https://www.washingtonpost.com/national ... 50c42d3ead
I heard that Eskimos had 50 words for snow years ago and then I ran across this interesting read. Unless you deal with snow regularly in a hunting season you can't get the added dimension it brings to scent and exposes faults in a dog. Where I live and hunt in the snow belt of North East Ohio we are subjected to enough freeze/thaw cycles to make it very interesting. In the 4 hours in the field yesterday we were exposed to 3 types of snow and it helped in knowing through past experience what to expect in a dog and not to be to harsh when seemingly inexplicable running was happening or, not happening. What are some of your snow stories?
Snow, another dimension
Moderators: Pike Ridge Beagles, Aaron Bartlett
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adirondackjoe
- Posts: 372
- Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2012 6:55 pm
- Location: Ramsey, NJ
Re: Snow, another dimension
run in snow all season in the Adirondacks. my stories are the same as yours....
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Hare Chaser
- Posts: 336
- Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2013 8:15 pm
Re: Snow, another dimension
Running on snow is rarely predictable and often fickle. Moisture content, density, barometric pressure, etc.,etc. there are many variables that effect running on snow.
There is also a difference in locations. The northeast is different than where you are I would guess. Northwestern Ontario and the maritimes of south eastern Canada are different than the Northeastern US. There is also a BIG difference in dogs. Many beagles can run on 6" of snow with temps from the upper teens to the high 30's. 18" or more of dry powder in the single digits above zero to -20°or more will really separate what level of snow dog you really have. Some dogs will do relatively well in those conditions until it gets all tracked up. The dogs that can "run" a track through existing old tracks and make it look as if no tracks were there are to be highly prized where I live and run. Most guys I know don't have a kennel full of that type. If they have 1 possibly 2 they feel very fortunate. Those type of dogs can carry some other "baggage" that many won't tolerate as well. Such as cold trailing, popping off on old line, what some consider extra mouth. A top snow dog is not always a top dog on sod either. I always consider it a joy to run with a hound that is a true snow dog and something to behold if they are equally as good on sod.
I ran with one yesterday that I don't own. I'll see if I can get the video footage his owner shot yesterday and post some of it up here. I was running (2) 18 mos. olds with him yesterday they were screwing him up more than helping and when we had a split it would have been quickly evident to any houndman familiar with what a good snow dog is in the difference in the run. My (2) are young and time will tell whether they have it or not. Good snow dogs get better with age with most not really peaking until their 3rd or 4th season from my experience. There are tell tale signs that can be seen early on but ground time and experience will hone their genetic inheritance if it's there.
There is also a difference in locations. The northeast is different than where you are I would guess. Northwestern Ontario and the maritimes of south eastern Canada are different than the Northeastern US. There is also a BIG difference in dogs. Many beagles can run on 6" of snow with temps from the upper teens to the high 30's. 18" or more of dry powder in the single digits above zero to -20°or more will really separate what level of snow dog you really have. Some dogs will do relatively well in those conditions until it gets all tracked up. The dogs that can "run" a track through existing old tracks and make it look as if no tracks were there are to be highly prized where I live and run. Most guys I know don't have a kennel full of that type. If they have 1 possibly 2 they feel very fortunate. Those type of dogs can carry some other "baggage" that many won't tolerate as well. Such as cold trailing, popping off on old line, what some consider extra mouth. A top snow dog is not always a top dog on sod either. I always consider it a joy to run with a hound that is a true snow dog and something to behold if they are equally as good on sod.
I ran with one yesterday that I don't own. I'll see if I can get the video footage his owner shot yesterday and post some of it up here. I was running (2) 18 mos. olds with him yesterday they were screwing him up more than helping and when we had a split it would have been quickly evident to any houndman familiar with what a good snow dog is in the difference in the run. My (2) are young and time will tell whether they have it or not. Good snow dogs get better with age with most not really peaking until their 3rd or 4th season from my experience. There are tell tale signs that can be seen early on but ground time and experience will hone their genetic inheritance if it's there.