W10 Lisa Feener & Kelly Irwin – Pack Life

W10 Lisa Feener & Kelly Irwin – Pack Life

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.

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Don Noyes Chevrolet

North American Game Warden Museum

Hunt Regs

WiseEye

SecureIt Gun Storage

XS Sights

“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book

Iron Skillet Seasonings

Maine Operation Game Thief

New Hampshire Operation Game Thief

Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania

North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association

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

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

Subscribe:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Amazon

Google

Waypoint

Stitcher

TuneIn

Megaphone

Find More Here:

Website

Warden’s Watch / TGL Store

Facebook

Facebook Fan Page

Instagram

Threads

YouTube

RSS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices