The pursuit of a silent tracking hound is a long-standing goal for many hunters, particularly those engaged in hog hunting. Achieving this desired trait often involves careful consideration of breed crosses and their proportions. This article delves into the nuances of breeding hounds for silent tracking, drawing upon the collective experience and insights shared by seasoned hunters. The primary focus is on understanding how different breed combinations and percentages influence a hound’s tendency to vocalize while on a track.
Understanding the Nuances of Hound Vocalization
The vocalization of hounds while tracking, often referred to as “running open” or “bawling,” is a trait that hunters debate regarding its necessity and desirability. While some believe a certain amount of vocalization indicates a strong nose and commitment to the track, others prioritize a silent trail. The key lies in understanding the genetic predispositions of various breeds and how they interact when crossbred.
Breed Contributions to Tracking Style
Different breeds bring distinct characteristics to the hunting field. For instance, breeds like Pit Cur, Pointer, Cat, and Stag hounds are often discussed in relation to their vocal tendencies. Lifreediver initiates the discussion by inquiring about the optimal mix of these breeds to achieve a silent track, posing the question of how much of each breed is needed to “quiet on track.”
Bigboarstopper offers a practical approach, suggesting that to maintain a silent track, one should primarily cross silent dogs with other silent dogs. They advocate for keeping the “open-mouthed blood” to a minimum, ideally less than a quarter of the lineage. Bigboarstopper shares their successful crosses, including Catahoulas with Plott/Kemmer/Airedale, Catahoula/Airedale, Catahoula/Blackmouth Cur, and Catahoula/Aussie Shepherd, all of which have reportedly been silent trackers.
Pops introduces the idea that bull breeds and sighthounds can contribute to silencing a cross, but cautions hunters to consider the other traits these breeds might impart.
Exploring Specific Breed Crosses and Percentages
The thread progresses with various hunters sharing their experiences and preferred ratios.
Plott and Cur Crosses: JasonDunn mentions a “half and half” Plott-cat cross that was silent until eye-to-eye with the quarry. They also cite old-timers’ wisdom, suggesting a half-and-half cross has a 50% chance of a silent trail dog, while a quarter cross increases the odds to 75%. JasonDunn personally favors a 1/8th ratio. Later, JasonDunn describes a current mix of 1/2 Pit, 1/4 bird dog, and 1/4 Catahoula, noting that the Pit influence makes them too brave and prone to grabbing rather than barking, especially when hunting with fewer than three dogs. They aim to breed back to a Catahoula or BMC to tone down the vocalization.
The Role of Bird Dogs: Doghunter highlights the trade-off between bark and nose, stating, “more bark more nose, less bark less nose.” They note that a silent Catahoula they owned had Walker in its lineage, suggesting a source for its nose. Doghunter also points out that bird dogs, particularly German Shorthaired Pointers (GSHPs), can offer good nose without excessive barking. They have found GSHPs to have excellent scenting abilities and endurance, capable of stopping and baying a hog. Doghunter suggests breeding a silent cur dog with a GSHP or a catch dog with a GSHP.
Plott Hounds: Plottman55 expresses strong loyalty to Plott hounds with the enthusiastic declaration, “HUNT PLOTTS OR HUNT NOTHING AT ALL!!!”
Trigg Hounds and Walkers: Fox hunter suggests Trigg hounds as a potential cross, noting their tendency to be tight-mouthed until the jump. Huntingfool offers a contrasting view, stating that Plotts require “not much” influence, while dogs like Walkers or Ticked dogs need more to quiet them down.
Speed vs. Silence: Lifreediver questions why hunters don’t cross fast hounds like Running Walkers, Foxhounds, or Coyote Hounds with silent breeds to create faster bay dogs. Cooter agrees with Lifreediver, suggesting the “Goodman” breed, known for being tight on the track and gritty at the catch.
Percentage Preferences: Bucunter1983 reports success with a 50/50 Plott x Cur or Plott x Catahoula cross, achieving an 80% silent rate in litters. Stevemac, from Australia, notes that local hunters often prefer quarter crosses, finding half crosses too open-mouthed for their needs. Bjbmtry concurs with the idea that open percentages should be 1/4 or less for the best chance of silent dogs and also agrees with JasonDunn about the 50% chance of open/silent with a half-and-half cross.
Conclusion: Finding the Right Balance
The consensus among these experienced hunters suggests that achieving a silent tracking hound is a matter of careful genetic selection and understanding breed characteristics. While there’s no single magic formula, a common thread emerges: minimizing the influence of heavily vocal breeds and favoring crosses with established silent or tight-mouthed lines. Ratios ranging from 1/8 to 1/4 of more vocal breeds are often cited as a good starting point, with some success reported at 50/50 crosses depending on the specific breeds involved. Ultimately, the ideal “mix” depends on the hunter’s specific quarry, hunting style, and personal preference for vocalization versus pure tracking silence. Continued experimentation and the sharing of experiences remain crucial in refining the art of breeding the perfect tracking hound.
