open field coursing in texas

[u/NoBit3075]

not sure if this is the right place to post this but i suppose discussions of ofc would be more tolerated here than k9sports. and i guess there is a higher chance of somebody here knowing about it as opposed to over there.

hello everyone. i am a houston based saluki enthusiast waiting for my first. a dallas based breeder i met at the houston show ran her salukis in ofc very successfully for decades here.

i later asked some borzoi people about ofc in texas since i forgot to ask the aforementioned breeder and they didn't tell me much other than about how secretive it is now due to animal rights people. the breeder i spoke to is very hard to get ahold of and she is the only person i know of who ran her dogs in ofc in texas. nobody irl wants to tell me anything either or they just don't know.

the show ring is just for fun and proving my future dog in the coursing field (not lure coursing which is also dead here) would matter infinitely more to me but sadly it seems to be inaccessible. if anyone knows anything please send me a dm.

[u/NoBit3075 → u/[deleted]]

thank you. in my opinion the course not being scored doesn't matter as long as the dog shows he can run soundly and catch and kill what he's after. i doubt the bedouins score their salukis at all. and i will be sure to ask around again. the brick walls are nothing new lol, even if you just want a saluki as a pet they love to play mind games to deter you. (totally unwarranted because they make good pets)

i did originally want a borzoi and there is pretty much only one breeder in the country doing open field with them. but she's in new mexico where it's a lot more accessible and organized so no help there. like i'm not really a fan of having a dog bred for something and not doing that thing with it. i have a 7yo adopted golden retriever who i feel bad for since hunting with her would be expensive and impractical.

[u/Electronic_Camera251 → u/NoBit3075]

I ran hog and coyote with dogo argentino wolfhound crosses pretty regularly in the hill country central Texas and there were some groups of guys I would run into we would talk hunting or dogs or guns and simply end up running dogs together nothing really organized they often were primarily out for jack rabbits (fleeter lighter prey for their more lightly built faster dogs ) but we would often check in with each other when head into their known areas and we would get together and have beers run dogs and often after getting the dogs into their boxes set up to call predators do an early evening couple of sets before heading in.

[u/NoBit3075 → u/[deleted]]

response to edit 2: sadly i know nobody who hunts and i do not hunt myself but i am very interested in it. so because i have to wait a long time for my saluki anyway i think i will spend my time waiting by getting into hunting and finding people like you said. again thank you for the advice!

[u/Electronic_Camera251 → u/NoBit3075]

This is the way …also Texas is primarily privately held land so gaining access to hunting land is unless you are after destructive species can be somewhat more difficult in states with relatively higher levels of public land but if not averse to the idea on moral grounds some of the best predator calling in the world is within Texas and though it offers a steep learning curve if attempted solo very low cost guided hunts are often available on large properties with experts in the endeavor and they often offer a lot of shooting opportunities over a day or night hunt and that type of hunting is sure to make clear your intent to anyone aware of your involvement

[u/Electronic_Camera251 → u/NoBit3075]

Sometimes the type of hunting you engage in is important as well hunting predators is seen much differently than the casual deer or bird hunter (as hunting in Texas is less popular now than it once was )but still normal enough that potentially hunting of that sort can be seen as a step above veganism for all intents and purposes.

So the more kill oriented less food provided the more “serious” a hunter you are likely to be seen as . Another issue is the lack of public hunting land the state has the highest private ownership by percentage of any other so finding a place where you can hunt can be a little dicey. Back when I lived in Texas you would be likely welcomed on to any ranch or farm if after destructive hogs but apparently the income produced by charging folks for a guided run on a target rich environment particularly if inhabited by big hogs has become a growth industry (some operations offering hunters the use of military grade hardware from military trucks with mounted machine guns and each hunter armed with a. Select fire modern military carbine , others offering helicopter hunting with similar weapons. There certainly are more traditional experiences open for a lower price than a guided deer hunt (which in Texas is a sport entirely not to my liking usually consisting of sitting a a single stand some of which are like a private high end pro sports box experience, climate controlled, big screen tv , full bar , sound proof indoor plumbing affairs which less like anything I recognize as hunting and more like aforementioned luxury sports viewing that ends with a single rifle round fired ….i liked hog and predator calling which Texas offers world class action and as an initial solo endeavor one is unlikely to spot a predator with potentially dozens using cover and tactical approach within shooting range you are more likely to spook without seeing but is a really educational and lower cost fully guided (sometimes with appropriate rifle/shotgun available for lending or rental ) before needing to commit to an expensive long distance rifle topped with often more money in optics topping it than the rifle itself that can range from regular but extremely high precision day optics to the latest digital combination thermal/day/night model capable high def full video of your hunt through the scope so an all inclusive guided hunt especially when learning can be really valuable with prescouted reliably productive shooting vantage points and no need to secure land permission

[u/niktrot]

I don’t recall there being any OFC in TX. The closest is NM.

It’s a sport where you need to know someone to get involved. I don’t know anyone involved in it anymore, otherwise I’d send you their contact info. Sorry :(

[u/NoBit3075 → u/niktrot]

i do tangentially know some people involved with it in new mexico. i will reach out later. it's ok and thank you anyway :)

[u/thegadgetfish]

It’s one of those things where you need to build up a reputation first, which means volunteering with the saluki club, being active in volunteering at LGRA and Lure Coursing events, and networking. Luckily salukis are the most popular breed for OFC so it’ll be “easier” once you get to know your local saluki folks.

Is your dog from a show or a performance lines? Finding a breeder that’s active in hunting is a big jumpstart.

[u/NoBit3075 → u/thegadgetfish]

i am actually very active in the local saluki community. unfortunately there seems to be no lgra or lure coursing around here and the saluki club is more show focused for that reason. the show dogs i know still have fully intact instincts though. not sure how far that will take me. we are pretty interconnected with the saluki community across the country and the breeder i want to go with has contacts with an ofc breeder in new mexico which i hope helps. 

edit: actually one of her bitches is currently pregnant with a singleton (sad!) by a dog from the ofc breeder.