EP 230: The Hunting Hound With Kevin Murphy

This week’s “Hot Stove”discussion covers several bases, all of which should interest coon hunting enthusiasts. Each of the boys served as interpreters of UKC coonhound Nite Hunt rules in their tenures at UKC. Each traveled extensively in their jobs at the registry as well. The similarities in experiences fuel the conversation as does the interest each shares in the training of tree dog puppies. The Coon Hunting Conversations group on Facebook is mined by the pair to reveal questions that should pique the interest of hound people of all persuasions. Steve hopes listeners will join him in welcoming Corey as a regular on the show.

 Bear and Paul talk about the ins and outs of putting together a pack of hounds. They talk puppies, adults, and older hounds and how to balance skills and needs as Paul brings his experience as Master or Hounds for a British style foxhunt to bear. This is a fascinating discussion with one of the all time great guests. Don't miss it!

Smith and Strickland are profits of the Davis Doctrine every time they release their immitigable Lone Pine Lady female into the deep dark woods of a major coonhound competition hunt and they are fulfilling Davis’ commission on an incredibly frequent basis these days.

GONE TO THE DOGS PODCAST host Steve Fielder catches up with Smith and Strickland just a handful of days following Stickland and Lady’s mastery of the JOY Dog Food Super Hunt in Texas on the last weekend in February.   The trio talk about their hound, about John’s winning ways in competition and Smith’s prowess, and long- term success as one of coon hunting’s most dedicated and effective breeders.

If you want to know how the upper tier of the game operates, from selection of the breeding pair to cashing in at the payout window, this one will satisfy your every whim.   

Today DU is joined by Jared Wiklund of Pheasants Forever to introduce all of you to a great organization that does a ton of work for sportsmen of all kinds across the US.

Don’t let the name fool you! Pheasants/Quail Forever have been putting boots on the ground and providing resources that extend far beyond just birds.  Jared give us the history of the organization as well as available resources they offer to sportsmen and landowners across the country.  We also talk a bit about his start in the outdoors, his hunting passions and some great events coming up.  Make sure to check them out at  https://pheasantsforever.org/ or https://quailforever.org/

Corey assumes the host role for a bit to quiz Steve on his recent trip to the UKC Winter Classic, a coonhound event that ranks high on each of their lists of favorite events to attend.  Corey is particularly interested in Steve’s reaction to his experience as one of three judges in the prestigious Top Ten show held for the past four years in conduction with the February event.  Corey served in the same capacity in the early days of the show. 

When the two friends get together there’s never a lack of material to explore and this one fills the bill as expected.  You will enjoy the conversation from the standpoint of a couple of guys that have participated in organized coon hunting on both sides of the entry desk.  It’s a good time as you will see. 

Did training sleddogs make Bear a better houndsman? Did training Horses make the Plott Family better houndsmen? Did playing football maker Lebron James a better basketball player? The answers to all the questions is yes, and, in this episode, Bear discusses why cross-training is beneficial regardless of how it is applied.

Steve and his buddy Nubbin Moore made the trip to Batesville, Mississippi for the 36th running of the prestigious event in early February.  This episode contains a collection of on-the-spot interviews with several of the events’ attendees that stopped by the Gone To The Dogs Podcast booth.You’ll enjoy the interviews conducted at the booth located at centerstage in the massive Batesville Civic Center.  Surrounded by live sounds from the arena, it’s the next best thing to being there. 

The conversations span a wide category of subjects that will be worth your time.  Listen to one at a time or enjoy them all in one setting.  Either way, you’ll enjoy this visit to one of the coon hunting game’s most enjoyable events. 

Today Jason and Brett get together for a big announcement.  Brett will be bringing the Born 100 Years Too Late podcast back to the Double U Hunting Supply Hound Podcast network!  The guys talk about what to expect in the near future as well as some cool interviews that Brett has planned for the months ahead. 

In this episode Steve has a belated visit with Jim Meeks and Tom Gilroy which normally occurs at the annual Grand American Coon Hunt in Orangeburg..Jim is the founder and longtime curator of the Yadkin River strain of Treeing Walker hounds, known nationally for its contributions to coonhound history through several notable, well-advertised hounds.  Circumstances this year prevented the old friends’ annual reunion in Orangeburg and so Steve the pair to fill in the gap.  Listeners become the beneficiaries in the interesting exchange. 

Young Tom, soon to be 23, joins his mentor and longtime family friend Jim to discuss the Yadkin River dogs, past and present.   Steve takes the opportunity to drill down into several interesting points in the strain’s storied history.  Of particular interest to the host is the question of which trait or traits has carried down through the strain’s fifty-plus year history.  The questions of size and mouth within the strain are examples as is the question of Meeks’ favorite among the many famous hounds that have worn the Yadkin River name. 

Dog talk abounds in this two-plus hour episode.  Join us for answers to expected questions as well as those generated by the fluid conversations.  No doubt Walker enthusiasts will find this episode as gratifying as a fireside rocker on a crisp mid-winter evening.  Pull up to the fire and prepare to be warmed to the core by dog talk at its finest, cordial interactions that center upon the hounds of Yadkin River. 

John and Ross headed north just after Buddy returned home.  In this conversation, John McClernan and Ross Feenstra discuss their recent lynx hunting trip in British Columbia. They also discuss the challenges of chasing lynx in blow down timber and high logging traffic. The conversation covers the importance of planning and preparation for a successful hunt and the process of bringing the lynx back home to offer advice for future hunters.