If distance wasn't an issue.. These things make a man shake his head.  Even make it through the wire! 

Even if other states throw out their bum politicians, that paycheck and connections forever business still allows them to fund their damaging agenda once out of office. 

This needs changed ASAP!  Followed by a gold/silver currency?  Said a guy who doesn't have any. 

The parents look like great working dogs.  I was thinking about these types of hybrid this week after local coyotes laid waste to several deer throughout the area. 

Those people sound like culls, I wouldn't feed them.

lots of great points of view, it's even good to hear about rough pounds dogs that ended up solid hunters.

Keeping off the radar is part of being free these days. 

My girlfriend has a 20 pound whippet/pit mix, and gosh that dog would not be suitable for hunting.  The whippet just like anything needs to be from a working line.. But one could work for sure. 

Collie or border collie would be interesting.  Adding the agility of a sheep herder, with a heavy bone structure.  That's a win. 

I will definety check out and visit those towns Jim, thank you.  It will be neat crossing the state border for the first time.


That's very close Goose, the family property is just north of that on 77, passing the Cambridge exit and getting off at the Kimbolton Plainfield exit.

A little more than 20 minutes, minus the back roads.  We have gas wells, but the fracking hasn't officially started. (But is in the process)  I can check the company on the lease.  I assume you have to travel to different sites throughout the year.

Thank You Jim, that sounds amazing!  I'm at the age of settling in.. and don't have much family.  This area is green with Public land, for those that don't or can't own a large track of private property yet.  I'm hoping just one VA hospital and my future wife writing from home... should be enough work to live near a paradise of sorts.  The plan is to feel out these small towns, and really talk to people.  Cherokee sounds like a prime spot for recreation, and hoofing it throughout the mountains. 

Ah excellent, I look forward to meeting a few people who still work with these dogs.  They sound very intelligent.  I appreciate the feedback.

That's wise.  It appears several of their politicians tried to remove dogs from hog hunting, among other things.  I will try to get an update from the locals.

Also Reuben, were those hog hunters from Ohio associated with the Ohio "Boar busters" group?  I checked them out months back, and at the time they were not advertising that they had BMC and Catahoula.  Very interesting. 

Hogs moving north is a natural thing, but these hogs are rumored to be from a caged hunting group with weak fences. 

You guys are awesome, and I appreciate your thorough posts.  The Ohio dog men certainly do have a lot of hounds, and focus on coon for sure.  It's safe to say not all rough hunting men have websites on google.  East Tennessee looks like a great place to live and hunt, so hopefully over the few weeks checking it out I can meet a hog dogger.  I will be there in August, which is probably not ideal. 

I respect the hunt without a gun for sure.  Catch dogs are amazing. 

That makes sense about the bay, and the risk and benefit of the tight bay.  Hopefully I won't have that experience too soon.

The coyotes in south east Ohio are a little weird right now.  There are big males and much smaller females, often venturing near the house.  They took a 10 point buck 100 yards away, and didn't leave much 18 hours later.  They ignore the family giant Alaskan Malamute @ 150 pounds, but a ranging 50 pound dog would make me worry. 

I will certainly seek out the Ohio men, and hopefully network in East Tennessee.  It will be interesting if they work with hounds or mountain curs etc.  certainly dogs shaped by a rough lifestyle.

That makes sense, I haven't had a dog yet that stayed around any shooting.. A catch is way more interesting and natural, but acquiring dogs other than pits in the event of an injury would be a little tough.  I guess that's the benefit of having a full yard. 

I wasn't sure if there were better dogs for brush and hills/mountains verses open areas. 

Hello my name is Brian, and I have a few green horn questions.  I have read through these forums extensively, and your posts are a wealth of great information.  Part of the reason I read so much is to avoid asking a common question.
 
I was in the Army Infantry for roughly 7 years, and am working to finish school (and working full time) to be a counselor for the VA.  Currently I live in Western PA, a yankee state.. and most of our deer are harvested by ticks and coyote.  My father has 380 acres in South Eastern Ohio that is near an area where escaped hogs from a “game preserve” have been breeding.  This August I am driving down south to check out Tennessee and North Carolina to see if that would be an ideal place to live.  The goal would be to live in a more huntable area, and have access to pigs.  Eating them is the goal.  I’ve been working with and training dogs since the early years, but have never worked with a real hunting dog or cur.  I’m confident that if the dog has a brain, I have a chance at a making a usable dog. 

Once the next living situation is setup, I’m hoping to end up with 2 dogs.  That’s going to mean driving several states away, and looking at dogs in the wanted section; an older dog and a younger dog, or whatever makes sense. 
I don’t see much mention of using dogs and shooting on here.  Assuming you can do it without risk to the dog, is this a common practice?  I was wondering if that would break the bay.  Bully breeds are awesome, but if not using one meant a few less injuries.. I would be for it.  If you were hunting hogs in a mountainous area, or an area with steep hills, would you choose 2 curs? 

Also, if you were in an area thick with larger coyote, would you hunt differently? 
Are there any ways to avoid your dogs getting run over by a large bayed pig breaking bay? 
Thank you for your time.