07/26/2024
Hunters please remember these things please!
I added a tracking pic just because
With opening day of hunting season fast approaching. Couple things to keep in mind if you think you will need a tracking team
1...if you don't see good sign within the first 50-100 yards back out of the area,try to take the same trail out you took in..
2....don't let your ego cause you to lose your hard earned deer,there's no shame in calling in a dog.
3...it's never a good idea to have you and 5 -10 buddies grid search for an hour or 2 then call a tracker when the deer is not found. 2 things happen in this situation either the deer can't be recovered because everyone has destroyed the scent trail, or what could have been a 20 min track just become a 4-5 hour track. Because the dog/dogs have to work out everywhere yall went to figure out the correct direction the deer went.
4....if a tracker asks you to stay out of the area completely that the deer needs X amount of time before putting a dog on it. Please don't go in the woods anyway. Trust me the dogs will tell on you
5...please don't intentionally lie to the tracker. Be truthful up front with questions asked. You won t be judged. We ask certain questions for a reason. It's to help better the chances of recovery.
6.... if on private property. Big or small go ahead and get neighboring landowners permission to cross property lines if need be. Just because we are trackers and tracking your deer. Don't give us the right to trespass. We will be charged just like the hunter would be...
7..please don't get nasty with us trackers if we tell you Your deer is gonna live. We see and put our hands on more wounded deer in a single season than most will see in a lifetime. .
8....if you have already committed to a tracker. Don't call around to see who else can get to you faster. We give wait times for a reason. Then when we show up and someone is already there that you called. You just took away from another hunter that also needs help
9....just because your cousins uncle twice removed friends dog has found 2 double lung shots and a heart shot deer don't make it a tracking dog. If you do it's gonna make everything way more difficult than it needs to be
10...most trackers I know don't charge, we don't never not want someone to call because they don't think they can afford to have a dog out. We do it to help the hunting community and work our dogs. Not to get rich...tips are appreciated. Because we do this out of our own pockets.but generally not asked for
11....this is the biggest one. I see it every year. If you post on social media about needing a dog. And folks start blowing your inbox up. And wanting to charge God awful amounts just to show up. Then more if the deer is found. Do your research on that person and see if they are legit Trackers or if it's just someone that thinks they have a tracking dog and just trying to make a quick buck. .. it will be the difference between a recovery Or you just throwing money out to someone for the fun of it ....
12. even though folks think a deer is gonna spoil soon as the shots made. I promise that is not the case at all. The deer has to first expire. Then body temp has to drop then rise again before bacteria sets in to spoil. Yes even with a gut shot. Grant it. There will be less time if the deer expires in an open field than it would if it expires in the shade or in the water
13....Have fun. Be safe. And good luck to everyone this year
