The Tailgate Test: What Your Hounds Really Did This Season

In this episode Steve covers topics that resonate with hunters that have been involved with the sport for several years as well as those that may be new comers to the sport. After raising the question in last week’s episode, “Who is the best coonhound pup trainer in the world,” Steve reviews several responses posted by members of his online Coon Hunting Conversations group.  The segment segues into a discussion of the members of Steve’s local coon club in the 1970’s and recalls the names and the brief bios of 43 of those members!  It’s a trip down memory lane for the host and a interesting introduction to a family of coon hunters that some listeners may recall. We would like to thank those who support this podcast.  Special thanks to Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode.  www.dusupply.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts

The season may be over, but the work of becoming a better houndsman is just beginning. In this episode, we take a hard, honest look at post-season evaluation—what your hounds actually showed you this year versus what you hoped they were doing. Every race, every loss, every cold trail tells a story. The hunters who improve year after year are the ones willing to sit on the tailgate after the season and ask the tough questions. We break down how to evaluate your pack honestly, what traits you should be looking for, and how those observations should guide your off-season training plans. Spring isn’t just the end of hunting—it’s the beginning of building better hounds.   IG - heathhyatt147 FB Heath Hyatt Youtube - Heath Hyatt      Follow our Sponsors: Inukshuk  Darkenergy OnX  Double U Hunting Supply Quick-track.com Muddy River Transport    Inukshuk: Inukshukpro.com Corey.ca   Darkenergy:  best-charging banks on market. Discount code is CODE4 darkenergy.com   Onx: subscribe to the best mapping app on the market by using promo code - K920   Frontline Optics- Duty sunglasses Polarized No questions asked replacement Charitable Donation with every pair Free shipping Frontline-Optics.com use promo code - CODE4 https://frontline-optics.com?sca_ref=5672409.03I05MEwyy     Subscribe to:  Full Cry Magazine Bear Hunting Magazine American Bear Foundation   For the best lights in the business Check out: Cajunlights.com    Get all your hound hunting gear at Double U. Products every hound hunter trusts to keep up with their pack. Double U Hunting Supply.com We would like to thank those who support this podcast.  Special thanks to Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode.  www.dusupply.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts

This week Steve dons his racing silks and takes the listener to 800-horse two-year old thoroughbred sale in Ocala, Florida for a day of education and inspiration.   Rarely does he do anything that doesn’t bring him full circle to his world of working dogs. The world of coon hunting, especially concerning the animals that are central to the sport, has many parallels to the horse-racing game. We extoll the value of breeding and proof of ancestry through pedigrees for dogs and horses, we value reproduction success and keep records of performance of the offspring by listing wins, earnings and titles on registration documents.   But, rounding the clubhouse turn and heading home, the ponies stretch out the lead in terms of providing the information and vehicle to move the top-performers into the winner’s circle. With thoroughbred racing, breeders, trainers and owners are privy to a plethora of information in print and online that coonhound enthusiasts can only dream about..  Steve’s visit to a sale of national prominence held in an unrivaled venue allows him to fantasize about the possibilities of the same type of program for coonhounds and ends with the question, “Who is the best coonhound trainer in the world?”    We would like to thank those who support this podcast.  Special thanks to Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode.  www.dusupply.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts

This episode dives into the complexities of legislation affecting dog sports, the impact of social media on public perception, and strategies for advocacy. Guests discuss recent bills targeting greyhound racing and coursing, the role of social media in shaping opinions, and how hunters and dog owners can navigate these challenges. In this episode, Buddy Woodberry and Ross delve into the complexities of social media, content moderation, and the future of hunting communities online. They explore how algorithms and platform policies impact hunters, the risks of relying on social media for building followings, and potential solutions for maintaining hunting culture in the digital age. We would like to thank those who support this podcast.  Special thanks to Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode.  www.dusupply.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts

Whether you are fighting as an individual or as an organization, what are your expectations? What does it mean and why does it matter? In this episode we break down what each means and how you can help. Getting involved is not an option, it’s a responsibility.    IG - heathhyatt147 FB Heath Hyatt Youtube - Heath Hyatt    Follow our Sponsors: Inukshuk  Darkenergy OnX  Double U Hunting Supply Quick-track.com Muddy River Transport    Inukshuk: Inukshukpro.com Corey.ca   Darkenergy:  best-charging banks on market. Discount code is CODE4 darkenergy.com   Frontline Optics- Duty sunglasses Polarized No questions asked replacement Charitable Donation with every pair Free shipping Frontline-Optics.com use promo code - CODE4 https://frontline-optics.com?sca_ref=5672409.03I05MEwyy     Subscribe to:  Full Cry Magazine Bear Hunting Magazine Southern Hound hunting Magazine  American Bear Foundation   For the best lights in the business Check out: Cajunlights.com    Get all your hound hunting gear at Double U. Products every hound hunter trusts to keep up with their pack. Double U Hunting Supply.com We would like to thank those who support this podcast.  Special thanks to Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode.  www.dusupply.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts

In this episode Steve addresses the changes in the way coon hunters acquire information by reviewing two books written in 1948 and 1952 respectively. The American Trail Hound by Fred Streaver and The Coon Hunter’s Handbook by Leon F. Whitney, DVM and Acil B. Underwood were two important works designed to make the training of coonhounds a successful experience 75 years or so ago. Steve finds the more things change the more they stay the same as the methods of three-quarters of a century ago appear similar to the methods coon hunters use in training dogs today. The episode also includes a tribute to a special friend who recently passed to the vast timbers and river bottoms of his eternal home, Hoosier houndsman and tree dog enthusiast George Danielson. We would like to thank those who support this podcast.  Special thanks to Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode.  www.dusupply.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts

Following up on how to take care of a hound in cold weather, we need to evaluate our gear. Can you stay out for long periods of time in cold or wet weather? Let's take a look at what works and what don’t.  IG - heathhyatt147 FB Heath Hyatt Youtube - Heath Hyatt  Follow our Sponsors: Inukshuk  Darkenergy OnX  Double U Hunting Supply Quick-track.com Muddy River Transport  Inukshuk: Inukshukpro.com Corey.ca Darkenergy:  best-charging banks on market. Discount code is CODE4 darkenergy.com Onx: subscribe to the best mapping app on the market by using promo code - K920 Frontline Optics- Duty sunglasses Polarized No questions asked replacement Charitable Donation with every pair Free shipping Frontline-Optics.com use promo code - CODE4 https://frontline-optics.com?sca_ref=5672409.03I05MEwyy Subscribe to:  Full Cry Magazine Bear Hunting Magazine Southern Hound hunting Magazine  American Bear Foundation For the best lights in the business Check out: Cajunlights.com  Get all your hound hunting gear at Double U. Products every hound hunter trusts to keep up with their pack. Double U Hunting Supply.com We would like to thank those who support this podcast.  Special thanks to Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode.  www.dusupply.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts

It’s old home week on the Gone to the Dogs podcast as Steve connects with his longtime friend and former boss, Larry Meeks. Meeks was the owner and served as CEO for Professional Kennel Club for thirteen years following his purchase of the popular coonhound registry in the fall of 1997. Fielder joined the organization in June of 1998 and served as its Senior Vice President through November of 2004.  Conversation flows freely as Fielder urges Meeks to recall his meager upbringing in and around the Terre Haute, Indiana area. It’s a Horatio Alger story of a kid raised by a single parent, his dad, that was largely left to his own devices until he discovered his affinity to all things involving trucks. Meeks and his son Jeremy own and operate Gibco Motor Express, one of the nation’s top commodity haulers that haul, in Meeks’ words, everything from coal to bread. Meeks coon hunting background and an early affiliation with PKC led him to purchase the registry and catapult it into a thriving business in his 13-year tenure. He and Fielder relive the days and nights at the Tennis Center at Ken Lake State Park in West Kentucky where the Super Stakes and World Hunt were held back-to-back in a ten-day coon hunting marathon.  Stories, some that include an inside look at the workings of a major coon hunting organization, abound in this entertaining episode. Enjoy.  We would like to thank those who support this podcast.  Special thanks to Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode.  www.dusupply.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts

In this extended roundtable discussion, Buddy Woodberry, Ross, and Bracken Gittins explore the evolving world of GPS tracking systems for houndsmen. The conversation centers around real-world use, field expectations, and what serious dog hunters actually need from their equipment. They discuss user experience and interface design, map responsiveness, screen navigation, and how handheld performance matters in high-pressure moments. The group also raises broader questions about training philosophy, tone versus stimulation use, and how correction timing can impact dogs with different temperaments. Other topics include tracking reliability in rough terrain, antenna performance, battery life in changing weather conditions, compass accuracy, geofencing capabilities, app integration, and the role of SIM or cellular connectivity. They also consider practical concerns like sharing tracking information between hunters, managing multiple dogs, and how systems perform when pushed under real hunting conditions. Throughout the episode, the focus remains on thoughtful evaluation rather than brand loyalty. The central theme is simple: What does a modern tracking system need to deliver for working houndsmen, and how should new technology be measured in the field? We would like to thank those who support this podcast.  Special thanks to Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode.  www.dusupply.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts

When the temperature drops, real houndsman don’t stop. We just have to adjust.  In this episode we’re breaking down why winter care matters more than most handlers realize. From how frozen ground steals body heat to why elevation and dry bedding can make or break your kennel setup, we’re covering the fundamentals that keep your pack healthy, strong, and ready to hunt.  Cold doesn’t harm dogs, poor preparation does.     IG - heathhyatt147 FB Heath Hyatt Youtube - Heath Hyatt      Follow our Sponsors: Inukshuk  Darkenergy OnX  Double U Hunting Supply Quick-track.com Muddy River Transport    Inukshuk: Inukshukpro.com Corey.ca   Darkenergy:  best-charging banks on market. Discount code is CODE4 darkenergy.com   Onx: subscribe to the best mapping app on the market by using promo code - K920   Frontline Optics- Duty sunglasses Polarized No questions asked replacement Charitable Donation with every pair Free shipping Frontline-Optics.com use promo code - CODE4 https://frontline-optics.com?sca_ref=5672409.03I05MEwyy     Subscribe to:  Full Cry Magazine Bear Hunting Magazine Southern Hound hunting Magazine  American Bear Foundation   For the best lights in the business Check out: Cajunlights.com    Get all your hound hunting gear at Double U. Products every hound hunter trusts to keep up with their pack. Double U Hunting Supply.com We would like to thank those who support this podcast.  Special thanks to Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode.  www.dusupply.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts