Allen I have hunted regularly with two in my whole life. These two are the standard that I judge all dogs. My buddy owned both. He was lucky enough to own both at the same time. He now has dog with as much hunt and drive but not as near as the nose, but the search still continues. My old dog has been hunted with these dogs and I know he does not have near the nose they have. If a dog can't out trail my old dog, I usually move on if that dog does not shine in another area.
I would guess that most big game hunters want alot of nose. Nose usually comes with long ears and barking. Finding a silent one that cold trail and quiet is hard. That's why I say they are worth there weight in gold. That being said, there are some big game hunters that prefer silent cold trailing dogs like the striker dog. I know of a plott hunter that is trying to breed a silent line of plott.
I would guess that since I moved to Texas, I dont need a dog that can cold trail as much. You can almost find a decent track to run. Back in SC, that wasn't the case. I have seen the two dogs above leave on a walk out of a field and put hogs to the end of the track many of days in July. I have never seen a track that a hound could take that the Mt Cur named Tazz could not take. His son was bred to lil hopper before he died. My buddy is raising six of the nine pups himself and the other three are placed real close.
When I see guys posting dogs for high prices, I just think that they can't be worth it. Usually a dog that good, has offers way before the owner wants to sell. If he is silent and can trail he would have offers out the door. I would have sold anything I had to buy the Tazz dog if my buddy ever wanted to sell. All he had do was name a price.
Tazz sounds like the type of dog,I dream about.Whats his son like?What do you think of Hoppers nose?Did you keep one of them pups?I got a sister to Hopper here.You cant beat a peep out of her,and she can trail with any dog I have seen.The problem with her is she is kinda suicidal,If you run her with the right dog,she is gonna catch it.Not as bad byherself,but still way rougher than I like.
