243. Hawk Dogs

In this week's episode I sit down with legendary Bluetick breeder and hunter Lonnie Uchtman. Now in his 70s, Lonnie has spent a lifetime hunting, breeding, and promoting the Bluetick Coonhound. Lonnie's breeding program has produced some of the most influential stud dogs in Bluetick history, beginning with the legendary Hawk and continuing through generations of dogs that carried the Uchtman name and bloodline forward. But despite the incredible accomplishments associated with his dogs, Lonnie has never operated a large breeding program or focused on producing puppies in volume. His philosophy has always been simple: quality over quantity. For decades, Lonnie has relied heavily on linebreeding, carefully maintaining the traits he values most. While Blueticks have always been his breed of choice, Lonnie has never been interested in a slow dog. He wanted hounds with the ability to drive a track, and just as importantly, he valued a natural-born tree dog. And like any man who has spent more than 70 years around coonhounds, Lonnie has plenty of stories. He shares a few during this episode, but there are many more to be told. His daughter, Lori Uchtman Rowe, has helped preserve those stories and the history of the Uchtman Blueticks in the book Home of the Hawk Dogs: The Legacy of Lonnie Uchtman and His Bluetick Hounds. Check out the link below to learn more about the book and the Uchtman Bluetick legacy. Whether you're a Bluetick enthusiast, a breeder, or simply someone who appreciates the history of coonhunting and the people who have dedicated their lives to it, this is an episode you won't want to miss. https://linktr.ee/uchtmanbluetickfarm  Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420083161566245  https://animalhousingsolutions.com https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia