I have tracked all my deer and buddies without a dog until last year. I consider myself very thorough and proficient when tracking, and the first time I called a dog in last year was the only reason why we found the thing. I put a liver shot on a deer with my bow that we tracked for hours that night on miniscule drops of blood, and we ended up jumping it the next am after picking up a trail that am. No more blood once he got up and ran. Then only reason we found the buck was with the dog. I agree that way too many people are lazy nowadays when it comes to tracking a deer, but I also will say that the only reason I knew about a dog was this sight so I can also attest that people are just more aware nowadays of the potential to call a dog in. I am all about trying to track on your own, but def not against pulling out of there and calling a dog in if the situation calls for it.