Bullmoose1
Member
- Location
- Mississauga
I have always wanted to try deer hunting with hounds, and it is something on my bucket list. Have owned bird hunting labs for many years, and hunted rabbits with a hound once many years ago, but now want to try it for deer.
We have an established deer camp approx 2 hrs North of Toronto with permanent accommodations. Heated clubhouse, separate bedrooms, running water, etc. Looking for an experienced deer hunter with a trained deer hound(s) to possibly join us November 2019 for week 1 of the season. Our group each year consists of 8-10 great guys from all walks of life. The common denominator is a passion for the sport and SAFETY. Expenses are shared equally and we usually hire a cook.
We hunt a large tract of mostly private land, in Canadian shield country. There are no other hunters in our area. Traditionally we perform drives (without dogs) throughout the day, and then sit out evenings. Our success ratio is reasonably high, and we have harvested several very large bucks. I now want to try adding in a hound to the equation. The country is perfect for it, and it should result in many more seen deer. There are numerous large islands, and other runs with choke points between lakes, where the dog can be stopped. If you have a trained deer hound, and are looking to join a great group, please send me a PM. We can then chat, get together for a coffee or beer to see if we are comfortable with each other, and take it from there. I know I am starting early, but better than leaving it till too late. This gives us ample time to get comfortable with each other. If things work out long term, then I am sure the group will be willing to pitch in towards the costs of maintaining the dog(s) and the purchase of radio collars, etc.
Added June 13 2019
I have received a number of comments but as of yet no-one interested so am bumping to the top. In terms of the comments, firstly my thanks. They have all been relevant and sincere. In terms of a response, I have owned several labs that I trained for field trails and used extensively for ducks & pheasants, so certainly appreciate and respect the amount of time and effort they take to maintain. I also appreciate the cost involved, and it would be only fair for all members of the hunt party to contribute. I have heard the stories of chasing deer all day and hounds all night from old timers, but I assume with the new and much more economical collar technology now available, lost dogs would be much easier to locate than in the past. Again the cost of the collars would be shared by all. We hunt an area that is really boat access only (unless you want to walk in 5+ miles from the nearest road, then drag your deer 5 miles out. It is “big timber” Canadian Shield with no ATV trails) which includes a number of larger “islands” connected by narrow spits that serve as choke points. These choke points are where we have our watches, and a hound would need to pass by within 20 yards of a hunter on many of the runs. Hopefully this would allow for the hunter to stop the dog and prevent him from passing by and getting “lost”. We use numerous 14ft boats with 9.9HP engines (and also a few canoes for some runs), to get around and into position. Obviously some of the runs would not lend themselves for using dogs, but many would be ideally suited.
Yes, we do have good success without the use of hounds, but there is just something about the baying of hounds that appeals to me. I hunted rabbits over a hound many years ago, and relished the experience. As mentioned in my original posting, hunting deer with a hound is on my bucket list. In terms of getting a hound myself, it is certainly something I have thought about. Unfortunately a couple years ago we downsized our home in the city, and moved into a condo. We also own a country home with 100 acres of bush that we plan to retire to, but for now only go there on weekends. Once we move there full time I will be in a better position to own a hound myself. For now it would not be fair to the dog in a condo. Not to mention the neighbors if the dog bayed throughout the day.
For those of you familiar with deer hounds, is it best to keep them strictly trained for deer, or can they be effectively cross trained for rabbits as well? Obviously I would hate to have the hound start chasing a rabbit when we were out for deer.
Hopefully there is someone out there with a hound that wants to join a group, or maybe whose deer camp has folded due to lack of new younger blood joining in. If so, I would love to hear from you.
Below is a pic of our 2017 harvest. 4 bucks, 2 does, and 2 bears. Below it is a pic of the buck I shot from a canoe when out for the late afternoon hunt (not a deer drive).
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We have an established deer camp approx 2 hrs North of Toronto with permanent accommodations. Heated clubhouse, separate bedrooms, running water, etc. Looking for an experienced deer hunter with a trained deer hound(s) to possibly join us November 2019 for week 1 of the season. Our group each year consists of 8-10 great guys from all walks of life. The common denominator is a passion for the sport and SAFETY. Expenses are shared equally and we usually hire a cook.
We hunt a large tract of mostly private land, in Canadian shield country. There are no other hunters in our area. Traditionally we perform drives (without dogs) throughout the day, and then sit out evenings. Our success ratio is reasonably high, and we have harvested several very large bucks. I now want to try adding in a hound to the equation. The country is perfect for it, and it should result in many more seen deer. There are numerous large islands, and other runs with choke points between lakes, where the dog can be stopped. If you have a trained deer hound, and are looking to join a great group, please send me a PM. We can then chat, get together for a coffee or beer to see if we are comfortable with each other, and take it from there. I know I am starting early, but better than leaving it till too late. This gives us ample time to get comfortable with each other. If things work out long term, then I am sure the group will be willing to pitch in towards the costs of maintaining the dog(s) and the purchase of radio collars, etc.
Added June 13 2019
I have received a number of comments but as of yet no-one interested so am bumping to the top. In terms of the comments, firstly my thanks. They have all been relevant and sincere. In terms of a response, I have owned several labs that I trained for field trails and used extensively for ducks & pheasants, so certainly appreciate and respect the amount of time and effort they take to maintain. I also appreciate the cost involved, and it would be only fair for all members of the hunt party to contribute. I have heard the stories of chasing deer all day and hounds all night from old timers, but I assume with the new and much more economical collar technology now available, lost dogs would be much easier to locate than in the past. Again the cost of the collars would be shared by all. We hunt an area that is really boat access only (unless you want to walk in 5+ miles from the nearest road, then drag your deer 5 miles out. It is “big timber” Canadian Shield with no ATV trails) which includes a number of larger “islands” connected by narrow spits that serve as choke points. These choke points are where we have our watches, and a hound would need to pass by within 20 yards of a hunter on many of the runs. Hopefully this would allow for the hunter to stop the dog and prevent him from passing by and getting “lost”. We use numerous 14ft boats with 9.9HP engines (and also a few canoes for some runs), to get around and into position. Obviously some of the runs would not lend themselves for using dogs, but many would be ideally suited.
Yes, we do have good success without the use of hounds, but there is just something about the baying of hounds that appeals to me. I hunted rabbits over a hound many years ago, and relished the experience. As mentioned in my original posting, hunting deer with a hound is on my bucket list. In terms of getting a hound myself, it is certainly something I have thought about. Unfortunately a couple years ago we downsized our home in the city, and moved into a condo. We also own a country home with 100 acres of bush that we plan to retire to, but for now only go there on weekends. Once we move there full time I will be in a better position to own a hound myself. For now it would not be fair to the dog in a condo. Not to mention the neighbors if the dog bayed throughout the day.
For those of you familiar with deer hounds, is it best to keep them strictly trained for deer, or can they be effectively cross trained for rabbits as well? Obviously I would hate to have the hound start chasing a rabbit when we were out for deer.
Hopefully there is someone out there with a hound that wants to join a group, or maybe whose deer camp has folded due to lack of new younger blood joining in. If so, I would love to hear from you.
Below is a pic of our 2017 harvest. 4 bucks, 2 does, and 2 bears. Below it is a pic of the buck I shot from a canoe when out for the late afternoon hunt (not a deer drive).
View attachment 281012
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