History of the Redbone Coonhound

This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, April 2011 issue.

History of the Redbone Coonhound

The history of the Redbone Coonhound is one that is not well documented. It’s a history that you would more likely hear about while sitting at the feet of your great-grandpa. Coon hunting was once a well-known tradition that has seemed to have faded in this modernized world. However, there is a group still thriving, almost like a “Secret Society”. The great coon hunters from this society are who founded these flashy, red-coated, hard-hunting dogs we know as Redbones!

Going back to before the Civil War, Redbones were already well established. To give an exact year is too hard. I believe that a lot of the old red dogs that are noted in history and believed to be Bloodhounds were actually Redbones. Stories tell that Davy Crockett even kept a Redbone for a companion at some point. After much research, here are some of my personal findings that came through putting pieces of the puzzle together…

As the stories go, crossings with the Foxhound “July” and also the Proctor and Redbone strains of Col. Mile G. Harris of GA; could be the beginnings of the Redbone. The July hound was a product of hounds, Tickler and Lade, from Nimrod Gosnell of MD. Tickler was a red hound with white on his neck while Lade was a tan female of a medium size. Harris’ other hounds, Proctor and Redbone strain, were large red hounds with long ears hanging like window curtains. After Col. Harris’ hearing and eyesight started to fail, he gave his pack of hounds to friends in Putnam Co., GA. The July hound eventually went to one of the friends, George L.F. Birdsong. Birdsong also acquired a pack of hounds from Dr. Thomas Y. Henry. From these Scottish and Irish Foxhounds is what is to be believed the foundation stock of the modern-day Redbone.

W.B. Frisbee, a Redbone owner from the early to mid-1900s, said…..

“The Redbone Coonhound originated in the South in the slave days. They were used to catch runaway slaves and by the trustees to catch coon and opossum…. At that time they were a large, heavy hound and were open trailers on the trail of game…. Had deep bawling voices, color was red with black saddles on backs, with red or tan heads and ears. And even then some were solid red. When the slaves were freed and they were no longer needed…. (for that purpose)…. they were crossed with the Irish hounds to get a lighter, faster hound…. So now they are good trim-built hounds that have good cold noses and will range out for a great distance to find their game and will tree it and stay for hours until their owners find them and get the game or call them away. They are now and always have been a one-man dog and will fight for their master. It is almost impossible for a stranger to pick one of them up in the woods.”

These traits make Redbone Coonhounds unique to the other Coonhound breeds as they were bred first for their looks; to be a solid flashy red dog, medium in size. And after achieving their goal, dedicated breeders focused on the hunting ability again. Thanks to hunters and breeders like Brooks Magill, Roy Blakesley, and many more, the Redbone breed evolved into what we see today.

W.B. Frisbee spoke the truth; Redbones are an American-bred hound originating from the south. Their beautiful red coats, whether dark as mahogany or a golden sheen of red, are a product of determined breeders who set out to produce a medium-sized, solid red, eye-catching hound.

As I said before, the history of the Redbone Coonhound is somewhat hidden inside of the “Society” of great coon hunters, past and present. As Roy Blakesley says, “Thank the Lord there were enough good men interested in the breed to stay with it, and bring the breed to where it is today. The Redbone breed is the youngest breed of the old breeds of hounds, but are the oldest breed of tree hounds we have, were never used as trail hounds as a breed, were bred and used for tree game from the start.” And of course, in his opinion, “The finest breed of tree hounds in the world.”