I live in Ohio and it is now leagle to use a dog on a leash to trail a wounded deer, I was just curious as to how many people do this? and what type of dog do ya all user? and also how hard is it to trail a dog to do this? any info will be greatly appreciated. thank you all.

usually you use one or two dogs, the dogs used are mostly hounds and herding dogs. We have a blue lacy and a catahoula mix she is great. The training is pretty easy since most of it is just instinct for the dog, but like everything it takes time.

We have several dogs here that are trained to track blood and scent of any type.

We use Deutsch Kurzhaars. They have to pass a test in blood tracking which is very difficult. Some tests the trail is 24 hours old. We have tracked several deer this year during gun season as well as waterfowl and quail hunt the same day with the same dog!

If you are interested I could elaborate on the breed and what is expected of them.

Just to blood track on a lead is easy to train a dog to do. He, obviously has to have a quite good amount of retrieve drive and the ability to track or trail. After that is quick and rather easy.

Phil
REO

Heres some places to look for information

http://www.deersearch.org/

http://www.borntotrack.com/

OHdg,

I am in the process of getting a Deutsch Drahthaar puppy which among other things, I will be using for trailing wounded big game animals. From what I've seen, heard, read, etc... (i.e. I have no personal experience), you can go two ways:

1. Get a specialist. Find a dog that their focus is tracking blood trails. I think there is a thread started on this in the other dog forum.

2. Get a versatile. There are many dogs like the Drahthaar, Kurzhaar, Griffons, etc... that can track big game animals very effectively but also work with you in other facets of hunting such as waterfowl and upland game hunting.

Good luck...

Good choice in dogs! Not the best but good!

The DD as well as the DK, our breed of choice, are the true DO ALL dogs. You will have a good time with it!

I am sure we will meet up somewhere along the line.....We will be testing a few of our DK's down in you neck of the woods this fall!

If you have any questions about training you new versatile pup, give us a holler!

Phil
REO

I was also wondering, where do you keep the dog when your in the blind or tree stand. How do you keep it quiet enough so it doenst give your position away?

Coastie,

We dont keep our dogs with us deer hunting, it is illegal here. In Germany, they hault the dogs at the base of the tree or somewhere inconspicuous. We are allowed to blood track a wounded animal without firearms though.

In the Duck blind, we do the same, hault them or make them sit just like any other duck dog. These dogs are the true sense of the word VERSATILE.

Blood tracking is a integral part of the testing system for DK's and DD's. There are several different aspects in which a dog could be tested as well.

Hault is a command that means to lie down flat with the head between the front legs and be quiet.

If you would like more information, let us know,

Phil
REO

thanks Red

Howdy, if all you want is to trail wounded deer and not to hunt deer with dogs then my best suggestion would be to ol common but trust-worthy BEAGLE. 1st the dog woll not be allowed off lease in the woods; a beagle is much easier to handle on a leash then say some 80lb hound; remember the wounded deer is likly to head for the thickest cover it can get to and you have to follow it with a dog on a leash. 2nd a beagle eats a lot less then many other hounds thus is cheaper. 3rd remember what the hound is to be used for Blood Trailing and not for hunting so there are limitations to the dogs use. keep it small and slow the last thing you want is a hard pulling, large, fast tracking dog on a blood trail in the middle of the night.
i have trained many dogs and currently use a blood trailing dog to date however mine is a 85lb cur that is used to hunt wild hogs/deer as well as blood trail. And believe me you do not want to have him on the leash on a hot blood trail in the middle of the night he will literally drag you thru the brush.