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42-416: The Treeing Walker Coonhound was bred primarily to hunt raccoons , but it is also used on other game such as deer, bears, bobcats or cougars. The breed is vocal with a distinctive bay that allows its owner to identify their hound from great distances. It has a clear, ringing voice that changes to a steady chop at the tree. Treeing Walker Coonhounds tend to do best in working homes. The Treeing Walker Coonhound

84-569: A 1959 film starring Fabian Forte and Stuart Whitman , but while the book was successful the movie was a flop. In 1961 Wilson Rawls published the novel Where the Red Fern Grows , the story of young coon hunter Billy Colman, who lives in the Oklahoma Ozark Mountains with his Redbone Coonhounds, Old Dan and Little Ann. The book was unsuccessfully marketed to adults for several years before being tested at schools, where it became

126-481: A bear or raccoon. Coon hunting Coon hunting is the practice of hunting raccoons , most often for their meat and fur. It is almost always done with specially bred dogs called coonhounds , of which there are six breeds, and is most commonly associated with rural life in the Southern United States . Coon hunting is also popular in the rural Midwest . Most coon hunts take place at night, with

168-595: A distinct "chop" when treed. Its temperament should be kind but fearless and courageous on the hunt. The Treeing Walker Coonhound is bred primarily for the mouth, looks, and ability. It is first and foremost a hunting dog, although it may be kept as a pet. It is described as affectionate and good with children, but its energy requires an outlet and it must be trained. The Treeing Walker Coonhound lives an average of 12 to 13 years. Treeing Walker Coonhounds are loving, intelligent, confident, and enjoy interacting with humans. They make good companion dogs for an owner who understands

210-580: A fashion trend in the 1920s, leading to high pelt prices and an increase in hunting and trapping. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, when many rural families lived in poverty, raccoons were hunted extensively and became relatively rare. Hunters sold the pelts for needed money, and the meat provided protein. In the 1940s and '50s conservation efforts were undertaken, including teaching hunters not to cut down den trees that raccoons used for raising offspring. The raccoon population subsequently expanded, to

252-488: A mainstay. A movie of the same name was made in 1974, starring Beverly Garland, Stewart Peterson and James Whitmore. It was remade in 2003. Southern comedian and folk storyteller Jerry Clower released his record of "The Coon Hunt", a comic tale of a Mississippi coon hunt gone wrong, in the early 1970s. It became popular almost immediately, launching Clower's career, and remained his best-known work, in addition to bringing over $ 1 million in sales and ultimately becoming

294-522: A platinum record for MCA Records . Country and bluegrass musician Jimmy Martin coon hunted as a hobby and wrote and recorded several songs about his coonhounds. Two of his songs, "Pete, the Best Coon Dog in the State of Tennessee" and "Run Pete Run", which describe the exploits of a "half Black and Tan and half Walker" named Pete, became bluegrass hits. On the latter song, the voice of Martin's coonhound

336-534: A small-game hunter. The Treeing Walker Coonhound's strong tracking instincts make it popular as a hunting dog, primarily for bear, cougar, and bobcats. Hunting solo or in packs of two or more, they are used to track and tree raccoons , bobcats , cougars , and bears . Individual hounds may be adept at catching small animals such as squirrels , black rats , opossums , and skunks . Because of their speed, Treeing Walker Coonhounds may be used as deer -hunting dogs in states where hunting of antlered animals with dogs

378-581: A standstill. The hunter dismounts for this procedure, unlike traditional British fox hunting in which part of the sport involves jumping fences at speed. This method has led to a mule show competition called coon jumping. Regardless of how they choose to travel, hunters typically wear a headlight in order to allow free use of both hands, though years ago flashlights or lanterns were more common. The first coon hunting headlights were carbide lights similar to those used by coal miners , but today headlights are made and sold specifically for hunting. A .22 rifle

420-471: Is actually heard. Dolly Parton's single, " Tennessee Homesick Blues ," includes a line referencing coon hunting in her youth. In addition to fictional portrayals of coon hunting, there are several magazines specifically devoted to the sport, of which two are Coonhound Bloodlines and Full Cry . The Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard is a cemetery located in Colbert County, Alabama . Since

462-426: Is legal during the hunting season, typically September to February, some hunters merely tree the raccoon and then leave it unharmed. In competitive hunts, where the objective is to demonstrate the skill of the dog, killing or harming the raccoon will often result in disqualification. Hunting for the sport without killing the raccoon, which is equated to catch and release fishing , or chasing raccoons from crop fields

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504-613: Is legal year-round. As with all game animals in the United States, the hunting of raccoons is regulated by wildlife conservation officials in each state and seasons and bag limits will therefore vary. In Tennessee, for example, coon hunting season begins in mid-September and ends in February, with a bag limit of one raccoon per hunter per day, while in Kentucky, it begins in October and ends on

546-593: Is legal. Although the Treeing Walker is best known as a coonhound, it is one of the most cold nosed dogs around and is the most popular hound for competition coon hunts . The treeing walker hound is one of the most popular because it is best known for speed, its cold nose and intelligence, and also for not being an aggressive like the Plott. Their cold nose and intelligence makes them much better for bobcat and cougar hunting, since these animals are normally harder to track than

588-628: Is located in Colbert County, Alabama . It is used specifically for the burial of certified coonhounds. There are six breeds of coonhound, all of which were first recognized by the United Kennel Club : The Black and Tan Coonhound was the first to be recognized by the American Kennel Club , in 1946. The other coonhound breeds were not able to be AKC-registered until the 2000s; the Redbone and Bluetick Coonhounds were both recognized in 2009,

630-549: Is not a hound but a cur . The dog or dogs are released at night in an area where raccoons are likely to be, such as a forest, crop field or swamp, and allowed to find a raccoon scent. Most dogs will emit a long, distinct bay upon striking a trail, and will continue to bay the entire time they are tracking the raccoon. The dog's voice may change timbre depending on how fresh or "hot" a scent is. Unlike some breeds of hunting dog that use sight to locate their prey, coonhounds use their sense of smell alone. The hunt typically ends when

672-568: Is the largest obvious difference. All but the Plott Hound descend from the English Coonhound. A major difference in hunting performance is whether a dog is hot-nosed, meaning it will skip an older scent to follow a fresher one, or cold-nosed, meaning it will follow an older scent. Of the six coonhound breeds, the hot-nosed Treeing Walker Coonhound is the most popular. Some hunters also use Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dogs , although this breed

714-442: Is the often result of a dog coming into contact with a raccoon's saliva, typically through a scratch or bite, though some cases do not involve raccoons at all. Despite the name, any breed of dog can contract the disease, but it is more commonly associated with coonhounds due to their use as raccoon hunting dogs. The disease is compared to Guillain-Barre syndrome in humans, resulting in progressive atrophy to leg muscles, starting with

756-440: Is the preferred caliber of gun, and boots are highly recommended due to mud and rough terrain. Not all coon hunting is in the wild, as many modern hunters enter their dogs in competition hunts, also called nite hunts. In 2002 the United Kennel Club (UKC), the largest registry for coonhounds, sanctioned over 6,000 such hunts across the United States. The largest and most prestigious annual hunts, also called field trials, include

798-448: The 1930s it has been specifically dedicated to burial of coonhounds. Coonhound A coonhound , colloquially a coon dog , is a type of scenthound , a member of the hound group. They are an American type of hunting dog developed for the hunting of raccoons and also for feral pigs, bobcats, cougars, and bears. There are six distinct breeds of coonhound. In the colonial period , hounds were imported into North America for

840-548: The AKC's 174th recognized breed. The Treeing Walker Coonhound may give an impression of a working dog. According to the UKC standard, it may stand 20 to 27 inches high at maturity, with weight in proportion. The common weight range is 50 to 70 pounds, with males being larger than females. The skull should be broad, with a long muzzle and long, hanging ears. Eyes are dark and have a soft expression. All four legs should be straight when viewed from

882-734: The Autumn Oaks, Leafy Oaks, and Coonhunting World Championship. All are licensed UKC events. The Autumn Oaks is held in Richmond, Indiana and attracts competitors from 39 states and Canada. Another large annual hunt is the Grand American Coon Hunt, which has been held in Orangeburg, South Carolina since 1965 and is sanctioned by the American Coon Hunters' Association. It includes a popular bench or conformation show in addition to

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924-591: The English in 2011 (as the American English), and the Treeing Walker in 2012. In 2008, the UKC recognized the American Leopard Hound as a scenthound breed. It is used for hunting raccoons, as well as other game animals. As a breed that is often used to hunt raccoons, coonhounds are susceptible to "Coonhound paralysis," or more accurately, acute canine idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis (ACIP). This condition

966-482: The ability to track. Coonhounds can hunt individually or as a pack. Often, hunters do not chase their quarry along with the hounds, unlike organized foxhunting, but wait and listen to the distinctive baying to determine if the prey has been treed. Coonhounds are excellent at hunting all manner of prey if trained properly. Established in 1937, the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard

1008-496: The characteristics of the breed and is willing to work with their in-bred nature as a hunting dog. On the scent, they are tireless, alert, and intense. At home, they are mellow, sensitive lovers of comfort. Treeing Walker Coonhounds get along well with other dogs and with children. Like most hounds, they are even-tempered and difficult to annoy or drive into aggression towards people or fellow dogs. With training, they will coexist with small animals such as cats, despite their nature as

1050-483: The dog as it hunts, or remain in one place and only go after the dog once it has treed. Tracking collars with built-in global positioning systems may be used to help locate the dog, though historically the dog's voice was used as a locator. Following the dog to the tree is often done on foot, although some hunters use mules or horses , and some utilize all-terrain vehicles . Horses and mules used for coon hunting typically are able to jump fences "flat-footed" or from

1092-660: The dog to hunt raccoons but teaching it to ignore other animals such as opossums, whitetail deer and rabbits, which are colloquially called "trash". Modern coon hunting is practiced with the use of a trained dog or pigs. While historically coon hunting dogs were of any breed, modern coon dogs are almost always members of the scenthound subgroup called coonhounds . There are six distinct breeds of coonhound developed specifically to hunt climbing game by scent; Black and Tan Coonhound , Redbone Coonhound , Bluetick Coonhound , English Coonhound , Treeing Walker Coonhound , and Plott Hound . The breeds vary somewhat in size, though color

1134-421: The dogs being turned loose, trailing and putting the raccoon up a tree without human assistance. Once the raccoon is in the tree, with the dog at the base, it is referred to as "treed", with " treeing " being the active verb form. In addition to meat or fur hunts, there are also competition hunts to demonstrate the speed and skill of the dog. In these the raccoons are not killed, but are treed and released. Some of

1176-418: The front or back, with cat-like, compact feet. In conformation shows, blindness or deafness is a disqualification. The smooth coat is fine and glossy and comes in a tricolor and a bi-color pattern . Tricolor, white with black and tan markings, is preferred, although bi-color dogs, black and white or tan and white, are acceptable. The Treeing Walker Coonhound has a clear bay on the trail, which should change to

1218-451: The hunting competition, and has special events for children who hunt or own coonhounds. In addition to the larger all-breed hunts, the UKC also holds a number of nite hunts each year that are breed-specific, meaning that they are limited to dogs of only one breed. The Southeastern Treeing Walker Conference is an example of this. The American Kennel Club and other kennel clubs also sanction coon hunting competitions. While killing raccoons

1260-538: The largest competition hunts are the Grand American, Autumn Oaks, and Leafy Oaks. Coon hunting has been recorded in such books as Where the Red Fern Grows and popularized in stories and songs recorded by Jerry Clower , Jimmy Martin and others. In Alabama, there is a cemetery specifically for the burial of coon dogs. Coonhound puppies typically start their hunting training at less than six months of age. The dog's owner or trainer will begin by teaching it to follow

1302-522: The last day of February, with no bag limit. Some states, including Iowa, require a valid trapping or hunting license to train a coonhound to hunt. Inadvertent hunting or running of deer by coonhounds is particularly problematic for hunters, as hunting deer with dogs is illegal in most states. Raccoons were first hunted by Native Americans , who harvested the common animals both for meat and fur. British and European settlers in North America later adopted

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1344-486: The late 1980s, and it is estimated that during the fur boom trapping took more raccoons than hunting with dogs. The practice of coon hunting is sometimes associated with possum hunting, since the same dogs were often used, the animals are both climbers by nature, and are common in the same geographic areas. However, opossums are criticized for being too easy to hunt and too greasy to be edible if killed, and are seldom hunted today. Coon hunting continues to be popular in

1386-512: The latter climbed trees, and breeders began to specifically develop dogs for their treeing ability: the ability to follow the scent to the base of a tree and stay there until the hunter came. Coonhounds existed as a distinct type by the mid-to-late 1800s. By 1885 a raccoon pelt sold for approximately 25 cents, a fair price for the time. Up to World War I raccoons were very common despite being hunted often, and were sometimes poisoned to keep them from destroying crops. Raccoon fur car coats were

1428-645: The point that they became recognized as a least-concern species . During the 1950s, staged night hunts were created and by the 1970s had become popular, with some hunts involving over one thousand dogs. In the 1970s, the price of raccoon pelts rose again to a high of 25 to 30 dollars each, and some people made their entire income from coon hunting. It was possible to catch ten raccoons per night in well-populated areas, with good dogs. One outdoors writer estimated that in 1985 there were 30 to 40 thousand coon hunters in Michigan alone. This market hunting largely died out by

1470-417: The popular sport of fox hunting . Various breeds of foxhounds and other hunting hounds were imported from England , Ireland , and France . Foxhounds were found to be inadequate for hunting American animals that did not hide near the ground, but instead climbed trees, such as raccoons , opossums , bobcats , and even larger prey like cougars and bears . The dogs were often confused or unable to hold

1512-463: The practice. While Native hunters did not rely on dogs, white hunters utilized them from Colonial times; George Washington is credited with owning some of the first coon hunting dogs, French hounds given to him by the Marquis de Lafayette . Most of the early coon dogs were actually Foxhounds imported from Europe or mixed breeds with hound blood, but these dogs often had trouble finding raccoons when

1554-436: The raccoon climbs a tree. Upon reaching the tree, the dog or dogs will stop baying and begin the "tree" bark, also referred to as the chop bark for its short, sharp sound. This change in vocalization lets the hunter know when a raccoon is treed. Some dogs have emitted as many as 150 chop barks per minute when on a tree. The dog is thus said to be treeing , and the raccoon is considered treed. The human hunter may either follow

1596-409: The rural South and Midwest. The Indianapolis Star noted in a 2014 article that while some coon hunters are "overalls-clad people from the backwoods", some earn six-figure salaries, and a top coonhound can cost as much as $ 40,000. Published in 1947, Fred Gipson 's first novel, Hound-Dog Man , tells the story of two young boys on a coon hunt with a "hound dog man" in 1905 Texas. It was made into

1638-408: The scent of a raccoon's pelt or commercial scent stick dragged across the ground. After the young dog has mastered this, it is taken hunting, either by itself or with other dogs. Many dog trainers prefer hunting older dogs alongside a younger one, with the reasoning that they will set an example for the inexperienced dog. Experienced dog trainers note that the most difficult part is often not teaching

1680-409: The scent when this occurred, and would mill about. This led to the development of treeing hounds by hunters and dog breeders. Foundation dogs were chosen for a keen sense of smell, the ability to track an animal independent of human commands and, most importantly, to follow an animal both on the ground and when it took to a tree. Bloodhounds specifically were added to many coonhound lines to enhance

1722-531: Was developed in the Colonial era from crosses of English Foxhounds. John W. Walker and George Washington Maupin, two breeders from Kentucky, which was then part of Virginia, are given credit for the breed's initial development. The dogs they bred were referred to as Walker Hounds and were used to hunt raccoons. In the 1800s, a stolen black and tan dog named Tennessee Lead was crossed into the Walker Hound. Tennessee Lead

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1764-698: Was of unknown origin, but he greatly influenced the Walker. The Walker Coonhound, Treeing, was first recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1905 as a part of the English Coonhound breed, at the request of breeders. The name was later changed to Treeing Walker Coonhound, and it was fully recognized as a separate breed in 1945. It was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in January 2012, making it

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