I spent the first week of Massachusetts deer season fly fishing New Brunswick for Atlantic salmon...I know Life is full of decisions & priorities. Then my son came home as he was getting ready to head to France as an exchange ski patroller...Crested Butte, CO to Courchevel, France. I've only been able to get out a few times. I almost didn't go out yesterday as I was trying to get the yard set for winter since I'm headed to Iowa on Thursday.
Finally after putting all the deck chairs and flower pots away, I got in my stand at 4pm. I was shooting one of John McCullough's new prototype carbon Griffins 45#@28. It's very smooth and plenty of speed. I figured since I was so late, I decide to take a practice shot for Iowa. I picked out a leaf at what I thought was 20 yards and put a hex-head arrow just touching it. The I pulled my range finder out (19 yards) so I was happy on both accounts...my shot & yardage guess. If nothing else I was ready for Iowa and thoughts of Wensel bucks dancing in my head.
Then at 5:15 a nice doe came out. I spotted her at 50 yards walking parallel to me. She turned and walked straight to me. Then proceeded to sniff my practice arrow on the ground. Then she turned broad side to me. 5:30 is sunset and I'd already put my white arrow on. It is amazing how that arrow stands out the last half hour. My shot @ 20 yards was just as good as my practice shot hitting her right behind the the shoulder. As she ran off I could hear crashing. Most that know me also know I don't have very good hearing none on my right but my hearing aid was turned up & she ran away on my left side
Molly convinced me to take Cash out to track her since she hasn't had a real blood trail yet and Tilly already had some amazing tracks in the past. I had found blood right off when I got out of the stand so I knew where I wanted to start Cash. Molly had her on a 30 foot lead as I was looking for the blood spot but Cash had already decided/smelled where to track was. I kept telling Molly to hold her until I found the blood...but Cash was already pulling. Once she was on the track, it it only took 5 minutes to find my mature doe. Cash was now a certified Tracking Dog just like all the rest of the pups from Tilly's litter!
As a post script: when I got home and got the tracking harness for Cash, Tilly was going nuts. She just knew there was tracking to be done and it was her job not Cash's. Cash on the other hand had no idea what all the commotion was about...she does now
Yes I did take Tilly back and let her track the doe. She just air scented it and pulled me right to the spot. That is the fun of Tracking Dogs.
Hopefully in Iowa, Tilly will be going for a few more walks in the woods...Doc
Topic: Last of the Pups...on the Tracking Board (Mom & Daughter Picture added) (Read 1089 times)
