What exactly is the law they are trying to pass? The way I read "ban on retail sale of companion animals" is "puppy mills cannot hawk their wares in pet stores" which I am all for. I definitely understand the slippery slope argument, and I know this comes close to that slope, but the milling industry has gotten absurd. Not to mention the fact that it makes legitimate breeders that much easier to vilify.

I actually saw a Catahoula puppy, beautifully marked with blue eyes of course, in a tiny cage with the rest of the mill pups at a pet store a couple months ago. Of course I turned around and walked away as fast as I could, but people have been talking with their feet for years when it comes to mills and pet stores, and it doesn't appear to have changed anything. To me it would be like getting leash laws passed and enforced rather than banning dangerous breeds. Throw the irresponsible people under the bus so the rest of us can live in peace.

Has RPOA given any more explanation as to why people should fight this law?

Right on cue

Calling a spade a spade is not bashing hunters. It is giving the community a much needed dose of reality. Because when legislation gets passed banning your passion, all the come-and-take-it BS won't get you anywhere but fined, jailed or with a yard full of empty chains because your dogs are confiscated. Or maybe you'll escape that fate and keep hunting but you'll be doing so as a poacher. Is that the sort of legacy you want to pass on to your kids and grandkids? Sneaking around and breaking the law because when you had the chance to rise above and make a difference, you decided to give the media and legislators a big F you?

Yes, animal rights activists are the minority, but so are dog hunters. The majority of people don't fall in to either camp and are too apathetic to care. It will come down to which minority can work the system correctly.

But you probably shouldn't trust me. I grew up in Chicago and went to a liberal top 20 university and work in the media and think meat grows on trees. Obviously someone with my sullied credentials couldn't possibly form their own opinion or put their skills to use defending dog hunters. Guess it's time to pack up my hog dog and move back north and make websites for PETA.

Though it may be a little biased, is the story wrong? Based on what I've seen from hog doggers, the descriptions sound pretty accurate. Cut kit - yes, water - maybe not if there are creeks around, scarred dogs - heck yes from head to toe.

They didn't talk much about how destructive coyotes can be, they didn't get in to the role dogs play in pest control until the end, but the hunter himself keeps calling it a sport. The problem is, hurt and killed dogs aren't sporting, and I think it opens up a can of worms when people call any sort of hunting an "outdoor sport." It sounds flippant to those who aren't involved, like taking a life is just the same as tackling a football player, and I think the reverse is true as well. Calling it a sport fosters a weekend warrior attitude where people don't respect what they are doing. After all, a dog is not a soccer ball or a baseball bat, they shouldn't be thrown in the back of the truck and ignored until the next game.

But journalists are word people, they are gonna take it literally. If you call it a sport, they are going to look at it in a sporting context and realize things don't mesh. Personally, as someone who has been in the media, I completely understand why the full story doesn't get told. A reporter can only report what they see, and if hunters don't make a real effort to show them why utlizing dogs is important, all they will see are the tough conditions and injuries. And yes, it is the responsibility of the hunters to make it blatantly obvious, newsrooms are run on a paper thin budget these days and reporters will get fired if they spend too much time digging in to every nook and cranny of a lifestyle piece.

The truth is, animal rights activists are well versed in media relations, hunters are not. It's just like legislative issues, the outspoken and organized group has influence while the naive group is easy to misinterpret or ignore. This article should just be one more wake up call.

Really interesting idea Reggie. I think the work you've done to make baying more accessible is amazing.

I agree that a "live stream" of a bay is an issue, but it sounds like this is really just enhanced video coverage, not literally live video steaming online. And if you are editing properly, I don't see the need for a password really. Bad stuff will get out regardless. Just don't push yourself to edit too quickly with the actual bay footage, take your time and pick the best. I have a feeling y'all bumping your gums will be plenty of entertainment while we wait

Wish I could! SXSW is underway in Austin, so I'll be spending a little bit of time getting paid to write and take pictures and a whole lot of time drinking free beer. Not a bad gig Y'all have fun, and post up the April date ASAP, Sadie is begging for a bay!

DJ and Amber Middleton have a litter on the way out of two proven hog dogs. They are located in Alto, TX. You can see pictures of them on their website, http://www.lowfamilyranch.com/lacy_dogs, the parents are Aggie and Tuff. I know they plan on keeping some of the puppies for themselves, but I'd definitely talk to Amber about getting on the list. Her email is amberlowmiddleton@aggienetwork.com.

Welcome Kelley! It was nice meeting you during the genetics talk, I saw you walking the Ridgebacks around after that was very impressed. And it's always nice to see another hog dog photog. Getting nice pictures of our sport does nothing but help our public image.

Right after she started hog hunting, I took Sadie to a lure coursing event at Triple Crown on a whim. Surprisingly she did chase the plastic bag through the first couple turns. Then some dogs started barking in the parking lot, excited I-see-prey barking. Sadie hauled a$$ to the "bay" and was very disappointed to find nothing there but two Whippets. Nobody asked me to leave, but they didn't ask me to come back either

Has anyone thought about a time or place yet? I'm not expecting anything formal, but it's gonna be hard to have an inclusive dialogue if everyone is having one-on-one conversations. Though those little chats can be helpful, I think they've done plenty to hurt the situation as well.

I don't think I'll have much to contribute, but I would like to hear what people have to say, no matter what their position.

I wish I could, my parents are coming in town for my birthday, but I think it's a great idea.

So do we know what the problem is? There are link to send comments to the Winn chamber and newspaper, but what are people supposed to say? What are we protesting/complaining about/trying to change for next year?

I eat tofu and my dog eats poodles, does that count Dexter?

But this sounds like an organizational thing, not a PETA thing. Sixteen years straight of the best bay dogs in the world and a disagreement might derail it? If that's the case, I sure hope other hunting and working dog groups take note.

Wow, I can't believe she's still around either!

Waylon, when we talked to the granddaughter she said it was a pet wolf in the mix. But I agree with you, doesn't make a lot of sense, I'm not sure what it would add to a dog working range hogs. Though the description of this yote sounds a lot like Sadie, except for the part where she lets the hound live after it tried humping her

Mike, you may want to consider putting them on Cafe Press. We set up a free shop for the NLDA and recently uploaded t-shirts to commemorate our Hunt for the Hungry sponsorship. We were able to make several options available so people could get whatever size, color or style they wanted. Obviously you don't make as much money, especially with double sided printing, but it worked for our budget.

http://www.cafepress.com/lacydog

DJ and Amber Middleton's son modeling the baby shirt option, this alone was worth going with Cafe Press!

Ashlie, I love watching Rusty bay, so thank you for the entertainment

Sad to hear it Gilbert, but I guess between the Hunt for the Hungry and Earl's everyone will be out of commission. Looking forward to April!

Congrats to Ty and to Ashlie!

Has the March 13 bay been canceled?

Just wanted to give this a bump before the weekend in case anyone is hunting around Alvin. Thanks y'all!

We have a member who had their 2-year-old male blue Lacy go missing in the Alvin area. Please keep your eyes open for him. He's not a hunting dog, just a ranch dog, and his family really misses him! Below is a description and pictures. If you have any info, you can PM me or email Betty Leek at scarebetty@wildblue.net. Thanks y'all!





Rodeo is missing from the Alvin, TX area.  I don't know if he was stolen or got out on his own, but he needs to go back home to his kids and his other Lacy friend.  Here are two pictures of him, one showing his chest so that you can see his spot and one showing his nose.  He has a definite cowlick on his nose that is real distinguishable.  The cowlick breaks in a couple of places and makes his nose look different that one whose hair splits right down the middle of the nose.

I wish I could come! The drive is over 4 hours each way for me, plus I have a web site and PhD application that need to get done ASAP Looks like I'll be out of commission for the rest of the January bays. But keep us all posted on the next one, and if it's alright with y'all I'd love to take pictures when I can make it.

Spencer, I'll amend that to say not too early but so late that I have to head home In general I haven't been happy with the lighting the past two bays. I think I'm getting better about catching the right moment but worse about getting even light. Either it will all come together one magical day or the leaves will grow back and help me out some

And Abby and Sammy were two tenacious little dogs, they were fun to watch!

Spencer, y'all gotta run your dog's later in the day! With the bright sun and lack of foliage, I've really gotten screwed on the early classes lately. But Wormy is smart enough to consult Mayan sun charts and time LD's runs to coincide with perfect lighting conditions. And the cash doesn't hurt either

Glad you liked them! I can't make the January bay, but I hope to be there in February, camera and calendars in tow. Just like y'all have gotten addicted to hunting down the baddest boar in the woods, I think I'm hooked on getting the perfect bay pen pic. Lord help me