The Associated Press RICK GRIGGS of Robinsville, N.C., prepares to cross a small creek as he tries to find the scent of a bear with his hunting dogs inside the Nantahala National Forest.

Area hunters already have deer hunting on their minds, although that season is several months away.

Some of them have the same attitude of famous outdoorsman Ted Nugent who said, "Summer was fun, Fall is here, Let's go out and kill a deer."

Well, hold back boys, summer is not over yet! Now is the time to get those hunting dogs in shape for the big hunt.

I remember, as a teenager, spending Friday nights running up and down the dusty roads of Camp Shelby. My uncle David and his nephew Mike would turn loose their pack of Walkers and the chase would begin. It seems like all we would run was does and the occasional buck. The sound of those dogs howling would sure get the adrenaline pumping. If we did not cut the dogs off they would be in the next county in no time! We would jump in our pickups and fly down those gravel roads.

We did not have cell phones back then so the CB radio was our lifeline. My uncle David is known by the handle "Cotton Top" on the CB radio. Everyone had their unique handle and if you did not have one, someone would give you one - even if you did not like it!.

It seems like every year someone would try to take a curve too fast and end up in the ditch. Gravel roads are not built for speed. I miss those hot summer nights chasing dogs.

Dog hunters still run their dogs in the summer.

"You got to keep them in shape," said Doug Moore of Petal.

Moore, who has been hunting most of his life, owns a pack of Walkers and beagles.

"My dad taught me how to hunt. I love to hear them run," he said.

Moore runs his dogs on hunting club lease land in Perry county. During the summer months the dogs are turned out so they can stretch their legs and stay in shape. A lot of hunters run their dogs at night when it is cooler, but some still run their dogs during daylight hours.

Moore's hunting club is proud of the relationship it has with the local community. Club members are on good terms with all the neighbors and surrounding hunting clubs. Moore said his club never has to worry about someone taking their dogs or trying to do harm to them. They all communicate over the CB radio and look out for each other.

The club leases 4,800 acres to run their dogs on and hunt on, but Moore is afraid dog hunting is becoming a thing of the past.

Timber companies are going up on leases and it is getting hard for the average hunter to afford to pay the price. It takes a large tract of land to successfully run dogs. Most of this land is owned by timber companies and corporations that lease this land to hunting clubs.

Hunting dogs are a southern tradition that have been passed down from generation to generation. Every year, fewer and fewer people participate in this time-honored tradition. If it was not for public lands, this sport would become a part of history.

If you have never experience the thrill of running dogs you have missed out on a great sport. If you ever get the opportunity to go take advantage of it. Also, take a kid along for the ride. You will have the time of our life.

Originally published Friday, June 1, 2007