CNC, I've got an honest question, and maybe I'm dead wrong about what I'm assuming, but what percentage of tracking jobs that you get called on are for bucks vs does?
99% of the calls are for bucks……A good portion of them are for “the best buck I’ve ever shot at”…..You get a good number of calls too for kids first deer and that kinda thing.
No one has answered my question though….How is shaming folks for not having superior tracking skills any different than shaming them for not being big buck killers? There’s a wide range of skill level amongst hunters.
Honestly though….I get just as many calls from very experienced hunters as I do from ones who aren’t. The first buck I found this year was for someone who’s probably killed 200-300 deer with a bow. They’ve just been a part of watching a dog work on numerous occasions and understand how superior they are to a human. So they call in the superior tool to help recover their deer. They’re not concerned with all of this nonsense about proving themselves like I feel like this is being made out to be. It feels like just another chest poking, dick measuring contest about who’s the real hunter. Who cares? I like Matt Brocks comment…..A recovery is the desired outcome and how it’s done is of no real concern to me.
I wasn't trying to take a shot at you, or at using a tracking dog in general. Guy I buy my welding gas from is big into running hog dogs, and got into blood trailing a couple years ago. I have his number in my phone should I ever need it, and wouldn't hesitate to call. Almost called him on a hog I shot with the bow last spring, but I ended up finding it first.
In the mean time, I will continue to bring my kids small game hunting, teaching them how to blood trail, and woodsmanship to the best of my ability.
I think the fact that 99% of the calls you get are for bucks is very telling, and part of what bugs me about it all. So is no one ever making bad shots on does? My assumption, sadly, is people just don't care enough to go through those efforts to recover a doe. I guess putting your hands on that big doe to get that picture out on social media is just not as important.
