In this episode of Tusks & Tales, Alan sits down with a sure-enough houndsman — Mike Williams — a man who’s spent a lifetime behind a pack of hard-hunting Plott/July hounds. From steep bear country to the thickest hog thickets and the rough ground where bobcats slip like smoke, Mike brings decades of real experience, wild stories, and hard-earned lessons from the timber.

We dive deep into:

• What separates a true working hound from the pretenders

• The grit, drive, and intelligence behind the Plott/July cross

• Bear races that tested every ounce of dog and handler

• Cat hunts where one mistake can cost the whole pursuit

• Hogs that pushed dogs, men, and daylight to the limits

• How houndsmanship has evolved — and what’s been lost along the way

• The importance of honesty, patience, and dog sense in the modern hunting world

Mike doesn’t sugarcoat a thing. This is raw, old-school hound talk from a man who’s seen the best and worst a pack can show you — and still wakes up every day hungry for the next track.

Whether you run Plotts, Julys, Walkers, Curs, or anything in between, this episode is packed with stories, lessons, and pure hound wisdom you won’t hear anywhere else.

Tune in, share it with your hunting buddies, and enjoy this deep dive into the life of a true houndsman — Mike Williams