Summer is creeping up on us real quick down here in Florida. Its been so hot I about have to work the squirrel dogs during the night. Everyone needs to make sure they have access to plenty of fresh drinking water when out hunting day or night. I sure would hate to hear of any stories of injuries or illnesses related to the heat.
I had quite a few inquiries about the FTDA in the recent weeks. I would like to thank Gary Hostler from Haines City for the help he has been providing. He put me in touch with Mr. Orlis Roberts, an old hand at coon hunting and a wealth of knowledge for anyone he comes in contact with. I had a nice letter from Lowell Johnson about his curdogs and he also inquired about a membership. I received an e-mail from Bruce Conkey from San Mateo about information to join the club. Bruce has a nice looking black and white walker hound named Stylish Bossman. If anyone is interested in taking a look at this hound you can visit Bruce's website at www.geocities.com/stylishbossman . Kurt Stout from Bonifay also E-mailed inquiring membership. Kurt seems to have a lot of knowledge to pass on and is interested in our youth programs planned for the future. Kurt is also the author of an article in Full Cry column entitled Florida Tree Game Hunting. I encourage everyone to give it a read.
Things are really looking up for the FTDA, and I as well as others would like to see it a success. The success depends on you, the members. We need all the support we can get. If you don't own a hound, cur, or feist but are interested in knowing more about them, I am sure that someone will be able to help you along in this great sport. Even if you used to have Tree dogs and no longer own any for one reason or another join up! We need folks like you who still want to be involved and see our sport through for future generations.
I hope to have a meeting planned by the month of July to discuss our fall plans and to set up hunt dates, seminar dates and future meeting dates. Any member is encouraged to attend this meeting and for those who are not able will receive a copy of the meetings minutes, upon request, from our Secretary.
Back to what this club is all about! I have been trying to get in the woods after work every day and a couple of times on the weekend. My goal is to have one of the two puppies I am working ready for this fall's upcoming squirrel season.I had hunted with my good friend Wade Kimball, from over in Brooksville, a few times this early spring and was jealous of his good curdog Taz. He is also working a nice female he got from Joe McMillan, who is coming on nicely. I have almost got him talked into getting a feist, now I just have to work on his wife!
I am really getting into these little feist dogs and I hope more folks in Florida will follow my interest. I think if the hunting conditions were a little better more folks would be able to enjoy squirrel hunting with dogs. I happen to like the challenge myself. Hunting to me is more than killing, it is watching or hearing a good dog work and or watching a young person's interest grow with each trip. Even though we have leaves on the tree all year long we still manage to tree a few squirrels with each trip.
From the reports I have been getting coon hunting is getting tougher with the warm weather. Be careful crossing those swamps as gator mating season is upon us. Snakes seem to be another issue this years as it warms up. I have heard reports from all over the country about dogs getting snake bit this year, so be careful.
Until next time enjoy your time in the woods and take a kid hunting!!
