannykeller1@juno.com get ahold of me and I'll send you my phone number or I can call you sometime to work out a time and place to hunt. Later!
Danny Keller
Danny Keller
Galatians 2:20 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Steve C.
Danny, give that old dog half an aspirin before hunting and limit him to 2 or 3 hours once a week and he might be OK. I have the same trouble with a 10 year old male but if we don't overdo it he's fine. In cold weather I keep him in the whelping pen with the heater on which helps the arthritis. Any dog good enough to have spent 10 years hunting for me deserves some special treatment.
That's good advice, thanks. I never thought of giving him asprin. Any particular kind? Do you just put it in his food? I'd sure like to keep hunting him as he won't run deer, comes when I call him and puts good pressure on a rabbit. Only fault the old boy has is that he likes to open on grouse?????? But they fly away right away and really no problem.
DK
DK
Galatians 2:20 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Danny I will probably up by sturgeon lake again this weekend 1 day I do most of my hunting north of Mora my good female is still inheat but she's on the down slide should be ready next weekend.I have 2 dog e-collar that I use on my young dogs every time out so far I have not had any problems with deer or while running with dogs that have taken deer.Anyhow my # 320 387-3053 I'm laid off for the winter so I hunt rabbits every chance I get.Steve