outdoorstom

9/20/2018 I received a call from a hunter shortly before dusk last night, asking for help tracking a bear he had just shot. He and his brother had tracked for a couple hundred yards, then lost blood in a swamp grass/tag alder area. Luna and I met them in Potsdam this morning, then were led to the hunting property in Parishville. The hunter had shot the bear behind the shoulder with a 300 Savage, at 40 yards. The bear had rolled, then got up and ran off. Luna led us right to their point of loss, then down one of the many trails crisscrossing the small swamp. 300 yards into it, we found 2 piles of bear scat, 1 very fresh. We also found a bed, with no blood in it. We left the swamp and went into some woods. At this point I decided to take Luna back to last blood and do a restart to ensure we were on the correct bear. She took us back to the same spot, showing us one drop of blood we hadn't seen the first time. We continued on, working through fairly open wooded areas, swampy areas with lots of blow downs, and areas so thick you couldn't see 3 feet in front of you. We were in one of these thick areas when I heard something moving 10 or 15 yards in front of us. We stopped and listened and the hunter heard it. I had the hunter's brother stay put with Luna, and I went to the right and the hunter went to the left. I heard the hunter holler that he saw him, then a minute later I heard two shots. Unfortunately he missed the lumbering bear at 50 yards with his .40 caliber handgun. Lesson learned.....I will never again allow a hunter to go on a bear track with me during the day without a rifle. We started the track on private property, went on to County land, then came to private property and had to stop to obtain permission to enter. Many thanks to the owner of Parishville Sand and Gravel for allowing us to proceed. Per gps, we made a 2 mile circle and ended up back almost exactly where we started. We never saw the bear again, but Luna was locked on and definitely upheld her end of the deal. This bear will survive his experience, obviously no vitals were hit. Remember the aiming point on a bear is "the middle of the middle".

Welcome from Waddington!

Made it right to the den entrance.

It's been so dry here they're not an issue at all.

9/18/2018 I received a call at 9:30 this morning from a bowhunter that had shot a bear while hunting in Santa Clara at 6:30 last night. He stated the bear was quartering away at 35 yards, and he thought he made a good hit on it. After losing the blood trail last night, he went back and searched for 2 hours this morning before calling me. It was Kunox's turn to track, so much to Luna's chagrin, off to the Adirondacks we went. This was Kunox's first bear track, and the hunter's first bear. We met the hunter and he led us back in the first 4 miles, then the road got narrower so I parked and rode with him to avoid beating up my truck. Once we arrived at the hit site, Kunox was shown blood and started working 5 yards downwind of it due to a breeze dispersing the scent. In short order he worked his way back to the blood and stayed on it for 125 yards until it ran out. Kunox continued on, weaving his way through the woods. 75 yards later I saw the bear 10 yards ahead, laying behind a blowdown. I called the hunter up and told him to make sure it was dead before I approached with Kunox, which he reported was the case. Kunox was initially hesitant to approach, but about 2 minutes later he was chewing and tugging on it. It was laying just outside it's den, which was dug out under the blowdown. The hunter said he would never have found it without Kunox, and also admitted to having serious doubts about him being on the right track once the blood disappeared. Very happy with his performance on this 18 hour old track.

Thanks for the kind words everyone. Can't wait for bow to open on the 27th. Tracking is just as much fun as hunting!

I didn't do any special training for bears. It just comes naturally to the dogs. I believe it's easier for them than a deer, although the scent is lost quicker in rain. Luna has found three bears in her career, all still alive. The first one we didn't know it was alive until Luna refused to go any further. I took a couple steps forward and saw the bear laying in thick stuff 5' away. Luckily it wasn't able to get up and the hunter moved up and finished it.

9/15/2018 I was called at 9:30 this morning to track a bear in Pierrepont. Luna and I arrived at 11:00 and headed deep into the woods in a wagon being pulled by a 4 wheeler. The hunter had been walking out after morning watch when the bear coming running by at 70 yards. He believes he hit the bear too far forward, using his 300 win mag. He had only tracked for 30 or 40 yards before backing out and calling me. We started at the hit site where the bear had gone down, and had then jumped up and ran off. There was a small amount of blood and hair. Luna immediately locked on and off we went. We followed a very light, sporadic bloodtrail for half a mile, then nothing for the next quarter mile. Temps were in the mid 80's, so I stopped Luna many times for water and a breather. This bear had not been pushed and never bedded down in 3/4 of a mile, so I called the track at that point. Hopefully the hunter gets another crack at it.

I carry a S&W model 69 44 mag. I bought a chest holster which I'll be using this tracking season. There is no way I'd carry a rifle while tracking. Sometimes you're literally on your hands and knees in super thick stuff, with a leash in one hand.

We have 120 acres. 50 + in crop fields, 25 acre woodlot, 22 acre wet area with 8 duck ponds, and the rest is yard and surrounding area. The neighbors behind us have 100 acres and they're picky about what they shoot.

I think you'll be adding a lot to that that club...they're lucky to have you!

You definitely have to go see the Bay of Fundy......it is touristy, but for a good reason.

About one night a week, my friends and I illegally have a cigar and cocktails at one of the pools in our gated community. Apparently someone complained because the office is asking for names. I ordered some masks and we did a group photo last night. Luna is such a troublemaker.

Very sad to read this. He was a true sportsman who loved sharing his knowledge. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

You go after a gutshot deer in that timeframe and there's a good chance you'll never recover it it.

Personally, I think a one buck per hunter for the entire season would be better than AR's.

Hahaha Lu-Ku. I love it!

The season has ended here in the north, so our tracking season is over. We ended up taking 71 tracks this year. Luna found 23 deer and Kunox found 7. I'm glad everybody enjoyed the stories, I enjoy sharing them. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! Good Lord willing, we'll do it again next season.

Yes, this was an easy one. We didn't know that when we started though, so it was a pleasant surprise. As far as your question about getting upset..... I haven't had any calls because people were too lazy. I do a fair amount of advertising and always stress to back out without grid searching when the blood trail is lost. When people do that, it makes the dog's job so much easier. It's not very often we have a good blood trail to follow.

12/9 My stepson is visiting from New Hampshire and shot a doe tonight with his muzzleloader. He said it ran away with its tail down, but he couldn't find any blood. Luna to the rescue! She showed us blood in the field, then which trail the deer took out of the field. 125 yards later and she was chewing on a leg.

I would be careful about going too low. You'll regret it if you miss out over a few bucks.

What a great looking pup! Congratulations on the many years of loyal love ahead of you!

I got a message today from a hunter we tracked unsuccessfully for during bow season. This morning he shot the 8 pointer we had been looking for. The picture shows we were after a high back hit. I truly appreciate it when hunters let me know if they see the deer again after we track.

I wish more people did what you did! Congrats on recovering your deer!