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Hunter’s Best Friend
By Bob Humphrey
Tracking dogs are incredible, but how do they know which deer to follow?
Question: I made a bad shot on a buck during early bow season, so we backed out and called for a tracking dog. It turned out to be a long track through an area with lots of deer, and we didn’t find any blood until the end. I’m wondering how the dog was able to identify and follow the right track.
Answer: There’s a lot we don’t know about how keen a deer’s or dog’s sense of smell is, but observing a good tracking dog at work at least demonstrates it. Scent degrades over time, and while it may take a few minutes, a tracking dog will eventually figure out which way to follow the track.
Blood certainly helps, but it is believed the dog is actually more reliant on scent from the interdigital glands (between a deer’s toes). That’s why starting at the hit is important, as it gives the dog an opportunity to identify the individual animal, which we believe they can. While a gut-shot deer is undesirable for several reasons, it is often easier for a dog to follow because of the odor, even with a lack of blood. We’re glad you recovered your deer!