Going to be a long night (long read)

[backroads]

I have a young Dachshound and we leashed him.

I ain't joking one bit when I write this; wiener dogs make excellent tracking dogs. Dead serious. I don't know if it's because they're low to the ground, very thorough in working a track, have something to prove to the longer legged dogs or what...but they can flat get it done with very little training.

They are used in Germany a lot for going down in burrows to run whatever is down there and hunt rabbits.

I know you guys are disappointed, but your son will get the next one.

 

[CAW]

Sorry to hear you did not find him. My son lost a big 7 point last year and it brought him to tears. Good luck on the next one!

 

[BHC]

I have a young Dachshound and we leashed him.

I ain't joking one bit when I write this; wiener dogs make excellent tracking dogs. Dead serious. I don't know if it's because they're low to the ground, very thorough in working a track, have something to prove to the longer legged dogs or what...but they can flat get it done with very little training.

They are used in Germany a lot for going down in burrows to run whatever is down there and hunt.

Dachunds were originally bred a hunting dogs they would go into burrows and retrieve game. They are in the hound family actually. If you look online most tracking devices use them. Any dog with a chase instinct will do it but smaller dogs are easier to handle. A guy in our club uses a "shnouser forgive the spelling" and I believe he's about 90% in recoverys. I have been taking my lab hound mix and she does good, but you better hang on tight, cuz it's gunna be a rough and fast ride.... I watched her check the wind last week bolt into the wind dragging me along and sure enough we jumbled a deer about 70yrds over the ridge from us...


As everyone has said sorry bout the deer, but that's part of it. I hate losing deer or screwing up a hunt, but it's all the screw ups and endless hours of pursuit that make scoring on one so rewarding!...

 

[TNGunsmoke]

Go back in a day or two and look for buzzards. Won't get any meat, but you could perhaps salvage the rack.

 

[TN Whitetail Freak]

Was the arrow clean when you found it?

We (TNdeer collectively) need to chip in and buy three deer dogs. One in each region. And find three members who are willing (for a nominal fee) to train and keep the dog, and when this (^^^) happens, those who chipped in need to call the handler and have it brought out and the deer should be tracked down.

Love this idea

 

[MattR]

Hate that you didn't find it. He is ahead of me when it comes to bow hunting. I haven't even let an arrow fly yet

 

[Savage]

My earlier post was supposed to be dachshunds and they were originally bred for badger hunting.

Hate that you lost the deer!

 

[Winchester]

I hate that he lost it as well, but it happens! He is pulling plenty of weight with a good head. My Sons started when pulling 37 lbs and killed numerous deer with several pass thrus. Shot placement, as always, is key. Tell him to hang in there and he will get it done!

 

[gatodoc]

Keep after him and get a dog if necessary and possible.

Agree with this...and if you totally exhaust all other options you might even be surprised what a plain'ol house dog can do in a pinch. Put a little bell on Fido and go for a walk along the blood trail and just follow along.

We had a rat terrier that would track blood and other than treeing squirrels, never invested any time in training. He never barked on a trail or when he found it though, so we put a bell on his collar (and laced up our running shoes to keep up :)).

Just an FYI, but to be legal with the dog, the dog is required to be on a leash.

To expand on what Boll Weevil said. I had a buddy that when they lost one would get the dog (house pet no training) out and follow it on the blood trail. 9 out of 10 times they found the deer with the dog.

I found the one I shot last week with my lab on a leash (with no weapon). She loves to chase the geese from the back yard and sniff around the apple tree where deer have been the night before so I let her smell the original shot location and gave her some slack and she instinctively trailed it out for me. next time I think she'll understand the plan even better....

 

[darn2ten]

I one lunged one about five years ago. Had good blood for the first fifty or so yards and then it started to get tough. I backed out and came back the next morning, found blood and proceeded to track. After about another 100 to 125 yds. I jump a deer that runs about 60 yds. stops, then blows and runs off. I couldn't get a good visual of the deer because it was thick in there. I figured there was no way it was the same deer because the one I jumped acted like nothing was wrong from what I could tell. Well, when I got up to where it was bedded there was a spot of blood about 6" around with bubbles in it. Never another spot of blood after I jumped him. Guess what showed up on my trail cam the next year, yep, same buck. He had a pretty unique and identifiable rack, only difference was he was bigger and the opposite side of the one I shot him on was all palamated and really thick. With all the blood I found I couldn't believe he made it, but he did. Sorry your boy didn't get him, but who knows, maybe he'll get another chance at him.