I just bought an English Springer Spaniel puppy that I would like to train to track for wounded deer. the problem is, i'm not sure how to start. also, how long do you think it will take? Any tips?

Start with basic obedience, then work the tracking later, you have to have a controllable dog first... Could take months or more to get him finished.

ok, let's say he's pretty controlled. should i drag a deer's hide across the ground or something like that? how do i get him to understand that i want him to track?

Obedience first then you can move onto a book titled Practical Scent Dog Training by Button will give you the basic foundation. If you are going to cross train the pup for field work the the book you want is HUP: Training Flushing Spaniels the American Way by Jim Spencer.
If you want to get in touch with some local springer folks let me know, I may be able to direct you...send me PM
Who'd you get your pup from? Of course we'll need to see puppy pictures!

WRONG DOG

I first trained my deer dog for tracking, then for'wounded deer'.IMO most os dogs that 'blood track' are actually just tracking off fresh deer scent, like a hound would. I started my dog out with deer drags. Then you need to kill a deer (I prefer a buck in rut that is stinking) and start dragging the hind legs. Once they trail a fresh drag, keep training them on progressively older drags. Basic obedience is a mustbeforestarting thetracking also and a treat and praise when he has progress. It is easier than you think, especially with a great dog that loves to hunt just as much as you do.

Ready to hunt, I would first sudjest to do a little reading. Go to www.thetroutbum.com and www.unitedbloodtrackers.org Both of these are good web sites to learn about getting started with your dog. Also if you have not looked into purchasing the book Tracking dogs for finding wounded game, I would highly recomend it. There is a lot of very good information in the book.

I would not go so far as to say what daleh said, but a English Springer Spaniel would not be my first choice to blood track with. That is not to say it can not be done. I know of several birds dog that have turned out to be blood trackers.

You asked how long it would take to train a dog. Most hunting breeds of dogs will pick it up in about 6 months of work. But it takes about 2 years to develope a reliable tracking dog. 1 or 2 tracks a week for the first couple of years while getting as many real tracks during hunting season as possible. Once the dog understand the basics and what you want I would talk with your hunting buddies. Every deer that runs a little ways off put the dog on it. Each trackis different and each time the dog works it learns.
Best of luck. If you have any further questions let me know.

Ken

Thanks for all the info, guys. last year i lost a buck and never want to experience it again. I'll look up them sites. thanks alot!