How do you train a dog to freecast and is there a difference between training them to rig, and an overall difference/benefit in rigging vs freecasting.

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Free casting should only be done once the dog is trash broke solid. Too much junk can be found while free casting young inexperienced dogs. It is a very good way to find game with good dogs though. But they have to be honest or your going to have some dang long days running trash. Rigging is a good way to start, because you have more control over being able to correct the dog for barking at the wrong scent. Riging is a great way to find game. A good rig dog is a great thing indeed. Dogs can do both. Free cast and rig.

Are you starting the dog or has it been fired and already catching game? Is the dog trash broke? Will this dog be running with other dogs? Does the dog handle and obey? Does the ground offer you the handler a good chance to see the tracks your dog starts? These are some of the questions each of us need to look at before cutting a dog loose to strike, because rest assured there are awhole lot of things out there for a young dog to strike and trash on.

If a guy is starting out, I'd say get the dog handling first then start it on big game tracks off the road. When the dog takes to trashing--which they will at some point--correct that. When that dog has made enough trees and been trash broken then free casting would be the next step. But where I live there is alot of hard dirt and rock and a hound is usually gone before I find sign unless there is a tom scratch or I get lucky with soft dirt.

Rigging with a single or young dog would be the last thing to attempt because they're probably only gonna strike on hot tracks and most likely it will be deer or elk. That dog will line out the tracks and be gone before you get off the road. Rigging is for (like LCK said) straight dogs that know what they are after, or singular pups and young dogs that are running with an old pack of veteran hounds.

After you make several trash free, lock down hounds that will free cast and rig true to the game you want, you can just start adding a pup to that group each season and they'll most likely follow the pack.

Good luck and let us know how things go..................

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