How to Train Your Dog to Blood-Trail Deer

by
posted on November 19, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
dogtraining-bloodtraildeer_lead.jpg

Just when you think you’ve learned all the fundamental know-how about hunting, someone tells you about “scent shoes.” I was interviewing Justin Richins, a mule deer and elk guide in Utah and Wyoming, about tracking wounded deer with dogs. He explained that scent shoes strap to the bottoms of boots and have clamps that hold a deer’s hoof. These devices allow him to lay a cold track (no blood) for his dog to follow.

The learning curve for training a dog to track wounded deer isn’t severe, but there is specialized gear, training regiments and competing opinions on breeds. Richins found Born to Track, an upstate New York breeder that specializes in wirehaired dachshunds.

“These are small dogs,” said Richins. “I’ve found that big dogs tend to have their heads too high off the ground. They often hunt by sight too much. These dachshunds, however, stay right on the ground. Born to Track breeds and trains dogs specifically for tracking wounded deer.”

Richins started his pup on liver drags and heavy blood trails then made the blood trails sparser. As an outfitter, Richins has a lot of opportunities to put his dog on real tracks as well. He even insists on letting his dog find deer he knows are lethally hit.

Richins uses scent shoes to take training to another level. Deer have glands between their hooves that leave scent as they walk. A dog trained to trail this scent can track a deer that isn’t losing much blood; in fact, because the scent each deer leaves is unique, a dog can track a particular deer.

Richins’ dachshund is incredibly effective, but you can train your Labrador, golden retriever and other breeds to track wounded game. (First, check your state’s regulations to make sure tracking wounded game with a dog is legal.) A good source of training info is Tracking Dogs for Finding Wounded Deer by John Jeanneney of Born to Track.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned,” said Richins, “is to trust my dog. Many times I’ve had hunters tell me my dog was off the trail, as they’d watched the deer run away. So I took my dog back to the start and watched him go right back to the same place. Then I let him work it out. Each time I found the dog was right.”

Latest

Lead Photo 02
Lead Photo 02

Head to Head: 7x57mm Mauser vs. .30-06 Springfield

I’ve had more than a few requests for this Head to Head, so I figured it was high time to pit two of the early 20th century’s most popular military cartridges against one another. Let's dive into the 7x57mm Mauser vs. the .30-06 Springfield.

NRA Hunter Education FREE Online Course Now Available in Louisiana

The National Rifle Association of America’s award-winning free Hunter Education online course is now available in the State of Louisiana, the latest addition as NRA works to make the course available to hunters in all 50 states.

Moultrie Updates Line of Game Feeders

Moultrie has expanded the capacity of its line of feeders, and bettered the cameras' integration with the company's connected technology to streamline the feeding process.

Building the Ultimate Elk Bow

Elk are remarkable creatures that dwell in some of the most hellish landscapes on earth. An elk bow needs to be tough, light, and ultra-accurate. Here's how to build the right one for you.

First Look: Spandau S2 20-Gauge

Spandau Arms, a brand of SDS Arms, has announced that the  Spandau S2 Shotgun is now available in a 20-gauge model in both a Mossy Oak Bottomland and a traditional wood finish.

Count Some Quail, Tally Some Turkeys

The Arkansas turkey season ended in May, but there’s still good reason for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to keep the birds in mind when they head out to their favorite hiking trail or drive the backroads of The Natural State. Outdoorsmen who scare up coveys of quail are welcome in the survey as well.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.