AZ Game Recovery Dogs

10/10/2023

06/10/2023

Factors that increase the odds of a dog helping recover that animal you shot:
- Getting the dog on the track same day.
Waiting until the next day or until you're desperate doesn't do the dog any favors. Time and weather degrades the scent.
- Temps below 80°. The warmer the weather, the harder it is on both the dog AND the scent they're trying to find.
- Giving adequate wait times and not jumping, bumping, or pushing the animal. A 1/4 mile track can quickly become a 3 mile track if you push an animal instead of letting it lay down and expire naturally.
- NOT grid searching. The more you and your buddies walk over or on the original track, the more you move the original scent around, which can easily confuse everything for the dog.
- Knowing that the shot was actually lethal and not guessing on hit placement. Many hunters "think" their shot was lethal, however those same animals will sometimes be seen days later at a watering hole or on a trail cam very much alive. We can't find animals that aren't dead. Knowing where you hit the animal can make all the difference in the world.

We all want the same outcome... to recover that wounded animal, but we need the best odds possible to make that happen.
Happy hunting!

20/09/2023

5 month old Zero learning a few new things up in 6A. Future tracker, she'll be!

18/09/2023

Ran a few training trails up in Happy Jack with a couple of my pups – topo and sq**rt. 

13/09/2023

(Borrowed from another group)

In the last week the Rocky Mountain Big Game Recovery has had many requests for full frontal archery shots on elk without recoveries.
While this shot can be fatal and put an animal down quickly with a recovery the target is small and much kinetic energy is needed.
This shot is also fatal often without a recovery with the elk traveling long distances, and not a quick death leading to death by infection.

Some things to think about before attempting this shot.
1. The brisket of an elk, even deer is strong muscle with a fat layer, heavy hide with thicker hair.
If you look at black and white diagram the vitals are further back needing maximum pe*******on.
2. The ribs , rib cage are layered as they go back causing a fish scale armor. This can cause a arrow or bolts to deflect. This is especially with mechanical broadheads.
3. The kinetic energy needed to get maximum pe*******on will always be lessened by a larger or mechanical broadhead.
4. Amount of blood , sign on ground will be minimized because arrow, bolt will partially block cavity. The muscle tissue cut with constrict and clotting will block blood released. Fat layer will also help block blood.
5. Even when rib(s) are broken this can turn to a one lung hit killing at longer time frames, and distances.
6. If animal is shot at any angle, down or uphill that may effect possibility of successful hit.
7. Most full frontal shots will have the elk seeing you and alert. Arrow/bolt can hit when animal is tightening muscles or moving as you release, shoot. This can change arrow/bolt direction.

While we love and want to track we want nothing more than big game killed and recovered.

12/09/2023

“What Is a Tracker’s Biggest Obstacle to Finding a Deer?”

I read all of your answers to this question, and you guys came up with some great ones!

Almost all of your answers pointed to the same thing - YOU! What you, the hunter, does before, during, and after the shot can greatly increase, or greatly decrease, the possibility of a recovery, with or without a dog.

Over the next few days I’ll post the do’s and don’ts of how YOU can increase the chances of recovering your deer with a tracking team.

This information is based on my own experience as a tracker, as well as experiences shared by other trackers across the country.

First off - Bad Shots

DO learn deer anatomy!

- Shoulder shots (with a bow), head and neck shots, frontal shots, and high back shots are all low percentage shots.
- Quartering away is better than quartering to
- Aim for the exit

DON’T take the shot if you’re not absolutely sure. If it’s the only shot you have, you don’t have a shot. Period.

Below is a great model made by Eric Peterson of West Michigan Whitetail Tracking

23/10/2022

Just a reminder that what sometimes looks like frothy lung blood can be non-lethal arterial blood like this deer who took an arrow into the back straps and was seen alive on trail camera with a healing wound just a few days later.

20/10/2022

Lera and Jones track down a week old Coues in 6A. Very awesome!

15/10/2022

15/10/2022

I settled into my stand with favorable weather conditions and plenty of optimism for an early season September bowhunt in the rolling hills of Eastern Ohio.

14/10/2022

250 yard mock track for Topo.

Only a few drops of blood. Dragged and hopped an elk hoof and 12” of elk hide.

She was crushing it until the last 10 yards with a 90° turn where she caught wind of a second track we laid that came way too close to this one (within 20 yards… my mistake).

Another challenge that threw her off (that we didn’t know until laying the tracks) was that this area was a major elk hangout…. elk droppings, beds, and rubs literally everywhere. Will need to continue breaking her of snacking on p**p along the trail.
Loving this dog!

11/10/2022

Borrowed this pic from another group.

When they say “shot just a little back”.

This pic is a week AFTER a pass-thru shot with an expandable broadhead (that likely didn’t expand).
Notice how the doe ISN’T dead? Makes it hard for us to track and recover. LOL.

09/10/2022

Topo’s elk hide prize

09/10/2022

Rain doesn’t stop us!

Did a quick 100 yard trail with Ripley and Topo.

Laid the trail with only elk hide and an elk hoof (no blood) 10 minutes before a 30 minute rain.

I made sure to lay a few false trails so they’re NOT tracking me.

They acquire the start of the trail on their own at the 0:22 mark when I’m untangling the long line.

Ripley rocked through it, missing the 90° turn but working it out.

I held Topo up at the 90° turn to see if she’d reacquire the trail. Topo will get a lot more solo trails so she’s not just following Ripley.

If anyone wants to donate mule deer hide, hooves, and liver, we’d definitely appreciate it!

02/10/2022

Put on a few miles trying to help find a 4 day old elk hit. Wasn’t tracking as much as we were hoping to catch the whiff of death in the air. Topo hung tough even with a bunch of cactus in her feet and legs. The little creek was a nice place to take a break.

28/09/2022

Last of three trails today. This one was about 50 yards total, with a 90° turn in the middle.

You can see when she overshoots the turn at the little tree, and swings around to try and pick it up again.

28/09/2022

Second of three trails today.
Straight 35-40 yards.
She got off the trail, circled around, went back to the start, then found the trail again.

I left my long line at home, so I let her drag the leash instead of trying to stay within 6ft of her.

28/09/2022

Quick update…
Took the last 2 seasons off due to work conflicts. Have recently relocated to Payson, and am now much closer to much of the action.

28/09/2022

Did 3 short trails for Topo today.
Two straight 35 yard trails, and one with a 90° turn. She nailed all 3.
She’s a natural and will advance rapidly.

Trail one.

28/09/2022

Topo’s first sniff of elk!

28/09/2022

Starting a new tracking dog. This is Topo.
A 5 mos old Hanover Hound. She should be ready by Dec archery deer season.