Not many beagles barking out there this year. The in thing around here seems to be squirrel dogs. I see a lot fewer dog boxes in trucks than I used too. I think owning a working hunting dog has become more than many want to commit to year round. Seems most are just happy to tag along with a real hunter and get their picture on Facebook.
Around here nowadays it seems there are more Squirrel dog hunters than there are rabbit hunters. I noticed this change a few years ago. Use to everyone hunted rabbits now just a few people do.
Around here the squirrel hunters took over because we have plenty of squirrels but rabbits should probably be on the endangered species list. Plus from what I hear from the old rabbit hunters is that it is getting almost impossible to find a place to hunt due to the “deer” leases, even though the season is out the lease holders don’t want anyone else hunting the property.
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Well that’s what happened hear. Rabbits went then places went use to be every holler had a race in it once a week around hear know it’s quiet all year.
When I was young everybody had dogs.
Colt
Around home it’s due to farmers bush hogging every thing that’s taller than a golf course green, coupled in with the deer leases and general bad attitude of most landowners,a man can’t find a place to go. And then you have the majority of deer hunters that think those hounds are running “all their deer off” and it’s just not true. Then you add in a 1,000$ bare minimum tracking system, with pups going for 500+$ at 8 weeks old, dog boxes going for 1200+$ and having to work 50+ hours a week to make ends meet with the current economy and I can see why most don’t do it. I got out of it about 7 years ago when the kids started coming and I had to buckle down at work. I love to do it but don’t have the time or extra money. About like coon hunting.
I’m finding lease people are greedy to the point of only being interested in deer but relish the “ power” to keep others off. It’s like “ I’m paying for it and nobody else set foot on it”.
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I’ve noticed that myself. I don’t understand that way of thinking at all.
Deer hunters tie up a lot of ground in my area.Bow hunting last from Sept 1 till January 15.Most of them won’t shoot a buck unless it’s Boone and Crockett size.Don’t want anybody trapping cause you might scare their deer off.Drives me crazy.
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It sounds like it’s about to really be on for you @trapperperry63 once their pressure stops.
Probably an unpopular opinion but the less hunters with dogs the better for me. Nothing is more annoying than setting traps all day listening to beagles from 8 am to 3 pm or something on a wma. The guys are always cool tho, or at-least always have been to me all year.
Ryan, before next year you ought to find some private ground too. Just a suggestion.
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I guess I’m lucky about all my landowners won’t let any dog hunters in while I’m trapping.Those beagles can sure find your K-9 sets
That’s the main issue on public land. There’s no landowner go between to work with. I’ve had the landowner tell hunters a lot of times I’m trapping right now and I’ll get in touch with the hunters and tell them when I’m pulling as a courtesy.
I will definitely work harder for it next season. People weren’t very open to the idea when I was knocking doors this summer and I gave up too quickly.
I am writing a website so that way it looks more professional. My goal is to find farms and areas that need help with coyote removal and build a reputation. That’s the dream at least.
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Knocking on doors ain’t the same as it used to be……
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Ryan what part of the state are you located in. If you can get in with one farmer and do a good job for him by taking care of the land and not causing issues, he will spread the word. Also you may be better off to focus on beavers because they generally cause more problems than the coyotes do. If you are around horse farms offer to trap opossums that may get your foot in the door.
Us older guys had it a lot easier when we were starting out in that people were much more willing to let you hunt, fish and trap on their land than they are now. Plus us older guys are known in our area and often the landowners come to us and if we do go to them most of them know who we are so they are more receptive. But just keep at it once you get your foot in the door you will find that the door opens wider as word of mouth spreads.
Also if you are known by your local conservation officer and they have a little trust in you they can often open doors for you because people will call them and complain about a wildlife issue and they can say I have a guy for you and that almost always opens the door. The same applies to the local cooperative extension agent.
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Thank you for the advice across the board. I am in Lexington. I have only been living in the state for six months or so at this point.
This is the plan though. I probably just needed the experience making bad sets on public land so I didn’t embarrass myself at a farm.
Thanks again.
I thought I might be able to help you but I have zero contacts around Lexington.
Well thank you though I really appreciate it. I will land somewhere next year and do them good.
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You’re dealing with a whole ‘ nother people too. I used to work in Lexington fairly often and I felt like I was in another country.
Well the problem is the biggest majority of them are not even from KY and allot of them who are, are from all over KY and somehow fuinger that mess is the best part of the state.
In short if you find Lexington people who are actually from there like from when the lexington area was not a big metropolitan mess there really good regular old Kentucky people but there washed out know.
Lexington people of that erra was farmers and people who lived off the land. Big gardens hog killings, superstitions ran wild,did everythang by a sign,they dug and sold roots and fur and fish,used allot of folk remedies made moon shine and boot legged and was everybit kentuckian as enybody who has ever lived,but the war of attrition won out and society killed them off.
I’ve got a friend who was born a raised in the heart of that mess,he is the salt of the earth give you the shirt off his back talks dresses and is as backwards enough to have been born and raised under a rock in the deepest holler in the state. The place where he grew up is know high rent apartments and completely gone,You’d never be able to tell he was from Lexington unless he tells you.
We live in a changing world and ain’t no area immune it’s coming for everything we all love.
But it’s already got to Lexington
Whats happened to my county is caused directly by what Lexington has become, I thank God I’m as far away as I am but if I could move home another 100 miles it wouldnt hurt my feelings.
Colt
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