TRACKING  DOG

 

Field Champion Chloe Belzar

"Chloe"

  

(Click on a Picture for larger view)

 

 In 2004, Illinois passed legislation allowing

the tracking of wounded deer by a leashed tracking dog.

(Illinois Compiled Statutes: 520 ILCS 5/2.26)

Each year, APO has numerous deer shot that are not recovered.  After the tracking law passed, I began to research blood tracking for wounded deer.  From what I learned, wirehaired dachshunds are excellent trackers.  They are small dogs, who can be easily transported, they have a friendly disposition, great nose and a strong willingness to track an old cold line (as is often the case in the tracking of wounded deer). 

I purchased a wirehaired dachshund "Chloe Belzar" from Al Diehl's "C" litter "Bella" ( FC Briska V Mooseback-Zezelek ) who was sired by Henry Holt’s “Bear” (FC Attila von Moosbach-Zuzelek).   Both Bella and Bear are AKC field champions, and they were bred by John and Jolanta Jeanneney from New York State. 

John Jeanneney is the author of the book titled "Tracking Dogs for Finding Wounded Deer" and has over 40 years experience in blood tracking.  Anyone interested in blood tracking should start by reading his book.

We started to train Chloe on artificial blood lines when she was 7 weeks old. We continued her training into the 2005 Bow Season.  Chloe was trained on real blood lines left by deer that were shot and recovered by hunters.

In November 2005, a 150 class buck was wounded and Chloe was put on the hit site.  No one knew where this buck went, as it was not tracked until Chloe arrived.  Chloe tracked for 3/4 quarters of a mile until the bedded buck jumped up and ran off.  It was determined that the shot was probably not a mortal wound and this was confirmed during Muzzleloader season when the deer was seen alive. 

Chloe got her first recovery in January 2006, as bow season was coming to a close.  A high shot on a doe left no sign of blood and it was getting dark. Chloe arrived at the hit site well after dark and led us 300 yards to a thicket where the doe was found. 

Seventeen tracks were attempted during the 2006-2007 season, seven of which were determined that the buck probably survived.  Five other tracks were successful training lines on deer, which had already been recovered.  None the less, to “Chloe”, they were all real finds.  Two recoveries were logged and three others were unknown.

(Click picture to see at larger size)

 

 

I submitted the following story to the United Blood Trackers organization.  My article along with articles from other handlers was used by columnist Jolanta Jeanneney in the “Tracking Wounded Big Game” section of “Full Cry” magazine.

 

     “During the last week of October, one of my clients shot a buck and called for help finding it.  The shot was from 20 yards, and the arrow did not go all the way through.  No blood.  The hunter took us to the hit site where I put Chloe on it.  He said that the shot was a little far back, ended up being a liver and a partial lung.  He thought the buck ran west and then headed south. Chloe started out great then turned south and started voicing, and a rabbit jumped up.  Back to the starting site where we did a repeat of the first attempt, without the rabbit thing, but showing hot nose.  Once again back to the starting point, this time she headed due west and everything looked right.  We came to a fence line, property line, and I called one of my guides over and asked him to look for blood because I felt this was the right line.  We tied a ribbon to a tree to mark the spot, but still no blood.  After getting permission to enter the other property, we crossed the fence and Chloe turned north and proceeded on.  I then saw big buck tracks in the dirt along the corn field and Chloe looked as if she was smelling each track left by the buck.  We went for another 100 yards until we reached a thicket.  I then saw a big rack upright in the brush, and the bucks head turned, still alive.  Chloe saw this as well and started lunging and barking.  My client, with bow in hand shot him again.  The buck jumped up and tried to clear a fence, fell back over. A third shot was taken and the buck was down.  The track was about 300 yards total.  The buck scored 156.”

 

It is not unusual for a young dog to stray off the “old cold line” and head towards fresher, hotter scent, as described in the above track.  Continued training on artificial lines is essential to prevent this from occurring.  None the less, this buck was found.  I look forward to the 2007 Season, as “Chloe” will have another year of experience and training.

 

(Click picture to see at larger size)

 

"Chloe's best recoveries of 2007."

    

        "24 Hour Old Gut Shot"                                        "18 Hour Old Gut Shot"

                                            (Click pictures to see at larger size)

     Chloe tracked and found many deer in 2007, many of which may not have been recovered without her help.  Several others were not found, but it was determined that they probably survived.  The two biggest bucks she recovered are depicted in the above two photos, the first grossing over 180" and the second over 150".

For further details of the 24 hour old gut track, see the following article that was in the December issue of Deer & Deer Hunting.

http://www.deeranddeerhunting-digital.com/deeranddeerhunting/200812/?pg=58

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

 

 “Tracking Dogs for Finding Wounded Deer”.   

 

     To order click on book.

 

 

 

 

 

 Adams Pike Outdoors

Hosts

 

TRACKFEST   2006

 

Trackfest 2006, held at the APO main lodge in June, brought together wounded deer trackers from across the country.  This event, put on by John and Jolanta Jeanneney and the United Blood Trackers organization, had participants learning more about blood tracking, training, obedience, breeding, conformation standards and numerous other topics.

APO Main Lodge

 

 

 

          John Jeanneney speaks at Trackfest 2006

 

 

Participants instructed on breeding ethics by Jolanta Jeanneney

 

 

             JR Chappel's "Peemoe",       Henry Holt's " Bear",         Al Diehl's " Bella",      Neal Meyer's "Chloe".

                                                         www.illinoistracker.com

"Peemoe" and "Chloe" are both from the "Bear/Bella" litter.

 

During this event, Chloe was the first dog tested by United Blood Trackers, and the first dog to pass the blood tracking test.  (See press release written by John Jeanneney.)  Chloe is now able to legally track wounded deer on state owned property.

 

           Chloe, at 11 weeks old, with a doe she found. 

We knew where the deer was but put her on the hit site for training purposes.

  This buck didn’t go far, Chloe followed the blood line

to discover her first buck, which was another training session.

During the spring of 2007, Chloe was entered into three different field trials. 

Two in Coulterville, Illinois and the third one in Roscoe, Illinois. 

During these events, Chloe finished with two Firsts, a Fourth and two

Best of Open Awards ( 71 points ) earning her the title of Field Champion.

Her training will continue until the 2007 Deer Season begins.

 

 

The following is the section of Illinois Compiled Statutes: 520 ILCS 5/2.26

covering the use of dogs to track wounded deer.

Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the use of a dog to track wounded deer. Any person using a dog for tracking wounded deer must maintain physical control of the dog at all times by means of a maximum 50 foot lead attached to the dog's collar or harness. Tracking wounded deer is permissible at night, but at no time outside of legal deer hunting hours or seasons shall any person handling or accompanying a dog being used for tracking wounded deer be in possession of any firearm or archery device. Persons tracking wounded deer with a dog during the firearm deer seasons shall wear blaze orange as required. Dog handlers tracking wounded deer with a dog are exempt from hunting license and deer permit requirements so long as they are accompanied by the licensed deer hunter who wounded the deer.

DISCLAIMER NOTICE:

All information on this page is for reference only.  For more specific rules governing tracking in your state, please contact your local ranger/conservation officer.

If you know of any changes to Illinois's status or find a discrepancy with what we have posted here and what your local office tells you, please contact us so we can verify the information and make the necessary changes to our site.

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Neal Meyer

2838 East Bluff Court

Quincy, IL  62305

Call:  217-224-0553

           or

Cell Phone: 217-242-1089

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