The heart and determination of a hound, rather than its appearance, are what elevate it to legendary status among hunters. This series has highlighted many such hounds, and this installment delves into the foundational breeds that have produced these exceptional canine athletes. The journey of these dogs, from their origins to their current roles in hunting, reveals a rich history intertwined with the evolution of hunting sports in America.
The history of purebred dog registries, as overseen by organizations like the United Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club, provides a framework for understanding the development of various coonhound breeds. These registries govern not only shows and field trials but also the standards by which breeds are judged. This intimate familiarity with the breeds’ progression reveals how specific traits were honed over decades to meet the demands of hunting.
The ancestry of most coonhound breeds, including those favored for bear hunting, can be traced back to English, Irish, and French foxhound lines. Fox hunting with scent hounds dates back to ancient Greece, with mastiff-type dogs brought to the British Isles. These were likely crossed with sighthounds to create dogs capable of pursuing fox and stag. When Robert Brooke brought his foxhound pack to the New World in 1659, he inadvertently laid the groundwork for the burgeoning sport of raccoon and big game hunting with hounds in America.
With the exception of the Plott Hound, the breeds commonly used for bear hunting today, including the more recently recognized American Leopard Hound, were developed by raccoon hunters utilizing these foxhound foundations. Raccoons, unlike European furbearers, presented unique challenges with their intricate scent trails. This necessity spurred the development of hounds that not only possessed exceptional scent-trailing abilities but also the crucial instinct to “tree” their quarry, signaling its location to the hunter. This “treeing” ability became a benchmark for breeding in coonhound breeds and is equally vital for bear hunting. The inherent skills of coonhounds—working cold trails, running down game, and treeing or baying—make them a natural fit for bear hunters.
To the untrained eye, the coonhound breeds might appear similar, distinguished primarily by color. However, subtle yet significant differences exist, refined through breeding to excel in various hunting scenarios. A successful bear hound is not merely a tracker; it’s an athlete capable of enduring challenging terrain for extended periods and facing a dangerous quarry. The breed standards, designed for show judges, offer insights into the functional adaptations of each breed for hunting.
These standards describe specific attributes: the Redbone as sure-footed and swift, the Black and Tan as steady regardless of conditions, and the Bluetick as a deliberate worker of complex scent trails. The English Coonhound is noted for its strong build, speed, and endurance, while the Plott Hound is a moderate, well-built hound with a distinctive brindle coat, possessing capacity for speed, stamina, and endurance. The American Leopard Hound is an all-purpose tree dog known for stamina and resilience to temperature extremes. Finally, the Treeing Walker is a well-balanced, graceful hound recognized for its ability to run and tree game across diverse terrains.
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 by the United Kennel Club in 1900. Tracing its ancestry to Talbot and St. Hubert hounds from France, these dogs were brought to England in the eleventh century. As foxhounds were imported to the American colonies, their limitations for raccoon hunting became apparent, leading to the development of a new American breed possessing a “cold nose,” unwavering 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 creation.
While not the most common choice for bear hunting, dedicated hunters who maintain consistent breeding programs, such as Merold Mohni of Wisconsin, often exclusively use Black and Tans. Mohni’s hound, Trackdown Jake, was a notable example, demonstrating an exceptional ability to tree bears, sometimes even independently. This illustrates that even with “rough edges,” exceptional hounds can be diamonds in the rough, leaving a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to hunt with them.
Bluetick Coonhound
The Bluetick Coonhound has significantly influenced the hounds used by western bear and lion hunters. The United Kennel Club breed standard suggests that the Bluetick is primarily descended from English foxhounds, with some infusion of French hounds known for their exceptional scent-trailing abilities. George Washington himself received five such French hounds from General Lafayette. Originally registered as English hounds with the UKC, Blueticks were recognized as a separate breed in 1946 at the request of their fanciers.
While the connection between French ancestry and cold-trailing ability remains debated, the breed’s reputation for meticulously working difficult tracks is undeniable. Blueticks are often favored by dry-land lion hunters for their trailing prowess. The late Warren Haslouer of Kansas developed the Smokey River Bluetick strain, a favorite among bear hunters nationwide. Famed hunter Del Cameron also preferred the Bluetick for bear hunting. Bluetick Thunder, owned by Jared Higgins of Utah, was also featured as a Legendary Bear Hound.
English Coonhound
The history of the English Coonhound is well-documented by the authors of the United Kennel Club breed standard. Initially registered in 1905 as the English Fox & Coonhound, the breed was more frequently used for fox hunting than it is today, reflecting its similarity to both the American and English Foxhound.
A notable characteristic of English hounds is their liberal color standard, which has contributed to their popularity. While originally encompassing tri-colored and blueticked dogs, redticked hounds now dominate the breed. This, combined with efforts to incorporate outstanding individual hounds through single registration, propelled the English Coonhound to a high level of popularity among tree-dog enthusiasts, second only to the Treeing Walker. English fanciers have historically prioritized performance over strict adherence to color.
The striking redtick color is particularly noteworthy. In the southern Appalachians during the author’s early bear hunting days, redticked hounds were prevalent in nearly all bear packs. An outstanding example was Old Trey, whelped in 1948, a white hound with lemon-colored patches and ears. Weighing 60-65 pounds, Trey was described by his owner, Buck Armstrong, as an “all ’round bear dog,” possessing tremendous striking ability, cold trailing skills, speed, and treeing prowess.
Plott Hound
The German Plott Hound is unique among the bear hunting breeds discussed, as it does not trace its origins to English, Irish, or French lines. Believed to have originated with the Plott family in Haywood County, North Carolina, the breed gained significant popularity among bear hunters after World War II, particularly through the efforts of coonhound fanciers like Dale Brandenburger of Illinois.
The Plott family’s hounds were initially kept within their close-knit community until discovered by coon hunters who recognized their exceptional qualities and promoted them nationwide. Descended from hounds brought to America by Johannes Plott in 1750 from Heidelberg, Germany, the breed excelled at hunting black bears and wild boar in their new environment. The United Kennel Club standard describes the Plott Hound as active, fast, bright, kind, confident, and courageous, with a reputation for being vicious fighters on game, possessing a superior treeing instinct, and readily taking to water. They are alert, quick learners, and possess an open trailing, bawl, and chop voice.
Redbone Coonhound
The Redbone Coonhound gained widespread recognition through the book and subsequent movie, Where The Red Fern Grows, which depicted these hounds in the Ozarks during the Depression era. Originating from foxhound packs in the South, Redbones were initially saddleback in color before evolving to the solid red color preferred by breeders and fanciers today. First registered in 1902, the Redbone was the second coonhound breed accepted into 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 Maine guide, shared his experience hunting with a Redbone named McDonnell’s Rooster Cogburn, owned by Matt McDonnell. Dereszewski was so impressed with Rooster’s ability to cold trail tracks that other dogs couldn’t detect and his consistent success in treeing game solo, that he acquired three of his pups. He described Rooster as a special dog, possessing intelligence and a clear distinction between yard behavior and hunting focus. Rooster sired many pups, most of whom became successful bear dogs.
Treeing Walker Coonhound
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is often considered the “people’s choice” among raccoon hunters, with more individuals hunting this tri-colored breed than all others combined. Its history is closely linked 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, reportedly stolen from a deer chase in Tennessee and named Tennessee Lead, proved instrumental. This hound contributed to the development of the type of dog the Walkers sought. Due to their speed, endurance, and developing treeing ability, Treeing Walkers excelled in Nite Hunts, competitions simulating raccoon hunts. While initial attempts to use the breed on big game yielded mixed results, an increasing number of bear hunters now employ these popular coonhounds to form their packs for hunting black bears.
Kirk Rogers, a professional guide in Maine, has successfully established a bear pack using Treeing Walkers, building upon the legacy of early breeder Joe House of Kentucky. Rogers’ Treeing Walker, Bear River Tazz, demonstrated exceptional ability by treeing 127 bears by the age of four, proving the breed’s potential for hunting black bears.
American Leopard Hound
During the 1970s and mid-1980s, while actively hunting bears with hounds, the author hunted with two Leopard Curs from Richard McDuffie’s kennel in North Carolina. These dogs, characterized by their mottled or “merle” color pattern, were significant contributors to the author’s predominantly hound pack. Mountaineers in the southern region referred to these dogs as “rattlesnakes” due to their distinctive coloration. The author’s dogs were named Stub, due to his natural bobtail, and Rattler, for his blue merle pattern. Stub also exhibited a mottled pattern with a reddish hue.
The United Kennel Club standard suggests that American Leopard Hounds are descended from dogs brought to the New World 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 on November 1, 1998, and its name was subsequently changed to American Leopard Hound on May 1, 2008.
Crossbred Hounds
Many bear hound breeders prioritize a hound’s ability over registry papers, choosing to breed based solely on performance. Recognizing the popularity of crossbred dogs, the United Kennel Club established the X-Bred program, allowing for the inclusion of two or more breeds in a hound’s ancestry. If a crossbred hound is consistently bred back to a single breed over multiple generations, it can be recognized as that particular breed. Western hunters have long favored this breeding approach, and some eastern hunters, including those with the author’s experience, have also embraced the practice.
