When I think back on my experiences as a hunter, there is one sound that comes up over and over: the bawling of a hound. The sound of a hunting dog on the scent has always stirred up strong emotions and fond memories in me. I don’t often hear it anymore, but when I do, it has the power to take me back to my childhood.
My first experience hunting with dogs came when my Uncle Dan took me rabbit hunting with his beagles. When I was old enough, I carried on the tradition. Of course, dog hunting was much more common then. Back in the 1960s and 70s, no pickup truck was complete without a dog box in the bed and a shotgun hanging in the window. If you were lucky enough to have a four wheel drive truck, you qualified as a serious hunter.
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