Houndsman XP Podcast

From the hard woods to the show ring, having a hound that can excel in both is a complement to any breed. The Woodward’s, Jason and Katie do just that. They are plott enthusiasts, who are heavily involved in the plott world. Katie is vice president for the APA. You can’t go to a major event and not see the two around the grounds or in the show ring. Heath gets an inside on what drives them and tal...

In this episode of the Houndsman XP Podcast, we pay tribute to two pioneers in the coonhound world. Chip Kosher Sr and Chip Jr. tell the story of how Joy dog food has been instrumental in the development of coonhunting as we know it today. Chip Sr. was there when the idea of youth events was developed. Listeners will hear how the original concept of Super Stakes was developed and pushed forward. C...

Mike Cauley has been breeding and hunting with bulldogs his entire life. For more than forty years Mike has been using American Pit Bull Terriers as the clean up crew for his hog hunting adventures. Chris and Mike discuss the history of bulldogs from the farm, working free range livestock, to the marsh, catching wild hogs. They talk about game bred pits, hunting stock, socialization and training....

Robbie Rhodes and Bad Habit Sambo are names that most that have been following competition coonhunting and the nite hunts for any amount of time will know. As the only UKC Coonhound World Champion that has ever been stripped of his title, Robbie’s name, and that of the x bred coonhound he handled during his notorious run have been discussed everywhere houndsmen gather.  So join us this week as Jos...

In this episode of the Houndsman XP podcast, the boys renew a longtime friendship with Louisiana’s Mike Cauley, best known for the successful exploits of his Bayou Cajun Plott Hound pack on wild hogs and on bears, both the blacks of the Northwoods of the US and Canada and the giant browns of Sweden. Cauley primarily hunts hogs in the swamps and bayous of southeastern Louisiana where he has caught...

In this week’s The Truth, we are joined by local coonhunting historian, and master storyteller John W. Brookman.  Since the mid early 70s John has been a fixture in one of the premier coonhunting destinations in the United States, Mercer County Missouri, and most notably the tiny hamlet of Ravanna MO.   Ravanna at one time held some of the best dogs and houndsman on the planet, and the hunting his...

On this episode of the Deep & Lonely podcast with host Bryce Matthews he is joined by Mr. Caleb Griffin of South Carolina. The pair enjoy a lighthearted conversation surrounding the success he and Bad Habit Preacher Man have enjoyed in the 2023 competition year. Topics include the UKC Tournament of Champions, UKC World Championship, habits acquired by hunting a dog solo for two years, bear hunting...

As the Maine season comes to a close, Heath talks bears, cats, guiding, and hounds with Outfitter, Kirk Rogers. Kirk gives the run down on how his season went, the good and the bad. They hit on some great topics.  Client success Mountain bears Mixing packs Old school bloodlines Running trash And much more There’s nothing like having a good conversation about hounds and hunting. Don’t miss this epi...

This is an episode that offers a chance for listeners to unwind, to lay aside the stresses of world news and events and to get in touch with their inner houndsman. Steve describes it as “getting at the heart of the reason I follow hounds and enjoy the houndsman lifestyle.” Recorded at a coon hunting camp in southeastern Alabama in February, Steve and longtime friend and fellow houndsman Arnold “Nu...

Treed in a Prison……???? On this week’s The Truth Josh is lucky enough to be able to sit down with one of his Heroes, and a true legend in the sport of Raccon Hunting, Mr Jess Dickerson.  Josh and Jess sit down and talk about some of his great dogs Jess has owned and hunted over the years.   National Champion Mable World Champion X jr GR NT CH Nocturnal Nailor Silver Champion GR NT CH Nocturnal Ski...

On this week’s episode of Deep & Lonely on the Houndsman XP Podcast Network, join host Bryce Matthews as he makes his way over to the PKC Black & Tan Days event in Monticello, IN.  Bryce is joined by Billy Anderson and Cavin Collins to discuss why they choose to hunt Black & Tan Coonhounds and what made one of them switch over to the Treeing Walker Coonhound after years of devotion to the B&T bree...

This week on the Truth we are lucky enough to be joined by PKC World Champion Joe Manning Jr.   Joe sits down with Josh on location at the Jarvis Umphers Memorial and the conversation is a good one.  Everything from Joe’s beginnings in the hound world, to his epic run in last years PKC world hunt is discussed as well as the effect money has had on the sport of competition coonhunting.   You won’t...

Chris catches up with Micah Ayers on his home turf in southeast Kentucky to discuss the iconic Batman. Batman holds the top spot in historical reproducers for the Black and Tan coonhound breed. Listeners will get the back story of how Micah and his brother Shane came to own Batman, the network of people that made his rise to success achievable and what it takes to stay on top.  If you like to hear...

A year later Heath follows up with Brandon Mitchell. Last year Brandon was struggling being a new hunter; having young dogs, learning on the fly, and not catching any bear.  Brandon now has another year under his belt and with some mentorship, things are headed in the right direction. If you're new to the sport follow Brandon on his journey, we all start somewhere, it’s just part of the process. R...

Happy New Year Houndsman XP fans! In this episode, the HXP Team gets together and  catches up on recent bear hunts, coonhounds and coursing dogs. The conversation quickly  goes to the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions.  The Houndsman XP Team lays out five New Year's Resolutions that every houndsman should  keep. Whether your a coonhunter in southern swamps, rabbit hunter in the thickets o...

Jacob Koons and Brandon Auflik of Hyde Holler Kennel swept the 2021 UKC Hunting Beagle World Championship by bringing home the world champion and the reserve world champion awards. Listeners will get the full story about how they did it. Jacob and Brandon explain competition hunting with beagles, breeding winners and the value of teamwork. Release Date: 11-01-21 ►Get Your Houndsman XP Info, Gear &...

Looking for gift ideas to avoid getting that ugly Christmas sweater from your mother in law this year? Chris, Seth and Heath share their ideas for great gifts for houndsmen that will fit the budget. Houndsmen are tough to buy gifts for. Our interests are so unique and gear specific, unless you drop some very good hints you end up with stuff you really never use.  Houndsman XP is here to help. Have...

Catch the 2024 Houndsman XP Episode on our YouTube Live @ https://www.youtube.com/@HoundsmanXP   Merry Christmas from Team Houndsman XP.  2021 has been a wonderful year for HXP and the team gets together for the annual Christmas Party and recaps the highlights from 2021. Lauren recaps her adventures. From falling off of horses to Truck Stop Showers, the mother of all chaos will have you laughing a...

There is no doubt that money is a dominating force in everything. When the money dries up, companies go out of business. We are seeing unprecedented times in a world where a social media influencer with no real skill can become rich. Money drives politics and policy makers. Money is important but when is it too much? In this episode of the Houndsman XP Podcast Chris and Shorty sort out the complic...

On this episode of The Journey Heath gets a lesson in coyote hunting. Brett Hilliard gives Heath the rundown on the ins and outs of the coyote world. Heath’s only experience with the ever elusive creature is trying to prevent his dogs from trashing on them.  Brett talks about some behaviors the coyotes display when the race is on. He goes into the dogs they run and some qualities they look for. He...

Steve Yant needs no introduction.  His accolades are many, and his hunting experience is well known.  So join us this week as Josh makes a return to Houndsman XP to sit down with one of his good friends and mentors as they talk about everything from Zeb 3, to Flatrock Thrasher, to the current state of competition coon hunting and how it has changed over the years.  As always Mr Yant holds nothing...

By request, Chris sits down with Donny Walston and Steve Burkholder for this prequel episode of the Big Country story. They discuss the life of one of the most controversial coonhounds of the 21st Century and give the whole story-no holds barred. Where did Big Country come from What influential breeders and hunters played the big role The greatest completion run of any blue tick alive What is wron...

This week Josh is lucky enough to sit down at the PKC World Hunt with Mr John Strickland, and Mr Ashley Oxendine, owners of one of the most notorious dogs in coonhound history, Platinum Champion BIG COUNTRY!  Josh sits down and talks with John and Ashley about everything Country!   Is Big Country better than Bad Habit? Is Ashley ever going to take a vacation? What’s next for Big Country? Country w...

Shannon Raska is a third generation houndsman from the state of Texas. His grandfather and father were both members of the South Texas Wold Hunters Association. Shannon is still raising, training and hunting the same family line of coyote hounds that was started in the late 1930s.  Chris travelled to Texas and hunted with Shannon and this podcast was recorded in the field in the middle of what Sha...

Release Date: 04-24-23 Game Wardens and Houndsmen have always had a special relationship. Albeit, adversarial, it is a relationship that is steeped in  mystery, misunderstanding and at times; outright hatred. It is a relationship that also comes with a long history and tradition. For way too long it has been widely accepted that the Houndsman’s job is to outsmart the game warden and the game warde...