Recovering deer with a dog

[Biggie Hoffman]

There's been a few times that I would have loved to have a trail dog. But for the most part, I LIKE tracking. I wouldn't want to get where I depended on it to find my stuff all the time.

[Ray Hammond]

deer tracking is typically not as problematical as hogs.  I'm with you Big, I like tracking deer, as I usually don't have the blood trail difficulties I sometimes encounter with guest-shot piggies.

We'll see how well Shiloh does during the next 3 months or so.

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Originally posted by LKH:
When you start, use a very long canepole to drag the scent rag or your dog may simply end up trailing you.  

The way our breeder told us to address this was to make the track while wearing rubber boots then let it age at least 6, and preferably 12 hours.  This lets the relatively light scent trail you leave dissipate while the blood remains.

An old basset hound guy from out east told my wife to put a hunk of meat on the end of a fishing line, cast it out, then drag back in to lay a trail without walking it...never did that, but would probably work.

Very quickly in the pup's development you will want to lay tracks where other animals will cross them during the aging process - we use our pasture so the horses and cattle cross, and will cross the tracks ourselves at right angles to lay "seductive tracks" as the experts call them.

R

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Originally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
There's been a few times that I would have loved to have a trail dog. But for the most part, I LIKE tracking. I wouldn't want to get where I depended on it to find my stuff all the time.

Try my world - red/green color blindness.  I have to crawl on my hands and knees (even for SNUFFER trails, sometimes!   ).  Blood only looks wet to me, not red, unless I pick it up on my fingers or a bit of TP or something.  I've been depending on women (first Mom, then my wife) to blood track my animals for a long time - amazes me how women can see color.  The great thing about the pup is he can make a 2-3 hour crawling session into a 15 minute track.

R

[tippit]

The local "Song Dogs" are the best trackers going!  If I didn't pick up a deer the night it was hit, then I'd be lucky to find 1/2 a deer the next day.  That's what convinced me to start using a tracking dog.  Plus my Dachshunds just crack me up as family pets...Doc

[njstykbow]

It has probably been mentioned earlier, but I think the most positive thing about these animals is their ability to quickly confirm a non-lethal hit.  We've all seen that "too good to be true" bloodtrail that "mysteriously" dwindles to a drop every 20 yards.  Then we spend several days continuing the search and never being quite sure if we've missed something.  For the most part...a good tracking dog will remove any questions.

Joe

[Brian Krebs]

Al
 Drathaars are German Wirehairs that have been refined and tested and checked and re-checked; and all tuned up real nice. But genetically - they are German Wirehaired pointers.
 If you cared to breed a Drathaar into your GWP breeding program- you can enter it into AKC...if it is DNA tested or not born in the USA- in the Drathaar club. However: if a Drathaar is registered with NAVDA - you have a chance to register it with the AKC.
 To show a Drathaar - in the ring; or in the field; in an AKC event. You could have an international champion like Ken Vospet ( a Drathaar) win a FC ( field championship) with the AKC...but only if it is a registered GWP - same for a bench Championship.

 My GWPs track birds - as chuckars and huns will run a long way after flying and landing. My dogs follow bears; and I have sold pups in the past to people that use them for Bears lions and bobcats; as they might 'yip' when they are on a cat- but they do not bray. Around here; braying brings in wolves.

 Word of caution; when in wolf country trailing; if your dog of whatever breed is noisy- be prepared to defend your dog and yourself.

njstykbow : a friend in Michigan tried to get a particular huge buck known to the whole neighborhood; with his compound. After failing many times and a couple years- to get a shot; he shot it in gun season. He hit it in the rib cage with a 12 gauge slug. It ran off and the pursuit started. First; he followed the deer; then his neighbors did; for three days- with blood; but no dead deer. He hit it November 15th; and in March his neighbor called him to say the buck was on his property.
 He showed up to see it; and was taken inside and told to look through a telescope. There in a back field was the buck feeding; with a big scar on its side.
 Man - to have a dog that can tell a deer is non-lethally hit would have sold to this guy for a whole lot of money ( many many sleepless nights).

[wapitimike1]

I've got two snausages (mini doxies)and when I shoot a deer I save the blood. Then get a treat make a blood trale down wind and have them follow it. They follow the blood they get the treat!

[Biggie Hoffman]

Dang Ryan, I figured everything you shot went down within sight anyway....

[oh-bowhunter]

Thanks so much for the info.  Can't wait to get her started.  Got some backstaps defrosting in the fridge gonna use the blood from that to get her started.  Will post some pics when my daughters free to help me. Another friend drives a tow truck and gonna save me hit deer so I can get some hides.  Again thank you all.

[njstykbow]

Brian,

Sounds like those guys don't need a dog...or probably wouldn't have believed it anyway!

My DD just had it's second day on cottontails and now yips on sight and scent.  I'm hoping to get her on a cat in ID next winter!

Joe

[Don Stokes]

Ryan, I have the same problem. My ex wife used to do all the blood trailing- it was really frustrating for her to point out blood right under my feet. I had to learn to track by reading the other sign- fresh turned leaves, fast-moving tracks, etc., and by learning how deer move through the terrain when hit. It took me 8 hours to find one poorly-hit buck. I'm sure I've lost a couple for lack of color vision and lack of a tracking dog. I don't shoot enough deer these days to keep a dog, and unfortunately don't have a friend with one.

On the other hand, the lack of color vision forced me to become better at woodsmanship. I practice by following fresh deer sign every chance I get.