Mosquito Creek 'Houlas

11/05/2024

There was no escaping Luna's nose on this one.

11/03/2024

After a bunch of non-lethal tracks, Luna finally gets back on the board. It was a stud to boot.

This was a classic thought it was one shot, turned out to be a completely different one. Hunter called us and described what he thought was a low behind the shoulder broadside shot. Based on the information we gathered from the hunter, we decided to go ahead and pick up the track.

We arrived and Luna quickly picked up the track, but wasn't tracking like her slow and steady self, she had gone "Hot" multiple times, and we hit spots that we could smell the musky smell of a rutting buck which had me concerned that we very well could be bumping this deer.

We ended up starting to cross a cut corn field, and hit another musky spot, but hadn't had any blood for a good ways, so we stopped and discussed our options if this deer was still alive and well. As we were discussing Luna was working the ground around us then hit on one of the hoof prints in the dirt, then the next one, then she was at the full length of the lead pulling wanting to go.

I look at the hunter and tell him she really likes this, lets get going. We reach the other side of the field to a fence row, and she works the edge of the tall grass there then commits to a crossing. We get across and head another 20 yards and find a huge pile of blood, then a few yards farther another one. I look up in the direction we were heading, and about 50 yards ahead of us was the deer, laying flat on its side. As we approach the deer Luna put her nose on him and he got up but was in really bad shape, was having a hard time standing, and ended up going right back down.

The shot ended up being quartering to, slightly back, out guts, and hit the back leg on exit. This goes to show the importance of trying to pay as close attention to the shot and how the deer was standing. Had we known the shot was back and gut, we would have held off till first thing in the morning. The crazy thing is, there was no sign along the track that indicated the shot was gut. Not even on the arrow. What we were seeing was more consistent with a flesh wound/muscle hit, so had Luna not insisted on pushing on we may not have recovered this deer.

Super happy with Luna, and how she has been doing this year. Congratulations to the hunter on this Stud of a buck.

11/01/2024

Seriously though......

10/31/2024

Has been a rough streak of back whacks, and shoulder shots.

Thought we had a chance to break that streak yesterday with a low stomach shot. The deer had been bumped from it's first bed, and then seen crossing a cut bean field shortly after clearly in distress.

We waited 12 hours and took up the track. Scenting conditions were not the greatest and had fairly strong winds the whole day. We only had a couple drops of blood at the hit site and nothing at all after that.

Was very happy with Luna's determination to track this joker down, and after one restart around where it was last seen she got honed in and worked his track slowly and methodically till we found his wound bed 700 yards from the shot site.

Unfortunately he was nowhere to be found, and Luna worked the area after the bed with no luck.

Even though we didnt end up with this deer, we were able to take away a lot from this one. This was a true testament to when we say "Trust your Dog".

Things are starting to heat up in the woods now, and wait times will be more likely to be extended through the rut, so be mindful of that.

Shoot straight, and stay away from the shoulder!

10/14/2024

So earlier this year I picked up a different action camera that has better image stabilization, higher resolution, and is supposed to be better in low light situations than my previous one. I finally got to test it out over the weekend, and I can say I am impressed. What do you guys think? What cams do you guys use in the field?

The video is of a non recovery I took with Luna over the weekend of a non lethal shoulder shot deer. She was able to advance from the hunters point of loss to a few spots of blood and eventually a wound bed. We did get eyes on a deer that was about 20 yards from the wound bed, with it being dark I could not confirm if it was our deer or not, but would have to believe that was the case.

10/14/2024

Archers stolen antler recovery

10/12/2024

Well, Archer got him another one this evening. Hunter had shot him the previous evening, and wound up bumping him out of his wound bed about a hour and a half later.

Archer had to work out which route the deer had taken from the bed (ended up being multiple in that one area). As he started working away from that area he never really hit on any spots that he liked or wanted to follow so I had him work a small right of way between the couple patches of woods. He had worked the edges back and forth a couple times searching, then I saw his head turn, and he stopped and buried his nose in this one spot. I walk over to check if it was anything, and sure enough it was one little spec of blood on a blade of grass.

He continued to search the edge and checked a couple trail heads, but only really considered one of them, but it was like he wasn't totally convinced. I ended up taking him back to that one and have him check a little further into it, then he pulls me about 20 yards further to an old buck carcass that was laying by the creek. My heart sank for a moment thinking that this was what he was smelling. After getting his attention off the carcass he worked his way to the left and hit on some grass beside it, sure enough there was a small patch of blood.

This buck had literally walked right to where that old carcass was, then cut down across the creek. I have heard of some deer doing this if they thought they might be getting followed by predators etc, but have never experienced it myself. We soon made our way up the other side of the creek, and found some more blood till we reached the edge of a cut bean field and could see his deer in the distance.

Unfortunately for the hunter the meat was no good, and the vultures had done had their share of him. To make matters even worse, someone had found him before us and cut his antlers off

Very happy with how Archer worked this one, I just love to watch that boy work.

10/06/2024

Well Luna worked her butt off on this one today, but unfortunately we didn't end up with a recovery. The Buck appeared to be shoulder shot, and we tracked him to multiple beds, and wound up jumping him from one at 25 yards.

He then ended up turning back and running right back past the hunter, and wound up making a huge backtrack the way he had originally came. Luna had to work through a lot of the old blood to show us some pin drops of fresh at times along the way.

We battled the heat as well, and stopped for frequent water breaks and to let her cool down. No sooner than I gave the word we were off and back on the trail. I am super proud of how she worked this one out, and the amount of determination she was showing me the whole time even up to when we called it. Unfortunately we couldn't catch back up to him to get a follow up shot.

Even though we didn't end up with the deer on the tailgate, we were able to give the hunter some piece of mind that I believe the deer will live to see another day, and that we did everything that we could do. Estimated total distance was im guessing around 2 miles, the GPS said I walked 3.

10/04/2024

Got to take Luna out for one yesterday. The farmer had started picking the beans when we got there, and ended up spotting it as we were tracking it, so it made it a little easier for myself. I kept her on the line though and had her work it out. The hunter had grid searched the crap out of this one so she had to work through all of that as well. Feels good to be back in the swing of things again. Can't wait to see what this year brings.

10/03/2024

09/29/2024

💪

09/29/2024

What a first day of the season, got the call from Shawn Saturday morning thinking he had made a shot around the shoulder area. He estimated the deer had only traveled roughly 75 yards and bedded down. They had waited about an hour and a half to take up the track, but jumped him from his bed. He didn't seem like he was in a hurry, and they didn't find much blood after the bed.

After speaking with him on the phone I wasn't thinking our odds were high for a recovery given on the location of the shot, but we loaded up and were gonna give it our best shot. We arrived at the track under some rainfall, gave Archer the command and away he went. I was very pleased with how he was working the track, showing me spots of blood and working his circles and checks just as he had all year in practice.

The blood was darker, and clotted and showed signs of your typical muscle blood hit. and even with the rain there were still a few decent spots of it along the way. As we progressed I was starting to question if this deer was mortally wounded, but then we found a small bed, then another, until I look up and there laid our deer.

The shot ended up being very low shoulder, had broke the leg, and barely penetrated the body cavity. It just goes to show you that anything can happen, even when you think the odds are against you.

Super happy for Archer on his very first recovery, and a huge congratulations to Shawn on a super nice buck! It was only the first day of the season, but hopefully a great sign of things to come this year.

09/27/2024

Remember, this is AFTER the deer dies.

Please always feel free to share!

The colder the better! Here is something to remember when it comes to concerns about meat spoilage! It doesn't start until AFTER the deer dies! Show patience, and give a proper wait time!

Give Us A Call, If You Don't See Him Fall !!

🦌..🐕-🏃‍♀️
270-339-7662

09/27/2024

**Hunters**

With the state wide opening day for Archery being tomorrow I just wanted remind all of you that we are here if you need us. If there is any doubt, back out and give your local tracker a call.

Be sure to save the chart to your phone for reference, and so you can relay your shot information to your tracker. We are out of Champaign County, Ohio and service the surrounding counties, but will travel if our schedule allows.

We wish you all the best of luck this year, and stay safe!

🦌....🐕‍🦺~🏃

09/26/2024

Handlers work their dogs in an event to certify them for deer tracking during the hunting seasons. Certifications are through the United Blood Trackers

09/24/2024

Please feel free to share around!

Simple "Do's" and "Do Not's" post shot when searching for your deer. No one ever plans to have a tracking dog come out, being cautious can save you some trouble in the long run should the need arise!

🦌...🐕-🏃‍♀️
270-339-7662

09/19/2024

Heaven gained a good boy today, Rest in Peace Hank 🐕‍🦺🙏
Please keep his family in your prayers.

Send a message to learn more

09/19/2024

We’ll see you on Monday! Keep an eye out for a post with all of our tips & tricks to get the pattern(s) you want! 🎃

Plastic & Metal buckles are available

Sizes are:
14-21”
16-25”

09/18/2024

Took a trip down to one of our favorite places over the weekend for a much needed break before the season starts.

09/10/2024

Send a message to learn more

09/08/2024

Here is Archers latest practice track, this is one that we worked in a section of figure 8's for him to work through. Very pleased with how he did. Won't be long and we will be on the real deal. Starting to get excited.

Hoof only, 700 yards, aged 17hrs

09/07/2024

We will be here all day, be sure to stop by and say hi! St. Paris Pony Wagon Days

09/07/2024

We will be out at the St Paris Pony Wagon Days Festival today from Noon to 8 today. Be sure to stop by and see us!

09/03/2024

🩶 🦌....🐕‍🦺~🏃 🩶