Hunting With Hounds in North America
Hunting with hounds is an age-old, but still exhilarating, experience. Historical evidence suggests that man has hunted with hounds for at least twenty thousand years. This ancient tradition is particularly vital in the wild spaces and varied landscapes of North America. Written by a respected veterinarian who is also an enthusiastic hunter, Hunting with Hounds in North America is both a historical overview and a practical guide. Though closely related, hounds differ from other dogs because of their unique instinctive ability to hunt. While hunting dogs like pointers and retrievers assist the human hunter in locating prey, hounds actually find, track, and even capture prey on their own. Indeed, the hounds are the actual hunters, while the houndsmen are often merely awed spectators. Dr. von Recum describes the two classes of hounds. Sighthounds, such as greyhounds, whippets, and borzois, are lean, fast dogs designed to chase down, or course, their prey. Scenthounds, including redbones and beagles, will follow a hot or cold trail until their quarry is caught, cornered, or treed. Discussions of different breeds, including hound-and-dog hybrids, are included. Immigrants from the Old World brought scenthounds with them to the New World starting in the seventeenth century. Importation of the first sighthounds may have started during the nineteenth century. Dr. von Recum vividly describes contemporary hunting practices, from the fast-paced fury of prairie coursing to the formalities of traditional fox hunting. He also addresses important concerns facing houndsmen today, from communicable diseases to game-management practices. Dr. Andreas F. von Recum is a respected specialist in veterinary medicine. Currently a professor and dean for research at Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. von Recum holds nine patents for implants and prosthesis technology. Though he is widely published and has lectured around the world, this is Dr. von Recum's first book for nonspecialists.    Dr. von Recum discovered his love of hunting during his boyhood in the Bavarian region of Germany. After he completed his veterinary training and emigrated to the United States, he started to raise, train, and hunt with hounds as a hobby. Dr. von Recum has enjoyed different types of hunts across the country, from raccoon and bear in the Southeastern states to coyote and jack rabbit in the Western plains. Hunting with Hounds in North America is a result of his love of hounds, his enthusiasm for the sport, his desire for a comprehensive, historical manual, and his fascination with the unique characteristics of hunting in this country.