Powdery snow, How do your hounds fair in it ?

[RunninHard]

Gwyoung this makes since to me, good post, TY
BUT, I do own 2 that will not run on powder but we all cant have the "good/great" ones, I am always looking for better (as most are.... )

[gwyoung]

Runninhard, Just because your dogs don't run on powder doesn't mean they can't. I generally do not Solo my dogs much due to the lack of time and running grounds. But, where I make the time is on Powder and hard crusted snow. In my opinion these conditions present the greatest need to solo a hound . Another General statement, but your dog is not going to learn to run rabbit on Powder behind two other dogs, he is going to learn to run around them and try to find the line. It is not always lack of nose!

[HD Ultra]

Ron, those spots down around here are few and far between, went out on some state land this morning, 8 dogs, 2 1/2 hrs, 2 jumps, running was spotty. You think my problem is that Crystal dog I bought off Bunnyblaster (haha)?

[RunninHard]

Runninhard, Just because your dogs don't run on powder doesn't mean they can't. I generally do not Solo my dogs much due to the lack of time and running grounds. But, where I make the time is on Powder and hard crusted snow. In my opinion these conditions present the greatest need to solo a hound . Another General statement, but your dog is not going to learn to run rabbit on Powder behind two other dogs, he is going to learn to run around them and try to find the line. It is not always lack of nose!

This is the type post/info I am lookin for, I wont quit trying thats for sure, I will try running solo and see if just maybe with some practice he or she may start to pick up on it, I know it will take time but its better then not trying, TY again

They do however run a track but just not that good when the conditions are bad, short/choppy runs

[BunnyBuster12]

I don’t know about low humidity powder but we have had snow two of the last three weekends. I do feel that the lower number of dogs improve the quality of running. The first day there were about twelve dogs on the ground and it was tough as nails to run a bunny. I suggested putting some dogs up but the other two guys that had the majority of the dogs did not agree with me. Yesterday I had three dogs on the ground and they pounded three of the four that we ran. The last one was a little tough but they got it done(about a 45min run). In a previous post someone commented that it is easier in undisturbed snow and the last rabbit kept running in the same small area. That may have made it harder one the dogs but they did get it done. I was pretty happy with the outcome of the day. My hunting partner and I had a great three hours of hunting. We normally don’t get enough snow to test our dogs but mine have showed up for me the majority of the time I take them out in it.

[T Hynes]

Mine not so well, the snow is like powder (about 6"s), kick the snow and it goes with the wind (like if you were to throw sugar in the air)
The last 3 days has not been bad temp wise (24-28, with some colder temp windchill's) but the snow is junk, Just wondering how your hounds fair in these same condition's ?
We have plenty of good power on the ground with the 6 we have but just cant seem to keep a track going, We have dropped all 6 down to just 2 at a time and it was the same, Last week before this snow hit they ran great, some tracks were ran for 1hr + before the rabbit was shot

About as good as a 1 legged man in a a$$ kicking contest! The snow is 24 inches or more pure powder

[Ron Conroe]

ultra how is that crystal dog doing anyways, i always like that dog. i know she had a good nose.

[HD Ultra]

She is doing real well, I like her alot. She has her faults, but they all do, positives outweight negatives.

[RunninHard]

well we got a 1/2-1" of new snow lastnight/today and was still coming down when I took my 2 Reds out and they didnt pound but they did get it around for 3 circles, wasn't the best race but it felt good to hear a decent 1, the new snow had a little moisture to it , not much but some...

[chapkosbeagles]

A LONG WINTER FILLED WITH GOOD RUNS i have went out everyday and olny had one bad day in the last 2 weeks sound to me like you boys need some SNOW NOSE

[NorWester1]

gwyoung wrote,

Once again, this is on cottontail. I have seen hounds that could pound a hare on ten inches of powder at ten degrees that could not even whimper on a cottontail on 4 inches of powder at 20 degrees, Have seen it time after time.

Do you really believe that has as much to do with the animal as it does with the conditions one is hunting and the quality of dogs being used?

That said, I know of hare hunters who start their pups on cottontails deliberately because they are easier to track than a hare is simply because of it's gait.
Sometimes just being stinky isn't enough I guess

[RunninHard]

A LONG WINTER FILLED WITH GOOD RUNS i have went out everyday and olny had one bad day in the last 2 weeks sound to me like you boys need some SNOW NOSE

Good for you, Where in Michigan are you BTW ?

[kybluetickbeagler1]

I have 4 rabbit gundogs that i have gathered over the months. One female i found is good. I run in snow. there is a spot by my house i c rabbits . when i take my dogs I rarley get one up but when they do it sucks. My dog thomas cold trails on the snow a lot and my other dogs stare at him. Angie wont pack with him ne more. Thomas may do good in field trials. I killed one rabbit last weekend and yoyo ate him! thank you for leeting me share

[RunninHard]

.......

[gwyoung]

Norwester1, You ask If I really believe if it has to do with the animal being run or the conditions, and I am sure you are honestly seeking my opinion as you could not have a clue seeing that by your own admission you have not run cottontails. And as far as anyone believing that hare are not easier to run than cottontails then you have some really tough hare in your area. much tougher than the hare around here, I don't know. I will tell you something about our hare here. Our dogs run them with the same intensity that they run fox, they will pound them, period. Our hare will not hole and I have seen quite a few of them caught and killed after a three hour run,and as far as dog quality is concerned I am generally not embarrased, I started 25-30 years ago with the Gay baker Line and In 94 or 95 bred to Kim Klien's Mr. Bill dog. I have combined these bloodlines along with the Eaton Brook line for quite some time now. We can run a rabbit, and Hares are much easier for us. I am not saying what anyone else does or doesn't do ,I am only telling my experience. One more thing , I hope I don't have the best dogs around as I am always looking to upgrade, perhaps your dogs are just what I am looking for!