Recovering deer with dog

[Liver and Onions]

I am new here, has this site discussed recovering deer with dogs. I worked with my dog last summer and she recovered 4 deer this fall. 3 of the recoveries were without blood trails and we would not or probably would not have found the deer. In all cases she picked up the scent right away and within minutes found the deer. In past years we would have spent at least 2 hours with our flashlights searching.

[Steve]

Is there a list of people who do this around the state?

[Liver and Onions]

I don't of any such list. About a year ago I visited this website. www.deersearch.org (http://www.deersearch.org)
From my experience, if you have a dog that likes trackin & trailing...they can be trained to recover deer. My dog is a 10 year old house dog that is 1/2 beagle. She had never been used for hunting. She is now in her glory....leading some guys through the woods and getting fresh liver after the recovery.

[Hunter333]

I dont know about the legalities of it all but I say...track on, you owe it to the deer!!

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ONE shot, ONE kill..No excuses, no exceptions EVER!!

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Hunter 333,
It is my understanding that the law was changed a few years back to allow hunters to track wounded deer with a LEASHED dog. I think this was a very wise move on the part of the DNR as it greatly improves the probability of finding deer when there is no blood trail, ect. As far as a service goes, I know of no one in the state that has a "list"--it is usually friends just helping out friends. I first heard about deer search while reading Richard P. Smith's book TRACKING and TRAILING WOUNDED DEER (or something similar to that). He had a whole chapter devoted to that, and I had to smile when I saw that the breed being used was a dachshund!--the use them because they are small and can get through the brush, and are percieved as less of a "threat" by deer hunters.

[Joe Archer]

I would urge everyone to first attempt to track your deer without a dog. Tracking, to me, is as much a part of the hunt as scouting. But, if I were in a situation that I could not recover the deer, I'd be in favor of a leashed dog. <----<<<

[Steve]

Mr. 16, you are correct. The law was changed to allow this a few years ago.

[mckey]

I shot a small buck with my bow a few years back and and after following a blood trail a few hundred yards,I jumped the deer that was bedded down in some tall grass.The blood trail had quit and all but a few specks of blood was found in the last direction the deer was seen running.After a friend and myself had walked in large circles of the area with no luck.I was very dissapointed and had that sour feeling in my stomach about losing that deer.Then thought about our family pet a german shepard with no tracking experience or special training and thought, "its worth a try".

After leashing the dog and taking him to the location where the deer was hit,He picked up the trail and followed it to the spot where the deer had bedded down a few hundred yards away and had not trouble picking up the scent trail that we couldn't....After following the dog throught a bean field and another woodlot the deer was found where it had bedded down and died.I think most canines have the natural tracking instinct and would never allow my dogs to run loose in the woods.But if it means the difference in recovering wounded a deer "you bet" its a tool I would use as a last resort.Only problem is now when I do get a deer and hang it in the shed it drives him nuts that he knows the deer is in his territory and has to run around and sniff every spot in the yard it was dragged.

[Baydog]

Just got in from hunting. I hit a spike, he dropped and started thrashing. As soon as I started to walk up to him, he jumped up and took off running. Follow up shot did not connect. Learned my lesson shoot till he stops moving. Me and a buddy followed the blood trail three hundred yards then it petered out. Was wondering how old a track can be before a dog can't follow it. Also if rain bothers the dogs tracking ability. I have two Daschands, buddy will be back in about thirty minutes going to take the dogs out and give it a try. Wish me luck.

[Cougar]

Those dashhounds would make excellent tracking dogs. They say the best breed is the Wirehair Dashhound. I am in the process of purchasing one, and have researched this topic extensively. The dogs can pick up trails that are many many hours old, and it is always recommended that you look for the deer first without the dog, because the dog will not be distracted by your scent, and some deer are found very easily. I am unaware of an organization in Mi., like in some other states, but I may try to start one in my area. The goal is to help as many people as possible get their deer, so the animal is not wasted!

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*Jace*

[PaleRider]

I took my Jack Russell with me to retrieve a deer I had shot, he was on that trail in seconds and took me right to the deer..............he darn near dragged that thing back to the barn for me after he had his way with it.:D

[PaleRider]

Here he is in his hunt'n gear.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=68826&cat=500

[kodiak33]

:yeahthat:I would urge everyone to first attempt to track your deer without a dog. Tracking, to me, is as much a part of the hunt as scouting. But, if I were in a situation that I could not recover the deer, I'd be in favor of a leashed dog. <----<<<

[TrekJeff]

I personally think recovery is more important than preserving a future hunt and worrying about the smell of a dog in the area. My lab is the best deer dog I've ever had. He's found two deer this year. In the area that he was tracking in, deer were shot the following days.

As stated above, you can use a dog to track a fatally wounded deer. Dog must be on a leash and you cannot carry a firearm.

[buckwiz]

Tracked many with my dog. If you cant find it and can get a dog, do it. One that is trained will have it in probably less than a minute or two,unless you hold him back. If the deer isnt dead or crippled bad, you wont find it even with a dog. You do not need to see blood either, I really believe its a scent that they smell along with blood. You will have a different feeling about a mutt, if you see him find your deer.;)

[Whit1]

The tread upon which the last several comments have been made is seven years old. Please start a new thread on this topic.