For centuries, the allure of hunting with hounds has captivated sportsmen, none more so than those who pursue the formidable black bear. While the heart and determination of a hound are paramount to its legendary status, the foundation of these remarkable animals lies within their distinct breeds. This article delves into the origins and characteristics of the breeds that form the backbone of legendary bear hounds, offering insights for enthusiasts and hunters alike.
My extensive career within purebred dog registries, spanning from 1978 to 2010 across the United Kennel Club (UKC), American Kennel Club (AKC), and Professional Kennel Club, provided me with an intimate understanding of coonhound breeds. This included overseeing shows, field trials, and breed standards for the American Black and Tan Coonhound, Bluetick Coonhound, American English Coonhound, Plott Hound, Redbone Coonhound, and the later-added American Leopard Hound. This deep involvement has allowed me to trace the evolution and distinct qualities of each breed.
It is widely acknowledged that five of these breeds share common English, Irish, and French roots with the American Foxhound. The practice of fox hunting with scent hounds dates back to ancient Greece, where mastiff-type dogs were used for hunting. These were likely crossed with sighthounds to develop dogs capable of pursuing foxes and stags. The arrival of Robert Brooke’s foxhound pack in the New World in 1659 marked a pivotal moment, inadvertently laying the groundwork for what would become America’s most beloved canine sport: raccoon and big game hunting with hounds.
With the exception of the Plott Hound, the breeds predominantly used in bear hunting, including the American Leopard Hound, were primarily developed by raccoon hunters from these foxhound lineages. The fauna of North America, particularly raccoons, presented unique challenges not found in Europe. While hound hunting had a long history among European royalty, the settlers’ need to hunt and recreate with the animals of their new continent spurred innovation. This led to the development of a sport enjoyed by all social classes, ultimately shaping the coonhound breeds into formidable bear-hunting partners.
As colonial foxhounds aged and the physical demands of pack running increased, they began to adapt to the slower, more numerous raccoon. The raccoon’s intricate scent trails, through diverse terrains, demanded more from these hounds. Beyond exceptional scent-working abilities, these converted foxhounds needed to possess the crucial instinct to “tree” their quarry, signaling its location to the hunter. This treeing ability became a cornerstone for breeding, a trait inherited and refined over generations. Because bear hunting requires a similar skill set—working cold trails, pursuing game, and treeing or baying—coonhound breeds naturally became the first choice for bear hunters establishing their packs. The inherent capabilities of coonhounds, including their ability to strike, trail, pursue, and tree or bay game, are directly transferable to bear hunting.
A common misconception is to categorize all coonhound breeds as a single type, with color being the primary differentiator. However, subtle yet significant distinctions exist within each breed, refined to excel in various aspects of game pursuit. A bear hound must be more than just a tracker; it is an athlete capable of traversing difficult terrain for hours and engaging in potentially life-threatening confrontations. These hounds must possess not only the ability to strike, trail, pursue, and bay or tree their quarry but also exhibit the athleticism to endure demanding hunts and confront powerful game.
Descriptive breed standards highlight these unique attributes: the Redbone is known for surefootedness and speed; the Black and Tan for steadfastness regardless of conditions; and the Bluetick for its deliberate work on complex scent trails. The English Coonhound is recognized for its strong build, speed, and endurance, while the Plott Hound is a robust yet moderate hound with a distinctive brindle coat, suggesting capacity for speed, stamina, and endurance. The American Leopard Hound is an all-purpose tree dog, valued for stamina and resilience to extreme temperatures. Finally, the Treeing Walker Coonhound is a well-balanced, graceful hound, renowned for its ability to hunt various game across diverse terrains. These descriptions, originally intended for show judges, serve to educate hunters on the functional strengths of each breed.
Black and Tan Coonhound
The American Black and Tan Coonhound holds the distinction of being the earliest coonhound breed formally recognized by a purebred registry, with its stud file established at the UKC in 1900. Tracing its ancestry to the Tolbot and St. Hubert hounds of France, these dogs were brought to England in the eleventh century. As foxhounds were imported to the American colonies, it became apparent they were not ideally suited for raccoon hunting, necessitating the development of a new American breed possessing a “cold nose,” tenacious determination, and the essential treeing instinct. Early Black and Tans, sometimes called Old Glory hounds, accompanied settlers across the Midwest and plains states. Bloodhounds likely played a role in their development.
While not the most prevalent breed for bear hunting, dedicated hunters like Merold Mohni of Wisconsin, who maintain consistent breeding programs, often exclusively utilize Black and Tans. Mohni’s hound, Trackdown Jake, was a celebrated Legendary Bear Hound, noted for his exceptional ability to tree bears, often single-handedly. This exemplifies the adage that some of the finest hounds possess “rough edges,” much like diamonds in the rough.
Bluetick Coonhound
The Bluetick Coonhound has significantly influenced the hounds used by western bear and lion hunters more than any other coonhound breed. The UKC breed standard suggests a principal descent from English foxhounds, with potential introductions from French hounds known for their cold-nosed trailing abilities. George Washington himself received five such French hounds from General Lafayette. Originally registered as English hounds by the UKC, Blueticks were recognized as a separate breed in 1946 at the request of their fanciers.
While the link between French ancestry and cold-trailing ability remains speculative, the breed’s reputation for meticulous trailing is undeniable. The term “blueticking” often describes hounds that can follow tracks others miss or disregard. Dry land lion hunters frequently rely on Blueticks for their precise trailing capabilities. The late Warren Haslouer of Kansas developed the Smokey River Bluetick strain, a favorite among bear hunters nationwide, and famed hunter Del Cameron also favored the Bluetick for his bear hunting pursuits.
English Coonhound
The history of the English Coonhound is expertly detailed in the UKC breed standard. Originally registered as the English Fox & Coonhound in 1905, the breed was more commonly used for fox hunting in its early days, reflecting its similarity to the American and English Foxhounds.
English Coonhounds are known for their liberal color standard, a trait that has contributed to their popularity. Both the Treeing Walker and Bluetick Coonhounds were initially registered as English before being recognized as separate breeds. While tri-colored and blueticked English hounds still exist, redticked dogs are now predominant. This flexible color standard, coupled with efforts to integrate outstanding individual hounds through single registration, propelled the English Coonhound’s popularity among tree-dog enthusiasts, second only to the Treeing Walker. English fanciers have historically prioritized performance over strict adherence to color.
The redticked hound presents a striking visual. In my early bear-hunting experiences in the southern Appalachians, redticked hounds were a common sight in bear packs. Outstanding hounds within these packs were often redticked or, in the case of Old Trey, lemon-spotted. Whelped in 1948, Old Trey was white with lemon-colored body patches and ears, weighing 60-65 pounds. He possessed a coarse “chop” voice and exemplified the essential qualities of a bear hound, described by his owner, Buck Armstrong, as a “tremendous strike dog and cold trailer.”
Plott Hound
The German Plott Hound is unique among the bear-hunting breeds discussed as it does not trace its lineage to English, Irish, or French origins. Believed to have originated with the Plott family of hunters in Haywood County, North Carolina, the breed gained significant traction among bear hunters after World War II, largely due to the efforts of coonhound fanciers like Dale Brandenburger.
The Plott family’s hounds, initially obscure, were discovered and promoted by coon hunters nationwide. Descended from hounds brought to America by Johannes Plott in 1750 from Germany, the breed excelled in hunting the abundant black bear and wild boar. The UKC standard aptly describes the Plott Hound as “active, fast, bright, kind, confident, and courageous. They are vicious fighters on game, have a super treeing instinct, and take readily to water. They are alert and quick to learn. Voice is open trailing, bawl and chop.”
Redbone Coonhound
The Redbone Coonhound, famously depicted in the book and movie Where The Red Fern Grows, has its roots in the foxhound packs of the South. Originally saddleback in color, breeders and fanciers eventually favored the solid red coat seen today. First registered in 1902, the Redbone was the second coonhound breed to be enrolled in the UKC studbook. The foundation stock for modern Redbones came from the foxhound kennel of George F.L. Birdsong of Georgia, who acquired a pack of saddleback hounds in the 1840s.
Bill Dereszewski, a professional guide in Maine, shared his experience hunting with a featured Redbone, McDonnell’s Rooster Cogburn. Dereszewski was so impressed with Rooster that he acquired several of his pups, noting that Rooster was a special hound capable of cold-trailing tracks others couldn’t smell and often being the only dog at the tree. Rooster’s intelligence and well-behaved nature made him a standout, and he sired numerous pups that proved to be capable bear dogs.
Treeing Walker Coonhound
Often referred to as the “people’s choice,” the Treeing Walker Coonhound is the most popular raccoon hunting breed, with more hunters preferring them than all other breeds combined. Their history is closely tied to the Walker Foxhound, developed by the Walker family of Kentucky. After unsuccessful attempts to breed a hound capable of running imported red foxes to ground, the introduction of a black and tan hound, “Tennessee Lead,” marked a turning point. The Treeing Walker’s speed, endurance, and eventual treeing ability made them excel in Nite Hunts, simulations of raccoon hunts. While initial forays into big game hunting yielded mixed results, an increasing number of bear hunters are now choosing this breed for their packs.
Kirk Rogers, a Maine guide, has successfully built a bear pack using Treeing Walkers, including Bear River Tazz, who had treed 127 bears by the age of four, demonstrating the breed’s potential for hunting black bears.
American Leopard Hound
During my bear-hunting experiences in the 1970s and mid-1980s, I hunted with Leopard Curs from Richard McDuffie’s kennel, which significantly contributed to my all-hound pack. Leopard Hounds are distinguished by their mottled or “merle” color pattern, leading some southerners to call them “rattlesnakes.” The dogs I hunted with were named Stub and Rattler, both exhibiting mottled patterns.
According to the UKC standard, American Leopard Hounds are believed to descend from dogs brought by Spanish conquistadors and crossed with native Mexican dogs. Early American settlers utilized Leopard dogs from Mexico for bear hunting. The Leopard Cur was recognized by the UKC in 1998, with its name changing to American Leopard Hound in 2008.
Crossbred Hounds
Many bear dog breeders prioritize ability over registry papers, choosing to breed dogs based solely on performance. The UKC’s X-Bred program acknowledges the popularity of crossbred dogs, allowing for multiple breeds in a hound’s ancestry. If a crossbred hound is consistently bred back to a single breed over generations, it can be recognized as that specific breed. Western hunters have long favored this breeding approach, and many eastern hunters have adopted it as well.
