robs
Junior Hunter/worker
Posts: 20
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Muskrat
Nov 27, 2007 13:02:49 GMT -5
Post by robs on Nov 27, 2007 13:02:49 GMT -5
Hi, i am a new member to the board. I have read posts here for some time, but this is my first post. I have three mutts, two of which i have used to catch groundhogs and raccoons in barns for farmers. One of my dogs takes to the water and has managed to catch a few muskrats over the years. My muskrat catcher is now 13 years old and is starting to slow down. I am interested in adding an Airedale to my pack.
Has anyone here ever used Airedales to hunt muskrats or similar game? I would think that if any breed of dog is suited to hunting muskrats i would be an Airedale.
Rob
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Muskrat
Nov 27, 2007 14:44:21 GMT -5
Post by frankyme on Nov 27, 2007 14:44:21 GMT -5
Welcome! I've thought about it. My Airedale seems to have a natural drive to get them. We've come close to tipping the canoe an a few occasions when a rat ventures too close. Most of the time we're duck hunting and I have to calm him down to focus on the task at hand. He has yet to catch a rat.
Does your mutt need to dive to catch them? My Airedale has never retrieved anything from under water yet. I hear some Labs do that and would imagine it would come in handy for water ratting.
Frank
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robs
Junior Hunter/worker
Posts: 20
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Muskrat
Nov 27, 2007 15:14:39 GMT -5
Post by robs on Nov 27, 2007 15:14:39 GMT -5
I have never seen him dive to catch them. He is a lab mix. there have been occasions where i have been swimming in a pond with my pup and he as brought them to me. I suspect he may have, but can't say for sure. His vision is getting bad now, but when it was sharper, he would put his head completely under to try and grab fish.
do you know how the airedale was used in the past to hunt otters?
Rob
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Muskrat
Nov 29, 2007 15:30:47 GMT -5
Post by frankyme on Nov 29, 2007 15:30:47 GMT -5
No I don't, maybe someone who uses an Airedale on their trap line knows.
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Post by Maverick on Dec 5, 2007 2:55:55 GMT -5
No I don't, maybe someone who uses an Airedale on their trap line knows. Two very different jobs. Airedales hunting otter in England is pretty sketchy, but Airedales seem to have been developed to add fight to an Otterhound pack and/or as a poor man's one and only pot filler. No one documented the early development Airedale which occurred in the late 1800s, but many have tried to fill in the holes between the clues from the period. - Pete
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Muskrat
Dec 24, 2008 11:36:35 GMT -5
Post by bushman on Dec 24, 2008 11:36:35 GMT -5
Thell chase em but never seen em catch one...
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