Dog Deer Tracking: A Comprehensive Guide

Tracking a dog deer can be a thrilling experience, but it requires patience and skill. The first step is to understand the basics of tracking, which involves identifying the signs left behind by the deer, such as hoof prints, scat, and rub marks.

Hoof prints are a crucial sign to look for, as they can give away the deer's size, weight, and movement patterns. A single deer's hoof print can be up to 4 inches long and 3 inches wide.

The direction of the deer's movement can also be determined by observing the orientation of the hoof prints, with the toes pointing towards the direction of travel.

Training your dog to track deer can be a fun and rewarding experience for both you and your furry friend. The best mock trail you can create isn't a substitute for the real thing, so put your young dog on every track you can come hunting season.

Building your dog's confidence by starting with easy tracks that have guaranteed success is key. This allows you to see how your dog works on the trail and pick up on visual cues like a crouched posture or sudden snap of the head. Levee barks when he's about to find a deer, which is a great indicator of when your dog is on a hot scent.

Different breeds of dogs can be trained to find wounded deer, but some European trackers swear by the interdigital gland scent system, which involves using interdigital gland paste instead of deer liver or blood. This system has been used for years to find wounded deer, and John Jeanneney's book "Tracking Dogs for Finding Wounded Deer" is a great resource to learn more about it.

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Start by putting your young dog on every track you can come hunting season, even when you see the deer fall dead, to build their confidence and see how they work on the trail.

A few easy tracks with guaranteed success will help your dog learn to recognize the scent of a deer and develop their tracking skills. Most dogs will give visual cues when they're on a hot scent, like a crouched posture or sudden snap of the head.

Levee barks when we're about to find a deer, but be aware that some states have regulations against tracking dogs that bark, so check yours.

European trackers start off with just using the interdigital gland paste and don't use a deer liver or deer blood, which is a common technique used to train tracking dogs.

John Jeanneney, a renowned expert in training deer-tracking dogs, used this system of tracking and taught only this way to train dogs, beginning in the 1970s. He wrote a book on the subject, "Tracking Dogs for Finding Wounded Deer", which is still considered a go-to resource today.

You can purchase Jeanneney's book on Amazon or through the UBT website, or order it through Jolanta Jeanneney's webpage, Born-to-Track.

Darren Minor, a seasoned deer hunter and dog trainer, took his Labrador Retriever, Ranger, to the next level.

Ranger's natural ability to track and follow scents was honed through consistent training and socialization.

Minor's approach to training emphasizes the importance of building a strong bond between dog and handler.

This bond is crucial for effective communication and trust during deer tracking expeditions.

Minor's experience shows that even a young dog like Ranger can learn to track deer with precision and accuracy.

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To begin, it's essential to understand that deer have a strong sense of smell and can detect scents from great distances. This is why using a dog with a keen sense of smell is crucial for tracking deer.

By following the deer's path, you can learn their habits and patterns, including their favorite feeding and bedding areas. These areas are often marked by a concentration of deer scat and urine.

A good tracker can identify the direction of deer movement by looking for the direction of the wind and the location of deer scat.

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A good tracker needs to be observant and patient, able to spend hours in the field watching for signs of deer.

Deer tracks can be identified by their cloven hooves, which have two toes that point in the direction of travel.

A tracker should look for tracks in areas where deer are likely to cross, such as streams, trails, and field edges.

Deer tracks can be difficult to follow in wet conditions, but they can also be easier to spot.

By studying the shape and size of deer tracks, a tracker can determine the age and sex of the deer that made them.

A tracking shoe is a type of shoe that allows you to track deer without being seen. It's essentially a sneaky way to get close to your prey.

The most common type of tracking shoe is a moccasin-style shoe with a soft, flexible sole that allows for quiet movement.

Tracking shoes are designed to mimic the sound of a deer's hooves, making it easier to follow their tracks.

They're typically made from soft, breathable materials like deerskin or canvas, which helps to keep your feet quiet and comfortable.

In fact, some tracking shoes even have a special type of sole that's designed to absorb shock, making it easier to follow deer without startling them.

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When you first start tracking deer with your dog, it's essential to create a mock trail to help build their confidence and skills. This can be as simple as setting up a few easy tracks with guaranteed success.

A few easy tracks will allow you to see how your dog works on the trail and pick up on visual cues like a crouched posture or sudden snap of the head.

Most dogs will give you a clear indication when they're on a hot scent, and some may even bark to signal that they're about to find a deer. Just be sure to check your local regulations regarding tracking dogs that bark, as some states have specific rules.

Dog deer tracking is a highly effective method for locating deer, with experienced trackers able to follow a deer's trail for miles.

A key factor in successful dog deer tracking is the ability to read the deer's sign, which can include tracks, scat, and rubs.

In areas with heavy deer populations, it's not uncommon for a single deer to leave behind over 100 tracks per day.

The use of trained dogs can increase the chances of a successful hunt by up to 50%.

With the right training and equipment, a dog can follow a deer's trail even in challenging terrain, such as steep hills and dense forests.

If you're new to tracking deer, you'll likely see a fraction of the blood trails John Engelken experiences in a season.

Don't take up the blood trail too soon, as it can take a mortally hit buck time to bleed out and expire.

A buck can turn into a survival machine if you jump it from that first bed, making it harder to track.

Mature white-tailed bucks need to lose about 2½ quarts of blood to die, which is a lot of blood - over a half-gallon.

Mark the trail you're following with toilet paper to make it easier to backtrack and use observations to keep looking for the next blood.

If you hit a buck of a lifetime, try to disturb the blood trail as little as possible to avoid introducing a secondary trail that will confuse the dogs and prolong the process.