Bear Hunting With Hounds in the Appalachians with Houston Valley Plotts

Bear hunting with hounds in the Appalachian mountains of Eastern Tennessee is a cultural experience. On this podcast we sit down with long-time Plott breeder and bear hunter, Tracy (TL) Jones of Greeneville, Tennessee to discuss some plot history, what he looks for in a bear hound, and we’ll tell some bear hunting stories. Even if you aren’t a hound hunter, this podcast is for you! Our hope is that you get a glimpse into this unique hunting niche and end up with a respect for it. Hound hunting is one of the most misunderstood types of hunting, but I think you’ll see why it’s important that you support it, even if you don’t ever care to be a part of it. Bear hunting with hounds is one of the most traditional methods of bear hunting. Many of the iconic American hunters of the past including Daniel Boone and Teddy Roosevelt were avid hound hunters.

It’s anything but the lazy man’s way to hunt, and would rival any of the hunting styles on the planet in terms of difficulty and skills needed to consistently take game. The hunters have to be tough, dedicated and have intricate knowledge of the area to be successful. But most importantly, a good bear houndsman has to consistently produce dogs that will “catch” bear. Whether it’s treeing a bear or baying one on the ground, it takes a tremendous animal with a very unique skill set to do it day after day. Great bear hounds are few and far between even in good lines of hounds. As you listen to this podcast I think you’ll grow in appreciation for the bear houndsman and what he does. Check out www.bear-hunting.com for more great bear hunting content.

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