Lurchers Hunting For Themselves

[jigsaw 11,860]

in the last few months ive encouraged my dogs to ''go find'' for themselves,I must admit unless their on a hot scent their fairly shit at it I was out this morn and had them running through the woods and big cover in the hope they might get a bit of action.Im stuck between a rock and a hard place as I dont want em going way out too far from me but still dont want em around my heels either,the 5 of them were in cover this morn when a big bloody fallow slipped out and i had to holler on the dogs ,which id like to add were hot on its heels but not hot enough,lol.anyway it ran well and dissapeared into a block of trees,

 

then the flat footed beast was hard at it around a bit of scrub and he flushed a woodcock(which frightened the life out of me).im just wondering if its possible to get them bushing reasonably ok.I think their getting better at it but not too sure

any of you guys got the dogs hunting about for themselves.loads i know but id like to hear of their successes.

heres a few photos from this morn

the last photo is a path i found in the woods used by the deer,there must be some ammount of traffic to make that well worn path.

[peterhunter86 8,627]

Nice dogs pal have you not got a terrier to help flush game

[Wales1234 5,483]

My blue bitch will hunt up all day long the more they do the better they get at it same as anything else mate nothing like a good hunt in the day !!

[Hareydave 1,214]

them saluki there more brains in a false face. get yourself a collie x for hunting up

[Crackers 807]

My lurchers find a lot of stuff day time on their own.. ?

[jigsaw 11,860]

Nice dogs pal have you not got a terrier to help flush game

I have a few terriers but none can be let loose as they go below if given half a chance,I did have her out today but shes young yet

[nothernlite 18,062]

That's the only way to do it

[peterhunter86 8,627]

Are you looking for one that Bush's well and wont go to ground give me a pm and don't worry im not a peddler il gift him to the right fella

[kirstysdad 827]

Lurcher wis for hunting up I find coliex best ihave bitch here at minute 3eight 5eight hunts up fun onl problem whenyou are hunting with bushing dogs and ihaveher onslip oncesheis ofif she missesthe gears she willhunt up and catch outof sight or run to ground she run2in last week which we would not of had if she did not hunt up but round the houses you gottobe carefu sorry on tablet predicive text

[johnrthrfrd 223]

My collie x hunts up all day and catches her fair share not frightened to get in the rough stuff either and get them out she's in there before the beddys half the time great to watch her grafting by her self.

[mighty celt 995]

my pals bullcross was an outstanding dog to hunt big covers for fox dog caught countless amounts of foxes during the day hunted up and caught on his own,my own bitch is great hunter tried to discourage her from doing it but her will to hunt was to strong so i just leave her do her thing now,once she dont do it on the lamp i dont mind,i enjoy watching her work on a scent now.

Edited November 15, 2014 by mighty celt

[foresterj 1,096]

How much control do you lads have over your dogs during these hunts?

[tb25 4,627]

If my pup never hunted up we would have no catches to date..i enjoy gettin to were we mooch and letting her do her on thing...my pup has very good recall thoch and if she dident am sure it could reck our days out.now a kind man is taking me out on rhe lamp.i just hope she can change front when were it un the day to the swap over at night when i don't want to see Eny hunting up.will see.be good to have the best of both worlds .if there's such a thing.

[fluff 409]

hunted with saluk collie types years ago , when there was more lenacy with the law had some great hunts and catches ,we used to have a colliex terreir he gave mouth on a hot scent ,lurchers new right away game was on, had some great sport and meat ,many a nite came out of the woods with a long pole me and a mate sharing the weight of the beast good crack ,

[Maximus Ferret 2,062]

Jigsaw, most of my daytime hunting is like that. I travel upwind and let my dogs range on a bit ahead of me 'til they get on a warm scent. My collie x bitch is fairly good at following and can canter along at maybe half speed on a hot scent.

The deer x pup you put me onto had her first hare in a forestry block that way. Went out of sight on a scent and came galloping back, carrying a hare and very pleased with herself.

They'll dodder around on cold scent but as soon as they cross a warm one you can see the excitement as their ears prick and their energy level seems to rise. I like to just stand quietly watching. Deer usually just leg it out of the area as fast as possible but hares often return to their starting point so in a mature block I can often sight the hare, note it's route then watch the dogs following the trail. I never try to head the hare or call the dogs to it, it's up to them to sort it out. They don't catch any big bags among the trees but it's fascinating to watch.

On the subject of the deer paths, some places I walk in have so many deer that on the open areas the paths are worn 6 inches deep into the grass. They seem to choose the same routes through open places, as indeed cattle often wear paths in their field.