Shoot here in Idaho I think it is almost everyone you see has dogs for bears and lions. I have nothing against hound hunters except a couple guys but just these 2 guys dont make all of you look bad. They ran bears off my bait site. But I dont hold it against all hound hunters as I have friends that run them. My landlord runs hounds and the guy down the road does also. So they are everywhere here in Idaho.
I will send you a private message.

We hunt with hounds in eastern North Carolina, Hyde County to be exact. With it being illegal to bait, hounds are the preferred method here in NC. People could not believe the hunting stories so we began videoing the hunts. 600+ pound bruins being harvested on the ground at 5 or 6 feet was a little hard for them to swallow until they starting seeing the footage, cameras don't lie. So don't be ashamed of hound hunting in eastern NC. Crawling in on your hands and knees to a bear fight when you know the bear is on the ground isn't as easy as many hunters think.

THis is not to upset anyone but hunting bear with dogs, doesnt that take the fun out of the sport of hunting? I could see using dogs to find a downed animal but not to hunt them. I think its to risky for the dog.

I have been on a hound hunt for bears one and only one time. No, it doesn't take the fun out of it. In fact, it was not at all like I expected. You really don't have any idea what a hound hunt for bears is like until you've been on one.

Yes, it can be risky for the dogs if the hunters don't get there very soon after they corner the bear. That's why you have to be running like a son of a gun to keep up with the dogs! You don't just sit back, smoking a pipe, until the dogs are all done and then stroll up and shoot the bear!

Guess my next question is Are these dogs trained to strictly hunt bear? Like a lab for birds etc. Never been on a hunt with dogs so I really dont know. But have heard both sides some like the idea and some dont. My only curiosity was the dogs safety and are they trained strictly for bear.

you get the dogs started on coon first. but you can bet the dogs LOVE it! ive also heard people say bait hunting is like shooting fish in a barrel. mostly from people who have never done it. i dont have a problem with either method.

I got my bear over bait. Its not like fish in a barrel. Its hit or miss. If the bear dont want to come in he wont. mine actually came in for a few seconds and left and came back 5 mins later. My guide also had camera's in his sites and that bear was never in any of the pictures. He was a surprise bear. Its all in the placement of the shot. I guess everyone has thier own method of the way they like to hunt. I guess as long as the dogs are not harmed and the hunter comes home with his/her trophy that is all that counts.

ive hunted bear over bait and i think its a great way to hunt. i dont knock anybodys fair chase hunts.

Most bears will run like hell from a dog And also most bears will avoid conflict unless absoultly necesary. I to have only hunted over bait. running with a pack of dogs through the thick woods we have around here sounds to much like work

Go with someone with dogs.Your in for a big surprise.Hope your in shape.