The Labrador Retriever can hunt virtually any feathered game, ducks as well as the upland birds, but can this dog be trained for deer? I have seen a deer-drive video from down South (Virginia, the Carolinas or Georgia) where there was a even black Lab in the mix of mostly hound-type breeds. California, where I live, is not dogs-for-big-game-hunting-friendly but current regs allow one dog per hunter during deer season with modern guns. The trouble is many here frown on dogs in the deer field. I went on a canned guided deer hunt once on a CA rancher's/guide's private spread and HIS policy was no dogs on the deer hunt. I have heard rumors that a Lab, famed for ducks, may also be trained to follow blood to recover a lost/down/wounded big-game animal. Some sources say chocolate Labs have been used to trail a deer like a hound. I don't know what coat color has to do with this supposed talent. Labs are routinely trained to sniff for bombs and trapped victims in buildings so I guess they could be trained for deer.

For deer, I would have a radio collar on my dog to ensure I don't lose him in the woods.

Speaking of permitting ONE DOG only during regular GUN deer season in CA, I have and will only hunt with modern guns. Smokepoles, air guns and Robin Hood weapons interest me not personally.

The American Foxhound can hunt virtually any hoof or fur bearing game but is rare and hard to find.

The black and tan coon hound can do the same as above but hounds bay and howl like the devil and I live in the suburbs.

I have been hunting deer and ground squirrels back in the 1990's, without any dog in the field, and have not hunted since. I am a dog lover and hunting without a dog for companionship if nothing else is never the same.

I am interested in taking up hunting again but I vowed only to do it with dogs if I am ever to do it again at all. Being in CA, I will have to choose the game to hunt that is the best fit in this State for dogs and the best-fitting dogs for my specific game here.

California is unhappily a very anti-hunting state as most may know. They just outlawed dogs for bear here not long ago out of asinine stupidity. Sacramento legislators here don't know a double-aught buck shell from scoring a double in the dove field.

Hound breeds for hunting mammals are virtually impossible to find here but Labrador Retrievers are coming out the ears here. Quite a few Californians still largely feel heart-warmed about hunting ducks and birds with "sweet, cuddly Labs". Feathered-game hunting seems to be the form of hunting that lefty-libs least hate. They don't like the notion of 'Bambi' or a 'cute teddy bear' being hounded, though.

CA offers lots of pheasant, dove and duck opportunities as well as ground squirrels but big game hunts here are now the utter pits.

I envy the South in that we don't do deer drives with loud baying and howling dogs here in the West.

I have finally concluded over my past 50 years in this world that HUNTING is not HUNTING without a dog in the field! There is just no charm without a canine companion leading a gun. As a matter of fact, I have to have a dog for anything I do that is fun out of doors.

I am just old-fashioned about some things. Guns and dogs just warm my soul.


So, my next hunting dogs will have to be the ever-popular Lab in black, my favorite color. I have owned four Labs over my 50 year lifetime only as companions and never trained them for the field.