Kelly Irwin – Warden's Watch

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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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