Deer Tracking Dog

A deer tracking dog, also called a blood tracking dog, has saved many a Texas hunter a sleepless night. Sooner or later it’s going to happen to all of us hunters.  You’re going to shoot an animal and there won’t be enough blood, or sign, for you to track your animal.  That’s when it’s time to call in the  deer tracking dog(s)!

Deer Tracking Dog – Experience:

Brutus, my deer tracking dog, is the 2014 National Lacy Dog Association (NLDA) Dog of the Year.  Brutus is a 4 year old Lacy and he’s been tracking deer since he was a pup.  He found his biggest deer, a 172″ native, low fence whitetail buck, when he was 5 months old.  The buck had been gut shot and was still alive when he found it.  Since then he’s tracked, and found, over 100 animals.  He found all of the animals he tracked in 2013, except 4, and 3 were still alive and harvested at a later date.  Most of the wounded animals he’s found have been whitetail, hence the name deer tracking dog, but he’s also found all kinds of exotics including blackbuck, aoudad, fallow deer, and red deer.

Where we track:

Most of our game tracking is within 2 hours of San Antonio, in South Texas and the Hill Country, however I do spend a lot of time out in West Texas, the Trans-Pecos Region, and will be happy to track any wounded animal while I’m in West Texas, as long as time allows.  It’s best to just give me a call, and see where I’m at, and we’ll see if we can work something out.

Information needed before tracking:

When calling for a deer tracking dog there’s some information that will be very helpful to know prior to showing up. Brutus tracks off lead, using a GPS collar, so for his safety, and ours, I’m fairly particular about the way I do things.  Ideally, it’s best if you think you made a questionable shot, and  might need to call for a deer tracking dog, not to go walking all through the brush where you might be contaminating the blood trail and/or pushing the wounded animal further.  Being a hunter myself, I know this isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but it will greatly increase your odds of recovering your animal if you back out of the brush and leave the track fresh and undisturbed.

Here’s a list of a few things that will be helpful to know before heading to track your animal:

• Was the animal shot with a rifle or bow?
• When was the animal shot?
• Have you put any other dog(s) on the trail?
• How large is the property where you shot your animal?
• Is the property high fenced or low fenced?
• Do you have permission to go on the neighboring properties if you are hunting low fence?
• Does the property have any snares, traps or cyanide guns?

Deer Tracking Dog – Policies & Procedures:

• I can’t guarantee that Brutus and I will find your animal, but we will do our absolute best, and spend as much time as I feel necessary, to recover your animal.  Because it’s the same amount of work whether we recover your animal or not, I charge the full amount whether we recover your animal or not. Obviously, cash is king (I always prefer to be paid in cash), but if there’s enough cell coverage I might be talked into taking a credit card or check.  Just let me know and we’ll see what we can work out.
• When I’m watching my GPS, and trying to keep up with Brutus, it’s very difficult for me to keep track of everyone if they try to follow us into the brush.  For our safety, as well as Brutus’ safety, I’ll be the only person following him and the only person with a firearm.  As long as I know everyone stayed at the spot where I entered the brush, I know where everyone is at if I need to finish off a live animal.  This keeps us all safe, and keeps Brutus safe, and we’ll all be able to celebrate and head home to hunt another day.
• Brutus only barks if your animal is still alive, and if it’s still alive I’ll finish it off for you.  Once again this is for the safety of Brutus, as well as our safety.  After I’m sure your animal is dead I’ll come back and get you.
• When we walk back up to your animal, please do not, under any circumstances, try and touch your animal, or Brutus, until I give you permission!  Your animal is his, because he found it, and he will protect it.  He’s a great dog, and very friendly, but when he’s working he’s all business.  If you try and touch him, or your animal, before I tell you it’s ok, there’s a very good chance that he will bite you!!

Contact me either by phone 210-602-3118 or fill out this form!