So actually before I even left the first track a third hunter called me from the same hunting club that I was currently tracking on. He was just on another track of land a couple miles down the road. He had one he needed me to track but I had already told the other folks I was on my way so I told him I’d have to come back. So after the second track was over I came back to the same hunting club where I started the morning.
There wasn’t much to this track. The hunter was up on a hill in a cutover and had a buck passing (feeding) through at about 150 yards or so. He said that he thought he smoked it and that the deer had run off favoring one leg. I’m pretty sure he just took a gash out of the deer’s leg. This track was only a few hours old so it wasn't hard to follow. There was a little bit of dark blood for 60-70 yards but nothing else other than that. No bone or anything so I don't even think the hunter blew the leg up too bad. We took the track out to 800-850 yards before calling it off after we came to the conclusion that the deer wasn't smoked and was just a little scratched up.
I did see Otis do something on this track though that really showed he’s maturing. We were tracking through a little bottom when Otis jumped a rabbit right in front of his face. He took off after it for about 5-10 yards and then locked on the brakes….left it alone….and went right back to tracking the deer. I was proud to see that because rabbits are about the most enticing thing other than live deer that can distract a tracking dog.
So by this time it about lunch time and 3 more calls have come in…….
