Horn Seeker
New member
Lets talk a bit about some of the exploits of some of these guys. I actually only recognize one on the living page...Del Cameron. I've read at least some about all on the deceased page.
What can you guys tell me about the other living guys? I recently read Camerons book. Honestly, I wasn't impressed with his ego, but he's definitely a hell of a hound hunter.
There are a number of houndmen from Washington that have been at it just as long and caught as much game as Cameron, cant speak for the other nominees. Tell me some about them.
I'll tell you about a houndman in Washington, by the name of Bruddy Scott (yes, the first name is a nickname, I dont know his real name). He's been hunting dogs since he was a kid in Western Washington mainly. He was never bear hunter, stricly cats. He'd work as a logger when the weather permitted (in W. Washington the rainy season is NOT a good time to log) and cat hunted the rest of the time. He is a hell of an elk and deer hunter too, but cats were his thing.
When I was 12 years old or so I hunted with him and he had a dog named Jeff. Jeff was the greatest bobcat dog I've ever laid eyes on, bar none. There were several that approached his proess, but didn't quite match it. I could never say what kind of tree percentage Jeff had on tracks started, but I'll bet it was 75+%? May have been higher.
A lot of times in W. Wash the lower country wouldn't have snow all winter. Jeff struck bobcats off the box as good as most dogs will strike a bear, and it was a rare sight for him to take a backtrack. Anyhow, Bruddy made Jeff by hunting him, and hunting him smart too. Bruddy hunted most everyday from the end of November until the the middle of March. Back in the day of course, the bobcat hides were worth some dang good money, so it was worth it.
I wish I had lots of big flashy numbers to throw up about how many cats Bruddy has caught, but I dont. I'd wager to say there may not be another man thats caught the numbers of bobcats he has, and probably may never be. Who knows, thats just my opinion.
In the near 20 years I have hunted around Bruddy he's made a number of dogs. A couple acheived super stardom (in our eyes) like Jeff. His dogs were incredible well mannered too. They'd walk by his side until he released them with a voice command and he could call them off a track if he wanted or heel them off a tree if he wanted to leave a lion. Anyhow, I'm just rambling, but he is definitely "legendary" in my book. He wasn't a guide, so he didn't get to be famous and he almost always hunted alone too. We hunted with him 10 or so days a winter, thats how I got to know him.
Lets here about some other hellacious houndmen. I have been fortunate enough to hunt with several other guys I'd rank with anyone in the nation as far as game caught and dog making talent (my dad not the least of which). If you guys knew them they would rank on your "nominee list" for sure.
Good Luck All,
Ernie
What can you guys tell me about the other living guys? I recently read Camerons book. Honestly, I wasn't impressed with his ego, but he's definitely a hell of a hound hunter.
There are a number of houndmen from Washington that have been at it just as long and caught as much game as Cameron, cant speak for the other nominees. Tell me some about them.
I'll tell you about a houndman in Washington, by the name of Bruddy Scott (yes, the first name is a nickname, I dont know his real name). He's been hunting dogs since he was a kid in Western Washington mainly. He was never bear hunter, stricly cats. He'd work as a logger when the weather permitted (in W. Washington the rainy season is NOT a good time to log) and cat hunted the rest of the time. He is a hell of an elk and deer hunter too, but cats were his thing.
When I was 12 years old or so I hunted with him and he had a dog named Jeff. Jeff was the greatest bobcat dog I've ever laid eyes on, bar none. There were several that approached his proess, but didn't quite match it. I could never say what kind of tree percentage Jeff had on tracks started, but I'll bet it was 75+%? May have been higher.
A lot of times in W. Wash the lower country wouldn't have snow all winter. Jeff struck bobcats off the box as good as most dogs will strike a bear, and it was a rare sight for him to take a backtrack. Anyhow, Bruddy made Jeff by hunting him, and hunting him smart too. Bruddy hunted most everyday from the end of November until the the middle of March. Back in the day of course, the bobcat hides were worth some dang good money, so it was worth it.
I wish I had lots of big flashy numbers to throw up about how many cats Bruddy has caught, but I dont. I'd wager to say there may not be another man thats caught the numbers of bobcats he has, and probably may never be. Who knows, thats just my opinion.
In the near 20 years I have hunted around Bruddy he's made a number of dogs. A couple acheived super stardom (in our eyes) like Jeff. His dogs were incredible well mannered too. They'd walk by his side until he released them with a voice command and he could call them off a track if he wanted or heel them off a tree if he wanted to leave a lion. Anyhow, I'm just rambling, but he is definitely "legendary" in my book. He wasn't a guide, so he didn't get to be famous and he almost always hunted alone too. We hunted with him 10 or so days a winter, thats how I got to know him.
Lets here about some other hellacious houndmen. I have been fortunate enough to hunt with several other guys I'd rank with anyone in the nation as far as game caught and dog making talent (my dad not the least of which). If you guys knew them they would rank on your "nominee list" for sure.
Good Luck All,
Ernie
