In this episode, Dave Pelzer takes us back to the early days of his coonhunting career and what hunting looked like when a dog didn't have to carry a fancy pedigree to earn its keep.Dave's coonhunting story began in the spring of 1956 with a $3 coonhound and a lifetime of hunting ahead of him. Nearly seven decades later, Dave has seen just about every side of the sport—from the days of hide hunters and mixed-breed hounds to today's highly specialized dogs and modern electronic tracking systems. We talk about the hide-hunting era and the dogs that made it possible, including mixed-up hounds that might have included bird dog crosses or just about anything else that could put a raccoon in a tree. For Dave, those dogs were judged by what they could do in the woods, not simply by what was written on paper. Over the years, Dave has owned nearly every breed of coonhound, with one exception—he has never owned a Plott. But one breed has continued to pull him back. Dave owned Redbones early in his hunting career and returned to them in the mid-1980s. He has remained with the breed ever since. Dave's connection to the Redbone breed extends beyond the dogs in his kennel. He currently writes the Redbone column in Full Cry Magazine for the American Redbone Coonhound Association, helping preserve the stories, people and traditions of a breed with a long history in the sport. This is a conversation about much more than dogs. It's a look back at how coonhunting has changed, what has stayed the same, and what can be learned from someone who has been turning loose hounds for nearly 70 years.   Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420083161566245  https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Housing-Solutions-Inc  https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia  

Today's episode proves that sometimes all it takes is one lucky break to ignite a lifelong passion. Nate Hinkson never planned on becoming a coonhunter. After hunting just twice, he won a Plott Hound puppy in a raffle—and that unexpected moment changed everything. In just a short time, Nate has immersed himself in the hound world, traveling across numerous states to compete, expanding his kennel with two more Plott Hounds, and earning the opportunity to handle dogs for respected Plott breeder Bill Shininger. His rapid rise is a testament to hard work, dedication, and a willingness to learn from every cast. Beyond the competition hunts, Nate's background as a professional dog trainer brings a unique perspective to the sport. We dive deep into training philosophy, discussing how solid fundamentals, consistency, and understanding canine behavior translate from everyday dog training to developing successful coonhounds. Whether you're starting a young pup, fine-tuning a competition dog, or simply looking to become a better handler, Nate shares practical insights that apply well beyond the woods. From an accidental introduction to becoming an up-and-coming competitor, this episode is packed with stories, lessons learned, and valuable training advice for houndsmen of every experience level. Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420083161566245  https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Housing-Solutions-Inc  https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia  

In this weeks episode I am joined by my good firends Zack and Brenna Southall of Goldmine Black and Tans.  What starts as a love for one breed can turn into a lifelong passion, and that's exactly what happened for Zack Southall. Zack shares how his passion for Black and Tans began while attending guide school just over a decade ago. What started with an appreciation for the breed has grown into a serious commitment over the last five years, with Goldmine Black and Tans becoming a familiar name on both the bench show and nite hunt circuit. We dive into the major investments they've made over the past year, from upgrading their kennel facilities to strengthening the quality of the dogs they're campaigning. But for Zack and Brenna, success isn't measured solely by wins or trophies. They believe the greatest reward in the sport is the friendships and relationships they've built along the way. Whether you're a Black and Tan enthusiast, a competition hunter, or simply enjoy hearing the stories behind successful kennels, you'll appreciate Zack and Brenna's dedication to the breed and the people who make this sport special. Follow Goldmine Black and Tans and keep an eye out for them at the next bench show or nite hunt—you'll likely find them making new friends as quickly as they're collecting wins. Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420083161566245  https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Housing-Solutions-Inc  https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia  

Another great episode from the vault. Jimmy Tipton has lived his whole life in the Smoky Mountains and has been following dogs since he was old enough to walk. He has followed many different hounds but he has found Stephens Curs to be his breed of choice. He has had a lot of luck pursuing bears and coons in the rough mountains around his home.  Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420083161566245  https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Housing-Solutions-Inc  https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia  

In this week's episode I am joined by Robin Powell. Robin caught the hound hunting bug at just nine years old, and more than six decades later, he's still turning loose hounds with the same excitement he had as a kid. Growing up in Oregon, Robin experienced a time when hound hunting was a way of life. Every weekend, every holiday, and every vacation revolved around dogs and the outdoors. Today, at 71 years old and happily retired, Robin spends his time doing what he loves most—running a small pack of crossbred hounds in pursuit of bobcats throughout the rugged country of the Pacific Northwest. In this episode, Robin shares stories from a lifetime spent behind hounds, how hound hunting has changed over the years, and why he's stayed committed to breeding the same family of dogs for an incredible nine generations. We also dive into what makes his crossbred pack so effective on bobcats, the importance of consistency in a breeding program, and why the passion for good hounds never fades. Whether you're a seasoned houndsman, a bobcat hunter, or someone who simply enjoys hearing stories from hunters who have dedicated their lives to the sport, you'll appreciate Robin's wisdom, humility, and unwavering love for hounds.   https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420083161566245  https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Housing-Solutions-Inc  https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia

In this week's episode, I am joined by Junior Pyles. Junior made a name for himself in the Walker breed when three hour coon hunts were common. He hunted hard his entire life and still enjoys getting out there at 88 years old. While we roll the calendar back and talk about how things use to be Junior drops numerous little tid bits of knowledge that can only be gotten by years of raising and training coonhounds. Even without those tid bits of knowledge this episode is worth a listen just to hear the stories Junior tells.     Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Housing-Solutions-Inc  https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia

In this week's episode I am joined by Kevin Cowan and Allen Franklin. In case you have not heard the news Kevin and his wife recently purchased the World Tree Dog Association from Mike Hamilton. Kevin is fired up about the future but wanted Allen to joine to be able to talk about the past and where WTDA came from as well. Kevin's vision is all about the growth of the sport and what its going to take to do just that. We had a great conversation not only looking to the future but Allen talks about Don and Lillie Moats who founded the WTDA. If you are a squirrel or coon hunter that loves eveything from the fellowship and camaraderie to intense, fast past competition you are going to want to check out what the WTDA has in store!     Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Housing-Solutions-Inc  https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia

In this week's epiosde I am joined by Luke Worthington. Luke is the president of the Wyoming Houndsman Association. He is a lion guide, and dedicated bobcat hunter. Luke explains his passion for bobcats over lions. We talk about his mixed pack and why he doesn't have an intact dog on his place. Luke has some opinions that not everyone will agree with but they can certainly learn from.  Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Housing-Solutions-Inc  https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia

In this week's episode I am joined by Joey Thomason. Joey is a squirrel hunter from Georgia. He has only been into squirrel dogs for 5 years but has found great success with his first two dogs. He quickly got involved with the American Treing Feist Association and we talk about many of the great members that have become like family to Joey. He now even writes the ATFA column for Full Cry!   Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Housing-Solutions-Inc  https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia

In this week's episode I am joined by Tim Moore of Paradise Valley Tree Dawgs. I have been following Tim on Facebook for a little while now. His mixed pack of little meat dogs caught my eye. He has been hunting some bird dog crosses lately and you may hear a few familiar names in this podcast. I did not know where his dogs came from but after listening to Tim it all made sense. Tim is a pleasure hunter that enjoys working with dogs that have not always been givien the best chance. He takes pride in turning them into good squirrel dogs.    Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Housing-Solutions-Inc  https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia