Decoy dog questions/advice

GhostsoftheGrass

GhostsoftheGrass

New member
An opportunity has arose for a mountain cur/catahoula mix pup. I have zero experience with decoy dogs. It looks fun and I know it's a long road to get the dog trained. I'm sure in the end the payoff will be well worth it. How many of you guys use decoy dogs in the winter months? I'm sure it's not as effective. I don't like mosquitoes and ticks at ALL! But that won't stop me from getting great coyote action in spring time. Any advice or any information from those of you using decoy dogs will be greatly appreciated!
 
I been calling for a long time but brand new to the decoy dog biz. I ran bear/cat hounds for years but again, never a decoy dog. I got me a catahoula, cur mix. She is 14 months. Im fixing to start this adventure for the first time. I think it will be fun and interesting. Many guys I know use their dogs year round.
 
I am new at it to I have been taking my healer calling with me since she was a pup now she sits on stand and watches.Its been about 50/50 with me she has scared some off that never came back and brought some in or just got their attention and I got a good shot off. Shampton is the guy to talk to I got good info from him.
 
I have personally met about 10 people that use dogs successfully. I know three govt trappers that use dogs. No one I know takes a dog from oct-April. Some may occasionally take a dog in feb. if I take a dog between those months I'm just doing it to get them out of the yard and I totally expect to run coyotes off. Everyone likes something different. Some guys simply have a companion on stand and enjoy taking their dog year round. I can't keep a dog working or work a young dog the way I want when everything runs off. If you don't like 100 deg temps, ticks, mosquitos and every other thing alive that can make you miserable it's hard to do a dog justice or expect much out of one. Just my take on it, doesn't necessarily mean it's right or wrong, just my preference.
 
I cant beat the feeling I get when my dog goes out to play a game of grab a$$ with a mean pair and then comes back inside 50 yards and dare one another to come closer! I dont care how hot it gets! I will deal with the heat, skeeters, ticks, chiggers ect ect ect!!!! It is a special thing me when I see Merle coming back checking the rear veiws! Everybody has their thing! This one yanks my crank!
 
Well darn. Not what I wanted to hear SHampton. I kinda had a feeling coyotes would respond differently from summer months and winter months. I definitely don't want coyotes running off. Back to the pros/cons list. Thanks for the input guys!
 
SHampton nailed it! Heres the deal. If you want to kill coyotes then a dog is rarely an advantage, even in the summer months, and is pretty much worthless in the winter months. It looks cool on video but what you dont see is the countless stands we make and the coyote runs out of the country offering no shot. They are alot of work and cost alot to feed and care for. All this for 2 or 3 months of action in the hottest part of the year. I would say for the average person they are of absolutely no value. It takes more coyotes to get one up and running than most people have, and more time than most people can afford. The kind of dog that will make a good decoy dog will drive you nuts in the down time.

I love working coyotes with the dogs. If I had it to do it over, I wouldnt.

Edit to Add: Im not trying to talk ya out of it, just being honest. If you must get a dog I would recommend a Cur or Cur/Cat cross. The whole "little" dog so I can call in the winter is a fantasy. If they will work a dog they will work a 60 pounder. Good luck.
 
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Thank god we have no chiggers in California the mosquito's are bad enough.
I need to run my healer before it gets to hot for me ... I always find water for my dog when I think she is hot.
 
I have a decoy dog and run her year round and on pigs 2. She is in the youtube video Gunner and Belle. My dog is Belle. I do hunt with out her but not very often.She has worn out 3 pickup trucks riding with me. Great copanion
 
Panyote is you friend named Randy. We bread one of his dogs to belle years ago. he was a great friend of mine when I lived out there.
 
Originally Posted By: GibsonI have a decoy dog and run her year round and on pigs 2. She is in the youtube video Gunner and Belle. My dog is Belle. I do hunt with out her but not very often.She has worn out 3 pickup trucks riding with me. Great copanion
Stop buying fords,,,
 
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