Copper Bay Tracking & Recovery

11/14/2024

10/27/2024

After two hectic weekends, Copper and I will be taking a brief hiatus to prepare for slug season and allow me to get in the stand with my bow. We will be unavailable during that week-long period. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. Please reach out with any questions or requests for a tracker, and I will do my best to get someone to assist you, although it will not be with Copper's assistance.

10/20/2024

Copper made quick work of this gut shot doe. At last blood the deer took a hard left. The hunters looked a little up the trail and to the woods to the right. After one reset she smoked the 90 and walked right to the doe bedded up in the field.

10/20/2024

I got a call from the Chard Youth Deer Hunt for this young man’s first buck when the blood was hard to find. They backed out and kept a clean track for us. Copper made short work from hit sight to down deer. The buck took a sharp right just after their last blood and hopped over some big down trees where we confirmed new blood, then it doubled back to the original trail and piled up running. The deer went a total of 164 yards. He made a great shot just didn’t bleed out. Happy Hunter, Happy Dog and great memories.

10/20/2024

This Hunter made a great shot, but when the deer decided to run uphill, it didn’t bleed much. This was by far the shortest track, but overall was the most rewarding of them all, great memories made for many tonight.

10/17/2024

We wish all young hunters success as they head out for the morning hunt. May your 2024 season be memorable! Copper and I are available to assist you if necessary.

10/14/2024

Youth deer season kicks off this Thursday, Oct. 17!

Are your kids prepared? Here's a breakdown of the regulations:

👨‍👧 Youth ages 10 to 17 may participate. Youth ages 10 to 13 must be accompanied by an adult parent/guardian/mentor 18 or older.

📜 Participating youth must possess a valid youth fi****ms deer license. Youth age 10, 11, and 12 must possess a free license (available online, by phone, or through local license retailers). Youth age 12 and older must also have a fi****ms safety certificate (also called hunter education) or apprentice hunter validation.

🦌 The youth fi****ms deer license is valid for the youth season AND regular fi****ms deer seasons. If they don't get a deer this week, they can try again in November!

☝️ The bag limit is one deer of either s*x (except in buck-only areas). Deer permit area restrictions apply: mndnr.gov/hunting/deer/map.html. One youth license = one deer.

🔶 Blaze orange/pink requirements apply to all hunters, trappers and adult mentors during this season.

Most importantly, have fun! We hope you make memories to last a lifetime. 🧡

Review the youth deer season requirements and answers to frequently asked questions online: mndnr.gov/hunting/deer/youth.html

📸 "First deer!" by Jason Schweitzer

10/13/2024

Well we had to work a little harder for this one. Guy knew his shot was back. He was able to track her for 2-300 yards before backing out and calling us due to lack of blood. We had 2 missed turns and 3 resets but the end results paid off with a recovery at 620 yards and 3 beds within the reeds.

10/05/2024

Copper made easy work of today’s track. Hunter lost blood after 150 yards and decided to call a dog. We srtared at the hit sight and she was locked on. She tracked the known 150 yards flawlessly after last blood it was all trust in the dog. We went another 700+ yards without another drop of blood to his harvest. She had half buried herself under the grass next to a down tree.

09/23/2024

The smiles say it all…

I got a call from Randy this morning requesting help to recover his daughter’s first bow kill. They tried tracking the buck last night after the shot but couldn’t find any blood and backed out. I agreed to meet up with them early afternoon and run the track. 256 yards later and 1 tiny drop of blood we found him in his first bed. These hunters did the correct things and backed out and called a dog when they couldn’t find any blood. Shot was 1 lung/Gut

09/13/2024

We are just hours away from opening morning!! Copper and I are ready to start our 3rd season tracking. Remember when in doubt back out and call your local tracker with Minnesota Tracking Dogs. We are all willing to assist. Call/Text with any questions or concerns. Chris 612-267-5286 UBT-1 Certified. Stay safe and good luck to everyone hitting the wood this weekend.

09/01/2024

Hunt Dates: Thursday, October 17- Sunday, October 20, 2024 We will split the weekend into two 2-Day hunting groups: Hunt Group 1: Thursday and Friday Hunt Group 2: Saturday and Sunday Based on the number of entries, we do a FACEBOOK LIVE drawing on Sunday, September 22, 2024 at 6:00pm. Practice shoo...

08/26/2024

Happy National Dog Day. 18 short days and its Bow opener!

11/07/2023

Goodhue County

Hunter’s daughter laid a not so perfect shot on this nice buck and when the blood got thin they backed out and called. Making this a nice clean track for Copper. We didn’t start at the hit sight like I like to. Do to the area we crossed the creek was near last blood and the deer ran the trail next to it and Copper took to the trail without command and lead us right to him. I’d say the deer was bedded up 75-100 yards from last blood. Shot was liver/gut went a total of 300-350 from hit sight.

11/03/2023

Rice County.

Hunter called after suspecting one lung liver hit. He tracked it last night about 200-250 yards and lost blood. Copper took to the 21 hour old hit site and made quick work of this 380-400 yard track in 11 minutes to this beautiful buck. Happy Hunter! Happy Dog!

10/22/2023

How does the dog track the “correct” deer, even when there is no visible blood?:

When a deer is shot, the stress level causes the interdigital gland to secrete large doses of hormone/scent. This scent is unique to each deer, similar to our fingerprints. The higher the level of stress (mortally wounded) the stronger the scent. Our dogs have been trained to track SCENT- Not just blood. HOWEVER, if the deer is Not mortally wounded, as it calms down, the hormone excreted will be reduced. After a lot of exposure to tracking, an experienced dog will usually be able to tell the difference between tracking a “dead” deer and one you’ll never catch up to. Hence CALL us so that we can gain more experience! Lol Please!

Whitetail have numerous scent glands but we only concern ourselves with one.
Interdigital gland: Forty-six volatile compounds are secreted by this gland, and the varying evaporation rates mean the smell changes over time.
Location: Between the toes.

10/21/2023

Another successful track this morning in New Germany. Hunter called last night was nervous about the shot and wanted a dog in the morning. So Copper hit the road at dusk.

Starting at the Copper blew through the track .66 miles in 18 minutes to a piled up buck! Couldn’t be more proud of her work. Happy Dog Happy Hunter!

10/21/2023

After what seemed to be a rough start to the year Copper was able to get on board tonight in Killkeny.

The first shot was low and back. The Hunter was able to stick another one in It when it was quartering away. After the Hunter seen the first arrow he reached out to me immediately for advice. I told him that was straight guts and wouldn’t track it till the am until he said the second arrow was buried into the chest cavity. 

Upon arrival, we walk out to the hit site and copper takes to the gut shot arrow and immediately takes off to where the guy shot it the second time which the hunter did not search past that point. Copper blew through the track in 5 minutes 171 yards to this beautiful 10 point buck!