Kelly Irwin and Lisa Feener join the podcast to share their experiences in the world of hound hunting, from raising generations of bear dogs to navigating a traditionally male-dominated sport. This conversation explores memorable hunts, dog breeding, wildlife behavior, mentorship, and the deep bond between houndsmen and their dogs. More than anything, this episode is about the dogs, the people who love them, and the traditions that keep the sport alive.
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North American Game Warden Museum
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North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association
International Wildlife Crimestoppers
North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association
Here’s what we discuss:
- Meeting through New Hampshire Bear Hunters Association field trials
- Why women are still relatively uncommon in hound hunting
- The term houndsmen and why neither guest worries much about labels
- Keeping things simple and focusing on the dogs
- Kelly’s introduction to hunting with hounds after meeting her husband
- Falling in love with the sport almost immediately
- Building a family bloodline that now stretches six generations
- Lisa’s first exposure to hound hunting while working on bear research
- Using hounds to capture and study radio-collared bears
- Discovering that hounds are more than just tools
- “Of course they’re dogs. They’re going to want to play, they’re going to want to snuggle, and they just have this really intense job.”
- Driving hours to learn more about dogs and hound hunting
- Mentorship, friendship, and learning the craft together
- “I want you to have a real bear dog.”
- Trial and error while building a successful pack
- Learning to manage different dog personalities and abilities
- The differences men and women can bring to dog training
- Reading dogs through their voices, behavior, and body language
- Understanding each dog’s strengths and weaknesses
- Memorable hunts in steep mountains and rugged terrain
- Recovering dogs from cliffs and navigating difficult country
- A successful bear hunt that led to an unexpected encounter with hikers
- Turning curiosity into a positive educational experience
- Common misconceptions about hunting with hounds
- “The strongest relationship you can have with an animal is to hunt with it.”
- Why most houndsmen are motivated by the dogs, not the harvest
- “It’s not about how many bears you can kill. For most houndsmen, it’s about the dogs.”
- Watching young dogs develop and gain confidence
- The excitement of a puppy figuring things out for the first time
- “Some of the most memorable hunts are when the puppies learn a thing.”
- Catch-and-release bear hunting during training season
- Understanding bear behavior and seasonal food sources
- Following clues from what bears are eating
- Studying movement patterns and habitat use
- Building bloodlines and preserving desirable traits
- The role genetics plays in creating successful hunting dogs
- “You have full ownership over the outcome of that dog.”
- Why local bloodlines often perform best in local conditions
- Hunting differences between northern New Hampshire and northern Maine
- Water crossings, cold trailing, and challenging terrain
- How regional conditions shape dogs over generations
- Hunting with children and introducing the next generation
- The teamwork required to manage a successful hound hunt
- Working together through guide camps and outdoor adventures
- Processing bears in the woods rather than rushing back to camp
- Slowing down and appreciating the entire experience
- “Take time to smell the roses.”
- Why the journey matters more than the harvest
- Looking ahead to another season with the dogs
Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett
Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches
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