Dead deer tracking?

[Cajun shooter]

I just had an idea that I'd like to explore amongst you experts.

I have a big buck 180+ that I haven't seen since last December. This is a 250 acre high fence property so I know he didn't go somewhere else. The last time I saw him on camera was toward the end of rut and he looked like he had lost 50 pounds. He was looking really ragged.

I have been worrying and worrying about him. He usually showed up on camera and one of the feeders, usually the protein feeder but I haven't seen any sign of him since December 2015.

Would it be possible for a tracking dog to find him if he died that long ago? I have a pretty good idea the area of the property he used to hang out in, which is about 1/4 of the property. I have walked and walked and walked and I'm seeing nothing. There is a hugely thick stuff out there and lots of creek bottoms so I think it would be really easy for me to miss it.

Think a dog might do it?


Chootum!

[BURTONboy]

See if you can find a dog that hunts for sheds. Maybe that dog could run up on the head of the 'dead' buck you are looking for. That or just get any ol dog and go walking. If the deer smells at all the dog will be attracted to it. Just some thoughts.

[twosixteens]

I agree try a shed hunter

[Deer Tracks]

Dog would have to be trained to hunt for decomposed carcass of deer and the search area would be very large.

[BrokenJ]

I know you said you walked it. But an area that size I would grid walk it. Use a gps or natural landmarks fence lines or flag tale.

[TheHammer]

Get some guys together and grid walk the place

[Cajun shooter]

See if you can find a dog that hunts for sheds. Maybe that dog could run up on the head of the 'dead' buck you are looking for. That or just get any ol dog and go walking. If the deer smells at all the dog will be attracted to it. Just some thoughts.

That's a good thought. A shed hunter might be my best bet. There's go to be some huge sheds on this property also and I can't ever find any.

Dog would have to be trained to hunt for decomposed carcass of deer and the search area would be very large.

I didn't think about the decomposed deer not smelling the same as a deer that had just died.

I know you said you walked it. But an area that size I would grid walk it. Use a gps or natural landmarks fence lines or flag tale.

I haven't actually tried walking a grid but I have used my gps to mark where I have walked. The problem with walking a grid is you can not walk a straight line because of the obstacles. It's just too thick and uneven so I know I'd still miss something even if I tried to walk a grid.




Chootum!

[PYBUCK]

Chances are that if he died last year the skeleton will not be in one location. Get some beer and burgers and invite some of you friends to help you do a grid search.

[Cajun shooter]

Chances are that if he died last year the skeleton will not be in one location. Get some beer and burgers and invite some of you friends to help you do a grid search.

No matter how many people there are they will have to walk around huge thick thicket and brush piles. If you walk around them there is a chance you'll miss whatever is in it.


Chootum!

[muzzlebrake]

Any water source on the place? If so, a sick or hurt dying deer will many times end up at or near a water source. That would be my first place to look. On our lease we find most of the naturally caused dead deer close to a water source or along in a fence line.

[Cajun shooter]

Any water source on the place? If so, a sick or hurt dying deer will many times end up at or near a water source. That would be my first place to look. On our lease we find most of the naturally caused dead deer close to a water source or along in a fence line.

Yeah there's one lake and believe me in February I combed the banks of that lake and nothing.


Chootum!

[Joshg223]

Something else to think about if he died around water, would be if you got a lot of rain this spring there is a chance of it washing down a creek or drainage.


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[Rack Ranch]

What are the chances that someone you know shot him and snuck him off the place? I hate to be that way but you wouldn't believe what I've seen.

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[mudcatz71]

Yep or drug him under the fence!

[Cajun shooter]

Something else to think about if he died around water, would be if you got a lot of rain this spring there is a chance of it washing down a creek or drainage.


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Strange enough the first year I got on this lease I was knocking down weeds around the lake to we could fish around it. To make a long story short I ended up fining a entire deer skeleton under about 2 feet of water. When I fished it out it was a 22 point monster buck. After looking it over I'm pretty sure it had been shot or gored because it's last floating rib on the right side had the tip broken. That was the only thing I could find wrong.


Chootum!