With hunting seasons just around the corner, I thought I would take a moment to remind everyone that when things go wrong after the shot and you simply cant locate that wounded deer, bear or other big game animal- DONT GIVE UP!
Tracking dogs are now legal in over 40 states and provinces and these dogs can work miracles in finding wounded game that would otherwise go unrecovered. Contrary to what some believe, a skilled tracking dog does not need any blood whatsoever to follow a wounded animal and most can track deer 20+ hours after the shot and some 40+ hours.
It is best to get to know your local tracker before the season and build a relationship so that you can find out what he wants you to do prior to calling him. Most will tell you that doing a grid search is a really bad idea and no matter how careful you try to be, a grid search will create a maze of scent for even a skilled dog to work out.
Many states now have extensive call-in networks where dogs are listed by county so locating a tracker is easy.
My tracker is Bear Dog. A Bavarian Mountain hound entering his 6th season. He works in both Georgia for Bear, Deer, hogs and turkey as well as being a critical part of my Canada bear camp. His tracks are legendary with some of the highlights being a deer recovery last year that occurred 37 hours after the shot and bear recoveries of 1.2 and 1.8 miles 24 hours after the shots. He sure makes me proud and LOVES his job.
Find your local tracker and use them when needed to preserve our wonderful resources.
Good hunting
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What is the best way to find a local tracker?
Not allowed in West Virginia. I guess they would rather the deer lay down somewhere and die and go to waste. I fail to see any logic in that. :dunno:
You're in WVA. Some folks prolly think Jimmy is still president.
Quote from: Bvas on July 10, 2019, 05:16:12 PM
What is the best way to find a local tracker?
Just try and google "blood tracking dogs in ———- state. Failing that try and see if there is a network listed for your state on Facebook. You can also look at the "find a tracker" page of unitedbloodtrackers.org. There you will find at least a few trackers per state.
Our Georgia tracking network is very extensive and list over 80 dogs by county. Keep in mind that the closest tracker to you may be in a neighboring state.
An excellent topic...
What do these folks charge?
Quote from: Wheels2 on July 10, 2019, 08:54:27 PM
What do these folks charge?
Many charge nothing at all and some ask for donations. A small percentage charge a very reasonable rate of $50-$80 to cover fuel. In some states these trackers will drive 2-3 hours to help a hunter.
In the rut the call volume is overwhelming. It is not uncommon for me to have 4-5 calls backed up over a 6 county area. I love tracking.
I know more than one story from friends and a few of my own that could have ended better if guys would have called a tracking dog in.
Great thread
Bear Dog is awesome!
I hope I can get my Zeke to be that good one of these days!
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Bisch
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It has to be seen to be believed what a good dog is capable of, what really makes a difference to success rates is firstly looking at the shot site and determining where the animal is hit before moving in and bumping the animal on, most bow hunters have the mentality to not rush in unlike most rifle hunters, Jerry could I ask a question how many states allow you to release a dog if it's still mobile?, I really cannot understand why any state won't allow a follow up of wounded game with a dog it is after all animal welfare,regards wayne
Good stuff Mr. Jerry!
Quote from: wayne rollinson on July 11, 2019, 02:38:11 AM
It has to be seen to be believed what a good dog is capable of, what really makes a difference to success rates is firstly looking at the shot site and determining where the animal is hit before moving in and bumping the animal on, most bow hunters have the mentality to not rush in unlike most rifle hunters, Jerry could I ask a question how many states allow you to release a dog if it's still mobile?, I really cannot understand why any state won't allow a follow up of wounded game with a dog it is after all animal welfare,regards wayne
Wayne
State laws vary as to if they allow a dog to be run off lead. Often there is resistance by some groups to legalizing blood trailing dogs so bill sponsors will have to add the "on lead" tracking language to get the law passed. Very generally speaking, most Southern states allow off lead recovery while the majority of Northern and Western states make you track on lead. Off- lead tracking has a higher recovery rate because a dog can catch up to and bay a deer that is still mobile such as one with a broken leg. The number of big game animals we find still alive 24 hours after the shot would amaze you. Ending the sufferings of these animals is a big part of why we track.
On lead or off lead, the recovery rates skyrocket with the use of these trackers.
I know there are other trackers on here. Post up some pictures of your dogs.
I totally understand Jerry I track wounded game in europe and the uk for organised events we are allowed off leash tracking and the law requires follow up in EU by trained and tested teams to legally cross boundary's in Eu,regards wayne, ps I also work a bavarian and the larger HS
Quote from: blacktailbob on July 10, 2019, 05:36:15 PM
You're in WVA. Some folks prolly think Jimmy is still president.
Thanks for the put down. We aren't all dumb hillbillies you know. :saywhat:
My son had trained his beagle for tracking . A man had shot a deer and couldn't find it so they put the dog at the tree stand. While changing leads she got away an ran the opposite way the hunter had said the deer ran . Sarcastically the hunter said some tracking dog that is . When they found the dog she was sanding over the buck . My son looked at him and said you didn't even know which way the deer ran at the shot, he didn't say a word .
She found quite a few deer including one that had been lost for almost a week with a gut shot, they found it a 1/4 of a mile away ! . Jeff Massie had hunts in Texas and used a great little dog for tracking that found lots of Javelinas, Jeff's dog found one for me . I just think it was fun to watch them work .
Mn had legislation this year for tracking dogs but it failed to go through. Personally I had high hopes. I watched our PH's dog in Africa and thought it was great!
Excellent post Jerry! I've had to call in a tracker a time or two myself and love watching them work. It is truly amazing! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Quote from: mnbwhtr on July 11, 2019, 10:42:44 AM
Mn had legislation this year for tracking dogs but it failed to go through. Personally I had high hopes. I watched our PH's dog in Africa and thought it was great!
Tracking with a blood dog is legal in Minnesota.
This is a link to the regulations.
https://www.unitedbloodtrackers.org/state-regulations/?state=mn
Cash @ 6 months...
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Bill Dunn with Tanner one of Tilly's pups...
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Next Generation...Brooke already following laid deer scent at 10 weeks
It's legal here in Montana. Handler must maintain physical control of the dog at all times by means of a maximum 50-foot lead attached to the dog's collar or harness.
Here's my HS working on wild boar in Germany[attachment=1]
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Here's our Yogi and we are getting ready for our third tracking season. He's from Jeanneney's kennel. He's a fireball. He's a pretty fair rabbit dog too.
A buddy of mine has one, some kind of cur. He's pretty amazing. Over the last few years we have pretty much learned that if Elmo can't find it, it's because he's not dead.
[attachment=1,msg2875983]A good buck we located the day after it was shot. The buck was still alive and was bedded less than 20' from the back door of a million dollar home.
Here is one similar. Single lung hit that required a follow up shot 20 hours later.
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Thanks Jerry, it looks like it went through in the special session.
I love seeing the dogs of the Tradgang! They are such an important part of what we do.
This beautiful drop tine buck was gut shot and the hunter had given up hope on recovery because there was no blood trail to follow. Bear Dog made short work of the track and the hunter got his first velvet buck.
Gut shots are sometimes difficult to recover for humans but for a dog, they are very simple because of the huge amount of scent they leave. The key is an absolute minimum of 12 hours before the track begins. Even after 12 hours we find many still alive but they are weak enough to recover.
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Well they can be simple as long as 6 guys didn't track and grid search 45 minutes after the shot. :banghead:
This was a huge Pope and Young Bear killed by a Tradgang member that was recovered by Bear Dog. Amazingly, another hunter had passed on the giant bear. [attachment=1]
My dog is 13 but still likes to help.
I've never used one, but it's a great resource. I believe I saw some proposed rule changes to allow off lead and the tracker permission to dispatch the wounded animal in MI, but those were just proposed. I had a colleague use one once, but there was a charge (I believe a little more than nominal).
We had three guys use a dog (the same dog and handler) last season. Good tool. I have some some reservations however.
I'm just not in agreement with having "catch" dogs. If an animal has a lower leg wound or a hit to a shoulder blade that stops the arrow and it could survive I don't see it as right to run that animal to exhaustion and then put it down with a gun. We see animals with injuries like that survive all the time.
Also property lines have to be considered. Just last year a good man with a good dog were tracking a deer, it crossed a fence line and the dog was shot by the neighboring landowner. Although that individual faced prosecution it is a serious concern for both the dog and landowners.
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I wonder if you need to give the dog any training to try this out. I have a GSD with a pretty good nose. Shes my shooting buddy when im in the backyard.
A trained dog will most always excel. The training goes far beyond teaching the dog to go from point A to point B. Problem solving is an acquired skill and must be taught. One of THE most important things that occurs when you train is that you learn to read your dog. This is critical.
I have several training videos on my YouTube channel keyword Russell Outdoor Guides.
For sure a trained dog is going to understand the task at hand much better. On easy tracks it might not be as important but on a 24+ hour old track that has had a couple people eye tracking first the trained dog will excel. There is also everything that the dog teaches you about tracking that makes you both a better team. Not to mention that it's just fun to work with a dog.
our hounds are trained to show sign along the track, the germans call this verweisen and it is very good on difficult tracks that cover a long distance, I know 100% my dog is correct but people following often say your going the wrong way, but my dog then stops with her nose on the floor pointing to a spot of blood I show this then everyone then knows we are correct.
my dogs tail is straight up like a flag pole on track if she runs on she circles round and finds the point where she went wrong, she wont miss out she goes back to her last point then carries on. Here's a little video from when she was about 16 weeks old, learning to indicate and track, every training track is done to succeed we make it more difficult only when the dog gets it and nails it down we then move to the next stage before long you are doing 24 hour plus old tracks and with back tracks
and deer crossings, regards wayne
https://youtu.be/vA_kUW1ITr8
Jerry Russell is a good hunter, great guide but even better tracker! He gets excited when the tracking starts. I firmly believe that game bear dog/Jerry can't find will live and is not critically hurt....