I have been working with my lab to get her trained to help us find wounded/otherwise unrecovered deer on my bow lease. I am looking for some advice/suggestions on how I can help her improve. I already have John Jeanneney's book "Tracking Dogs for finding wounded deer."
She has made good progress. However, there were two instances she was unable to help us that concern me. First one was earlier in the season and the deer was gut shot. She tracked to where the deer had lay down, and then the blood stopped. We spent a lot of time looking and trying to pick up the trail again but to no avail. Next time was recently, the deer had been hit low, possibly in the brisket or below the heart. She tracked until the blood stopped and continued to a fence line. (We probably should have crossed right away, but didn't.) She actually worked her way back and forth by the fence then continued down the fence line. After several hundred yards she took after an Armadillo. I took her back to the last blood and she came to the same spot, then continued down the fence line but seemed to be way off at that point. (probably looking for the Armadillo). I returned her to the start and she worked the trail back to the same spot on the fence. This time we crossed and she continued for quite a ways (300+yards.) At that point we pulled her off the trail because we could see no evidence of blood. Also we were were starting to get into another hunters area in a different pasture. Bottom line, so far she has tracked great as long as there was a good blood trail.
Here is what I have done to train her.
* Mock blood trails and place a deer leg at the end of the trail. These were done about once a month, with a deer leg on the end of the trail. Length of the trail were 150-500 yards. I always had several turns, which works through no problem. Blood is dripped out on the ground about every 10-20 yards. I wait 3-6 hours and have her work the trail. At first she would get distracted and I would put her back on the blood but she has done very well since then.
* At first I had her on a long lead, but found this impractical in the thick brush at our lease.
* Even when I do the mock trails close to camp I load her up in her crate. She knows exactly what do when she gets out.
* I always have her wear a bell.
* Anytime I shoot something I take her to track it. This year that was 2 pigs and one buck. She has done very well on these trails and I found them to be invaluable to her progress. Things really seemed to click after she tracked the first pig. Good thing for me is two of the animals only went about 50 yards, kind of bad for training purposes. One pig ran abouut 170 yards, and she did very well finding it. That one was awesome blood trail though, so it was pretty easy to find in the first place.
* As much as I have tried to get her on other people's kills that has proved more difficult. Some only want her there when they cannot find the deer, plus I am not always at the lease when kills are made (I hunt 150 miles from my house).
Here is what I am planning on doing for her training in the future.
* Keep doing mock trails, but with far less blood than have been using.
* Create more gaps in the trails.
* Keep trying to put her on animals.
I do realize that not every animal shot can be recovered, even by the best dogs.
Any advice on what else I can do is greatly appreciated.
She has made good progress. However, there were two instances she was unable to help us that concern me. First one was earlier in the season and the deer was gut shot. She tracked to where the deer had lay down, and then the blood stopped. We spent a lot of time looking and trying to pick up the trail again but to no avail. Next time was recently, the deer had been hit low, possibly in the brisket or below the heart. She tracked until the blood stopped and continued to a fence line. (We probably should have crossed right away, but didn't.) She actually worked her way back and forth by the fence then continued down the fence line. After several hundred yards she took after an Armadillo. I took her back to the last blood and she came to the same spot, then continued down the fence line but seemed to be way off at that point. (probably looking for the Armadillo). I returned her to the start and she worked the trail back to the same spot on the fence. This time we crossed and she continued for quite a ways (300+yards.) At that point we pulled her off the trail because we could see no evidence of blood. Also we were were starting to get into another hunters area in a different pasture. Bottom line, so far she has tracked great as long as there was a good blood trail.
Here is what I have done to train her.
* Mock blood trails and place a deer leg at the end of the trail. These were done about once a month, with a deer leg on the end of the trail. Length of the trail were 150-500 yards. I always had several turns, which works through no problem. Blood is dripped out on the ground about every 10-20 yards. I wait 3-6 hours and have her work the trail. At first she would get distracted and I would put her back on the blood but she has done very well since then.
* At first I had her on a long lead, but found this impractical in the thick brush at our lease.
* Even when I do the mock trails close to camp I load her up in her crate. She knows exactly what do when she gets out.
* I always have her wear a bell.
* Anytime I shoot something I take her to track it. This year that was 2 pigs and one buck. She has done very well on these trails and I found them to be invaluable to her progress. Things really seemed to click after she tracked the first pig. Good thing for me is two of the animals only went about 50 yards, kind of bad for training purposes. One pig ran abouut 170 yards, and she did very well finding it. That one was awesome blood trail though, so it was pretty easy to find in the first place.
* As much as I have tried to get her on other people's kills that has proved more difficult. Some only want her there when they cannot find the deer, plus I am not always at the lease when kills are made (I hunt 150 miles from my house).
Here is what I am planning on doing for her training in the future.
* Keep doing mock trails, but with far less blood than have been using.
* Create more gaps in the trails.
* Keep trying to put her on animals.
I do realize that not every animal shot can be recovered, even by the best dogs.
Any advice on what else I can do is greatly appreciated.
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