Leashed Tracking Dogs

[Greg Krause]

In NY, a person can be licensed to use use a leashed tracking dog to recover wounded big game. I've been wanting to become a licensed handler for a while. Last week I took the state test and am pretty sure I passed with flying colors. I've had hank on blood trails that lead to gut piles if recovered deer, but no formal training. Today I put out an artificial trail using deer blood. I let it age an hour and used about 4oz over 250 yards. He did great and didn't miss a beat. I can't wait to continue his training and get him on some real deer!

[tedicast]

HMMMMMMM...Just put Gregs # as #1 on my speed dial!!! Thats awesome Greg...you are the perfect person to have a trailing dog. Can't wait to hear some of your adventures

[shootstraight]

Watching a dog track is something everyone should experience, sounds like your dogs a good one. I had one, he was a pain in the neck 99% of the time, but that 1% was pure gold.

I've been wondering about the tracking thing for some time and you used the word wounded. What if the deer you track isn't dead, is that tracking or hunting? Just curious what kind of trouble I could be getting myself into using a dog.

Say you come upon the animal and it isn't dead, you shoot again with the dog there, somebody see's you from a distance. Does the law up there have in it you can't have any weapons on you when you track? Doesn't here as far as I know. Like all regs, they aren't very clear about things, till confronted with one.

[Doegirl]

Sept 2, 2013 7:11:07 GMT -5 shootstraight said:

Watching a dog track is something everyone should experience, sounds like your dogs a good one. I had one, he was a pain in the neck 99% of the time, but that 1% was pure gold.

I've been wondering about the tracking thing for some time and you used the word wounded. What if the deer you track isn't dead, is that tracking or hunting? Just curious what kind of trouble I could be getting myself into using a dog.

Say you come upon the animal and it isn't dead, you shoot again with the dog there, somebody see's you from a distance. Does the law up there have in it you can't have any weapons on you when you track? Doesn't here as far as I know. Like all regs, they aren't very clear about things, till confronted with one.

I would think that if the dog is leashed, the situation cannot be misconstrued as you trying to run the deer down.

[Greg Krause]

In NY you need a license to track wounded big game with a dog and it must be leashed. The license also gives the tracker the right to dispatch the animal, even at night and with bow or gun regardless of what season it is. Before taking up a track, you must call the DEC and let them know who you are and where you are tracking.

I found out that I did pass my test and am now licensed. I took hank on another artificial trail on Saturday. I aged it 4 hours and used 4 oz of blood over 500 yards with a double back and three 90 degree turns in the trail. It was mostly through very dense bar berries. He worked his way even through the tough areas and made it to the end in under 15 minutes.
From now on we will mostly work trails aged 20 hours or more. They will also get longer and tougher

[Doegirl]

In Ohio there is no license requirement for a tracking dog. The law here simply states that a hunter may use a leashed dog to track wounded deer. That's it.

[Greg Krause]

As much as I hate all of NY's BS laws, this one actually really is nice. If it were just allowing you go track with a leashed dog it would be pointless, but the fact that I can dispatch night or day with any weapon, up to 24 hours after the close of season is great. I only have to renew every 5 years.

[ccwilder3]

Greg, you may want to have someone else make the blood trail for you to make sure the dog isn't following your scent.

[Greg Krause]

I will have someone else make one, but more so I don't subconsciously lead him in the right direction. Apparently it makes no real difference if he smells me or someone else. As long as there is blood on the ground. Guys train d the time on deer and then have no problems switching over to bear. At least this is what I am being told and have read. If I start aging them 20+ hours that should help cut down on my residual scent as well.

[shootstraight]

I don't think there is any restrictions on when to use a firearm here if your tracking, but that does raise another question I didn't think about. Can the hunter there use a firearm to dispatch a tracked animal after legal hunting hours?

That dog I had would run me into the ground he was so good at tracking. Once he got the scent he hardly ever looked down again. I used him twice both times I knew what had happened before I got him. He was a blue tick coon hound and came prewired with barks that told the tracker at what stage the dog was in. Hearing him change his bark was a rush.

I shot a buck round home and watched it go down in the woods, got the dog and it didn't take 15 seconds before he was standing over it. It was as if his paws went track for track with the animal he was after.

It's just something everyone should see for themselves.