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Dogs being used to trail deer.

3K views 20 replies 18 participants last post by  Whiskers4life 
#1 ·
How does everyone feel about using a dog to help you find a deer youve shot.

I dont have a dog to use but Ive felt so sick before for not finding a deer and knowing Im just feeding the yotes. Or even finding it the next day just because I ran out of light.
If I had have used a dog chances are I would find that deer. So is it "ethical" to use a dog to find that deer, if it was legal. Is it also ethical to not do everything you can to harvest that deer? Man Im sitting on the fence on this one.
 
#3 ·
I don't understand why there is any question about it. Do you think that using a dog to track a wounded deer somehow takes away from the sport of the hunt? Somehow makes you less of a hunter because you couldn't find it on your own?

I think it is not only ethical but very practical. I feel the same way as you about leaving a wounded deer in the woods. That's a good part of the reason I quit bow hunting. I lost two deer in about three years and I just couldn't stand it. I replayed the scenarios over and over in each case. I waited for a good shot. Took my time. Put an arrow all the way through both deer. Both at less than 25 yards. Tracked one about 300 yards before losing blood. The other I lost blood after about 50 yards. It just kills my soul to know that I have killed a deer and not been able to find it.

Would a dog have made a difference in either case? I don't know. Would I have used the dog to attempt to track the wounded deer? You bet! One of the deer in question was in Louisiana (not sure if tracking with dogs is legal unless an open season with dogs is in progress), the other in Mississippi where only legal if gun-with-dog season is in progress.

Now, to take the question a step farther (and I know there is another thread going on posing this question), is it ethical to use dogs to drive deer while hunting? It is legal here in Mississippi though I don't participate in the sport currently. I hunted with dogs in Louisiana in my younger days. My grandfather used to love to raise deer dogs. I see no problem using dogs as long as it is legal. I understand a lot of the controversy with the issue too. I don't want to fight with anyone but I'd be interested in hearing some opinions.
 
#4 ·
I have no problem with someone using a dog to track a downed animal, if it cannot otherwise be tracked. I used to hunt bear a lot in Alaska. A lot of the time they do not leave bllod trails, because their coats are so thick and their metabolism is very slow. THis make following a wounded animal for a distance difficult. If we could not find an animal the day we shot,the following day, we would bring a dog in to recover the bear. It cut down on a lot of waste, because otherwise those bears might no t have been found.

-Brian
 
#6 ·
Here at home, the weather is not usually cold enough to leave an animal overnight. I was taught to shoot only what I eat, and waste nothing. I have seen "blood dogs" used a few times, and they are worth it. I try not to take shots that I'm not sure of in order to prevent wounded animals (I also stress this to my children & grands), but it does happen sometimes. I have only failed to find 1 wounded deer in all the years I've hunted, but when I harvest an animal, I want to dress it out ASAP. The sooner dressed properly, the better the quality and taste. I don't have a dog that will trail blood, but I would use it if available and I needed one.
 
#7 ·
Do a search on google for deer blood dogs, there was national group started up a few years ago for just that purpose.

Using dogs is illegal in KS for that purpose, but bird season coincides with our deer season and know of several people who found their deer while "bird hunting". If I've searched to the very best of my ability(and my friends abilities), I can't see any reason not to use a blood dog........especially if it's on a leash the whole time.

I've never had the need to use dogs, but wouldn't hesitate to go "birdhunting" should the need ever occur.
 
#8 ·
Here in Georgia the DNR even publishes a list of dog owners who can be contacted inn the Hunting Regulations Booklet. The list is by county and some of the trackers charge and some are free. They encourage seeking permission from adjacent land owners prior to season or atleast a phone number to call if it happens thru out season. Dog hunting and dog tracking have both been around these parts for many many years and I can understand SOME peoples opinions on the hunting with dogs part but how could anyone not agree with useing a leashed dog to track a wounded animal?
Ive had two Labs that were easily trained and did indeed find a couple of deer for myself or buddies who had shot deer that couldnt be found. I friend had a little short legged long bodied weiner dog that could track down just about any thing.. that little dog was amazing but you had to pick him up and over every little log and bush.....lol


Just my opinion... Sam
 
#10 ·
I don't have a problem with tracking wounded animals.I own a 7mo. old bloodhound and I would like any pointers anyone could give me on training her. She is very head strong and it has taken a month to teach her to sit on command.She was given to me about a month and a half ago.When I got her she didn't even know her name,I know training her will be tough because she is already set in her own ways.Any tips would be greatly appreciated!My hope is I'll have a dog of my own to track wounded deer.I don't feel it is very sporting to run deer using dogs or fire,but thats my opinion.
 
#11 ·
My oldest labrador will find any downed game you put her in the vicinity of. I have used her several times to "bird hunt" after I wounded a deer and couldnt find it on my own. She is relentless...she will stay on the scent trail until you either find your animal or you make her stop looking for it. She will not run live deer like some dogs do....but she will however hunt her brown butt off for whatever you tell her to.
 
#12 ·
I have only shot 2 deer that I couldnt find by myself, all I did was go back to the house and get my little Rat Terrier put him on the trail and thats all it took, just sit and listen and when he went nuts barkin, I knew he found it, he would bark until I told him to shut up, give him a treat and he was happy as could be.
 
#13 ·
i think it should be in all states to use the pups for trailing wounded game as long as on a leash. i shot a 8 pointer one couldn't find no blood but found my arrow with about 7"s broke off of it, it started to spinkle so we hauled butt back to camp to get my buddies dog who had quite a few find under his belt and still couldn't find it. talk about feeling like crap..and no dogs should not be used to run deer cause alot these guys block the road drink there beer shoot first then check for antlers, it takes the sport out of it and tick people off when they been in a stand since before daybreak and here comes a pack noisy @$$ dogs lets cut the still hunter a break!!!!!
 
#14 ·
I would have paid someone last week. I shot a nice eight poiter in South Carolina with my Bow last week. I gave him plenty of time and got down walked over to my arrow and started trailing. The buck ran into a 3 year old cut over. I trailed him for about 75 yards. At times I was on my hands and knees with my flashlight looking for blood. At first it was a good blood trail buy eventually it disappeared. After making several large circle I called it quits. Two days later I found him about 200 yards away.
I was able to salvage the antlers however the meat was ruined. It is just too hot in S.C. during bow season. There was several times the thoght of having a dog went through my head. If I had on to my disposal I would have used him.
 
#15 ·
I'm in favor of both. I have lost a deer shot by bow at 20 yds. She bled like a stuck pig for 150 yds, and the dripped down to nothing in the next 100. Spent 2 hours on my hand and knees in cottonmouth infested woods looking for either her or the next drop of blood. She carried my broadhead and 4 or 5 inches of arrow with her, so I know she died. I quit bowhunting for about a year, but then got some poison pods --- never shot one with it, so don't ask for an opinion!
I grew up hunting in front of dogs, and had a lot of fun doing it. I haven't done it in 15 years or so, and see a lot more deer still hunting than I ever saw in front of dogs, but I love to listen to a dog run a track, especially if I know the dog.
Just my opinion. I also understand both sides of the argument, and am not trying to pick a fight. But running dogs for deer is a southern tradition. Unfortunately, there IS a lot of people "hunting" from the gravel roads. And if that isn't unsafe enough, a few either have beer in the cooler, and a few in their belly, or a bottle to ward off the cold.
 
#16 ·
I agree with both sides.

Using the dog and not having a gun with you is a good idea. But, thats what the guy who finds the un-dead deer and gets his gut stomped out wont be saying.

Dog owners wont like the idea when Hill jack Fred shoots the dog cause it made all kinds of noise, scaring deer within a mile radius.

But, on the positive side, you wont loose the deer as often. I just think that there are too many draw backs to using the dogs. Not only for saftey of the dog but the hunter too.
 
#17 ·
i wish we could use them here in ohio. seen to many found only to be chewed up by yotes. it dont take them long to find them around here. went out with a buddy last year only to find the hams ate off of it. i did go back and snare 3 of them though two males and a female.
 
#21 ·
well, I would to say thank you, even though up here in Wisconsin, Its kind of hard to not find a deer, because where I hunt, we have nearly a foot or so of snow.....But theres always that chance to wound one, and not find it....Especially in Bow Hunting season, which up here is in the fall....I would especially like to thank Center12, for pointing me to google for the search, I never knew Wisconsin passed a law for it....Thank you, I have a Bluetick, and she's very smart, and loves to run....you know, she'll be trained soon for this, she just turned a year, and is very willing to learn yet, so I have to tip my hat, and say thanks......
 
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