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decoy dogs in northern states
- Thread starter bigredug
- Start date
I use Mtn Curs and Jagdterriers. Mostly for denning but occasionally during fur season. I hunt MN, ND, MT, WY and a few other states both for denning and for fur. In the past I've used DD's, GWP's, Dorns and Airedales. The curs are my favorite "decoy" breed.
I also use them for a bunch of other types/styles of hunting both fur and feather.
They are not magic but they can work, esp. during denning season.
Do you hunt during denning season or only fur season?
Tim
I also use them for a bunch of other types/styles of hunting both fur and feather.
They are not magic but they can work, esp. during denning season.
Do you hunt during denning season or only fur season?
Tim
Iam both fur and not, it is more of a family- work-hunting schedule so when ever I have the opportunity to hunt I take it. The reason for positing in this section was so I would hopefully get response from hunters located around Minnesota and surrounding states instead of states out west
Rock Knocker
Well-known member
I've been thinking about getting a dog. I'm thinking it would really be great if that dog could bring me coyotes.
It would be very hard to put enough coyotes in front of a dog if you are not willing or able to travel out west.
Exsposure to coyotes is the only way to train a coyote dog and MN does not have the numbers in most areas. I'm not talking 30-40 coyotes a year but 100+. You could do less but more would be better.
Just like a good bird dog, you need to have a good population of game to train and maintain a good decoy dog. It is a perishable skill. Unlike a bird dog were you can use pigeons, game farms ect... to train, with coyote you only have wild ones to train with and they are much harder to consistently find esp. ones willing to work a dog.
Dogs add an extra dimension to calling both good and bad. They will not bring in coyotes that are not there. On top of that some coyotes will not work a dog esp. outside of denning season.
I'm not trying to discourage anyone. Some have held dogs up as the holy grail so they could create a market to sell over priced pups. In my exp. dogs are just another tool to use. They make recovery of cripples easier and really can shine while working dens. For fur work, it can be hit or miss. Winter is not the best time to use dogs as most coyotes that work the dogs would have worked a call and some coyotes that would have worked a call will shy from a dog for a myriad of reasons.
Tim
Exsposure to coyotes is the only way to train a coyote dog and MN does not have the numbers in most areas. I'm not talking 30-40 coyotes a year but 100+. You could do less but more would be better.
Just like a good bird dog, you need to have a good population of game to train and maintain a good decoy dog. It is a perishable skill. Unlike a bird dog were you can use pigeons, game farms ect... to train, with coyote you only have wild ones to train with and they are much harder to consistently find esp. ones willing to work a dog.
Dogs add an extra dimension to calling both good and bad. They will not bring in coyotes that are not there. On top of that some coyotes will not work a dog esp. outside of denning season.
I'm not trying to discourage anyone. Some have held dogs up as the holy grail so they could create a market to sell over priced pups. In my exp. dogs are just another tool to use. They make recovery of cripples easier and really can shine while working dens. For fur work, it can be hit or miss. Winter is not the best time to use dogs as most coyotes that work the dogs would have worked a call and some coyotes that would have worked a call will shy from a dog for a myriad of reasons.
Tim
Originally Posted By: bigredugHow does your jag preform vs a cur I have had both and do have both but mostly for squirrel and coon and rabbit hunting
If you have both then you know the differences between terriers and curs.
I generally use the curs to decoy adults off a den and then let the terriers work the den. My older terrier works coyotes fairly well but the younger dog runs to catch and that brings about its own problems. Most terriers that decoy take time to learn that they don't always have to catch. Some learn it quick but some never learn. Obiedience and recall with a e collar goes a long way towards getting across what you want them to do.
The curs I've had have all come from decoy dog lines and other than giving them lots of exsposure to coyotes, have all been very instictive and I can't take credit in how they work.
If you've got the dogs, give them a try.
Tim
If you have both then you know the differences between terriers and curs.
I generally use the curs to decoy adults off a den and then let the terriers work the den. My older terrier works coyotes fairly well but the younger dog runs to catch and that brings about its own problems. Most terriers that decoy take time to learn that they don't always have to catch. Some learn it quick but some never learn. Obiedience and recall with a e collar goes a long way towards getting across what you want them to do.
The curs I've had have all come from decoy dog lines and other than giving them lots of exsposure to coyotes, have all been very instictive and I can't take credit in how they work.
If you've got the dogs, give them a try.
Tim