How to Coon Hunt – The Anatomy of a Hunt
The air is cold, and the sun is dropping. What should you do?
Go ‘Run One’!
One raccoon, that is. Coon hunting is a fun sport that involves a person, a hound or two, and the wild outdoors. Here are the basics of how to coon hunt!
When to Hunt
Most hunts will take place in the evening and overnight hours. While many states leave raccoon season open all year, some limit it to specific dates. Check season dates and permit restrictions with your state’s conservation department before heading out.
What You’ll Need
While there are many available supplies for raccoon hunters, you’ll want to start with the basics. You can begin with as little as a bright flashlight or headlamp, a trained hound with a form of leash, a .22 caliber rifle, and any license or permit required by the state you intend to hunt in. You will also want a pack to carry your furs or whole coons in.
It is likely you will need cold weather clothing, as most hunts take place in cold climates and after dusk. Dressing in layers will help you combat dropping temperatures. Waterproof boots and coveralls are also recommended, as you will be walking through damp conditions.
Raccoon hunters use trained hounds to locate raccoons. You can choose to hunt with one or two dogs. Each dog will need a strong leash and collar. If you are hunting with two dogs, a coupler will help you handle both with one hand. This will leave your other hand free to carry your rifle or flashlight.
Most coon hunters transport their dogs in a special box that fits in the back of a pickup.
Where to Hunt
First and foremost, you must seek the permission of the landowner if you intend to hunt on property that you do not own.
The most desirable spot to hunt has an abundance of hardwood, such as Maple, Oak, and Sycamore trees. Prime property will also have a water source, such as a creek, pond, or river. Avoid property near a town, highway, or other well traveled road.
Beginning the Hunt
Gather all of your equipment and load it into the truck. Check the dog collars for wear, fraying, and loosen or tighten as necessary. Load the dogs into the box.
When you arrive at your location, you should make sure that you are fully prepared. Exit the vehicle and put on any remaining gear or clothing. Test your lights and load your weapon. You are now ready to get the dogs.
Open the dog box and grab the dogs very quickly, as they will be rearing to go. Leash them up and start walking to the edge of the timber. Point the dogs in the direction you intend to walk and unleash them while holding the collar. Release your grip on the collar and let the dogs loose into the woods. They should run into the woods with purpose.
After they are released, sit still and wait for them to bark. When they start barking, they’ve located a coon. Determine which direction the dogs are barking and start walking towards the sound. They will bark every time they smell the coon. There will be gaps between the barks as the dogs trail the scent. This will continue until the raccoon runs up a tree, or in the rare instance that they run into a hole.
The dog is now ‘treed’. The bark will sound different when the dog has a coon trapped in a tree than it did while running. The barking will become constant and come from the same location, because the dog will not leave the tree.
When you find the dog, you should leash it so that it doesn’t chase another coon and is close to the spot the coon should hit the ground. Shine your light into the tree to find the coon. You probably won’t see the coon itself, but cannot mistake its glowing yellow eyes. If the moon is bright, it may be staring towards it. Some hunters carry a call that emits a squall that attracts the coon’s attention.
Once you’ve spotted the eye, aim your rifle at it. Shooting in the eye ensures a quick, clean kill. Be quick to let the hound go, as it will be eager to get to the fallen raccoon. If the coon is still alive when it hits the ground, the dog will finish it off.
Once the coon is dead, leash your dog to a nearby tree. You may choose to skin the coon or place it in your pack. You have now successfully killed your first coon. You can choose to either go back to your truck or walk another hundred feet into the woods, release the hounds, and start another hunt.
And that is a summary of How to Coon Hunt. In order to get hands on learning, find a Coon Hunting Club located near you, where people are happy to share their knowledge and years of experience.
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Coon Hunting Competition Hunts
September 12, 2016 by Hunter • Events, Know-How • 0 Comments
Once you’ve dipped your feet in the sport of coon hunting, you may be looking for more ways to showcase your dog. Many hunters turn to competition hunts. Competitions allow hunters to showcase their dogs by competing against other dogs in a regulated format.
The two most popular types of hunts are endorsed by the Professional Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club. The Professional Kennel Club offers a more competitive style of hunt while the United Kennel Club offers a more laid back, friendly hunt.
Professional Kennel Club
The Professional Kennel Club (PKC) is the self-proclaimed largest organization that offers competitive hunts and coonhound registration. They also offer rabbit and squirrel hunting competitions. The P.K.C. hunts are often referred to as ‘money hunts’. The winners of each competition are awarded money instead of points or trophies.
You must be a member of the Professional Kennel Club in order to participate in the competitions. Membership fees range from $10-$25 per calendar year in addition to the competition fees. Members will also receive a subscription to Prohound magazine.
Entry fees must be paid for each event in addition to the membership fees. You can find PKC events near you by visiting their website at www.Prohound.com. On the event schedule, you will find contact information, locations, dates, and entry fees.
Your dog must also be PKC registered in order to hunt. PKC allows you to register any dog, as long as it has coonhound characteristics. It is not required that you know the parentage.
United Kennel Club
The United Kennel Club (UKC) is thought to be one of the oldest and most well-known dog registries. It was established in 1898 and registers dogs from all 50 states and 25 additional countries.
The UKC has a strong emphasis on family friendly, educational events. In addition to the competition hunts, they also offer programs such as obedience trials, agility trials, dock jumping, drag races, and bench shows. Instead of cash prices, the UKC awards points. Points accumulate to boost your dog’s class, or title.
The UKC also differs in that emphasis is placed directly on owner handlers. Professional handlers are ineligible to compete with dogs they do not own directly. Full emphasis is placed on the dog’s ability, not showmanship.
All dogs participating in UKC events must be UKC registered. The UKC does not currently support single registration, so parentage must be documented.
You can find register and learn more about local events here: http://www.ukcdogs.com/Web.nsf/WebPages/DogEvents/Home
What to Expect at a Competition Hunt
After you’ve researched each kennel club and verified that your dog is eligible, you are ready to start competing.
You will complete your registration and check in upon arrival. After you have registered, you will be divided into casts. Each cast is a group made up of four or five hunters and their dogs. They will then travel with a guide to the hunting grounds.
The members of each cast are lined up and the dogs are released at the same time. The cast members will listen closely for their dogs. Because no two dogs sound alike, it’s easy for the owner to recognize his dog’s bark. Once the owner hears his dog pick up the scent, he must yell ‘Strike’. The judges will award points to the first dog that strikes.
They will then wait for the dogs to tree the coon. Each dog will have a different bark when they tree as when they strike, but the owner will easily recognize it. The owner and the judges will then go to find the coon. They will receive points if they can find it in the tree with their lights, but will lose points or face a possible scratch if the raccoon cannot be located. No raccoons are killed during a competition hunt.
Once the hunt is completed, the scorecard must be turned into the judges before the deadline. If you miss the deadline, you will be disqualified. The scorecards are then tallied and points and prizes are awarded.
Competition hunts provide an outlet for owners of all ages and levels to showcase their dogs. Choose the style of event that best fits your goals and the abilities of your dog.