Interview With a Deer Tracker

Having been a bowhunter longer than I care to admit, I have been around my share of deer trailing dogs. We do hear about how dogs have helped recover deer, though it’s usually from the hunter’s viewpoint. I remember finding Ella and Ray on Facebook a year or two back while sitting in a deer stand.

Since then, I’ve enjoyed reading Ella’s (Ray is the dog, and hasn’t learned to write yet) after-action reports on recoveries. Then when I heard she was helping a friend of mine recover his buck, I thought it would be a great chance to meet and interview the deer-tracking duo! Follow along for the questions I asked her:

It's obvious that you are a hunter. Tell me how you got started and what is your favorite hunt?

"I have been hunting since before I can remember. I took my first deer at the age of six while I was sitting on my Deddy’s knee. Even before I killed my first deer, I went with my Deddy while he hunted. We often sat in a wooden box stand that he made.

Before we left home I would put crayons in my pocket and once we were in the stand, I sat on the floor and drew on the walls while he hunted. During these times if he saw does or small bucks, he would let me sit on his knee to practice holding the crosshairs on the animal’s shoulder.

My favorite hunt would be my first deer. I remember everything about that hunt. I was in the stand that we call the “green stand,” sitting in an old car booster seat so that I was high enough to see over the railing.

A group of does began to work their way into the food plot and my heart started racing. My Deddy told me to come sit on his knee while he was holding the gun. I climbed up on his leg, trying to be as quiet as possible as I put the wooden .308 to my shoulder.

When I saw all of the deer in my scope, my nerves went through the roof! I was shaking so bad, but my Deddy talked me through what I needed to do. I put the crosshairs right behind the shoulder and pulled the trigger. Instead of dropping, the deer all ran off.

My Deddy got down to go look where I shot. He told me he did not see any blood and thought I missed. I was so upset and sat there crying in my booster seat. Just a few moments later all of the does worked their way back into the lane again. This time I was determined and not as nervous.

My Deddy was looking at the biggest doe through his binoculars and told me to shoot the one on my left. I guess I did not know my left from my right because as he was looking at the doe on the left, I dropped the deer on the right. I was ecstatic!

The first thing I wanted to do was call everyone to let them know I killed my first deer. When we were on the way home my Deddy said, “You know what happens now right? I have to put blood on your face.”

I was not very happy about this and told him that he could not do that. After we got home, when I was taking pictures holding up my doe, my Deddy walked over and pointed at the entry wound and said, “what’s this?” As I leaned in to look, I was met with my Deddy’s hand covered in blood. To say the least, I was pretty upset with him for doing that and then for not letting me mount a doe. After this day, I was hooked and have been feeling the highs and lows of hunting ever since."

How did you get into deer recovery and how long have you been doing it?

"This is mine and Ray’s third year in deer recovery. Before Ray, I had never actually used a trained dog for deer recovery. I am guilty of putting my house pet on a track, but as I clearly know now, it is not the same as a trained dog. I saw posts and videos of deer recovery with trained dogs and became intrigued. Then, I began to talk with different trackers in South Carolina, watched videos, and did a lot of research."

How did you train Ray and how do you continue to work with her?

"When Ray was a puppy I originally trained her for hunt tests, but she did not really care for ducks. She would chew on them but did not care to carry them. It was frustrating at times, but a dog is not going to do a job they do not want to do.

I began to make mock trails with deer hooves to see if she was interested in it. I started with making 50 yard tracks. Then worked my way to making it hundreds of yards away, including back tracking, crossing water and many other obstacles. She absolutely loved it!

Ray crushed every mock trail we did, and I knew this is what she is passionate about, not ducks. Deer season rolled around, and I shot a deer right below me with my bow. Due to a steep shot there was no exit, which meant minimal blood. I got Ray, showed her where I hit the deer, and she took off in the direction the deer went. I had to run to keep up with her.

When we reached a pond bank I heard a big splash. Ray ran back to me frightened. I went to the edge of the pond and saw the deer swimming parallel to the bank. This was Ray’s first time seeing an injured deer that was still alive. I let the deer sit on the side of the bank for 30 minutes before I went back and checked. When I went back, my deer was laying right where he swam to. Ray crept up to the deer and then her excitement was obvious when she realized that she had just found her first deer."

Ella and Ray with a recovered deer.

What would you say the average recovery rate is for you and Ray?

"40%"

What hit seems to cause the most recovery problems?

"Gut shots are the most I have tracked and recovered. High shots (backstrap area) are the most I have tracked and not recovered."

Considering all the good and bad shots you must have seen the results of, how has it affected how and where you shoot deer?

"When bow hunting, I avoid the shoulder. I clearly understand now how important the angle of the shot is and how far away the deer is."

If you were in the stand with a bowhunter who had just made a less than ideal shot, what would be the first thing you would have them do? Describe how you work with the hunter from the time you get there until the track is done.

"Even if you made a perfect double lung shot it is still a good idea to wait at least an hour before attempting to look. If you made a less than ideal shot then the waiting period depends. Your arrow will usually tell you where you shot the deer. For example, if your arrow is covered in gut it is best to stay out the woods and let the deer die in the first bed.

On the other hand, if you assume you made a good shot and start searching for your deer, but jump him it is never a good idea to keep pushing the deer. If you continue to push the deer without a dog then most of the time the deer will keep going and your chances of recovery decrease. I would tell the hunter to back out and give it more time before going back to look for the deer. Each track is different and each requires a different approach and waiting period."

What type of information can the hunter make note of and share with you that will help increase the chances of recovery?

"Being completely honest and answering the questions that are asked will give your tracker a better understanding of the situation. Telling them what they want to hear is never a good idea. Each track is different, some have a higher recovery rate than others and some require a different approach than other tracks."

Does a hunter trying to trail their deer and walking over and around it affect Ray’s ability to find the deer?

"Grid searching can definitely make it harder on Ray. The more hunters and their buddies grid search the more the scent is stepped on and spread throughout the woods. For example, If someone was to shoot a deer during a morning hunt and search all day, walking circles throughout the woods past blood, and then after no luck, they call a dog that night. The dog is going to have trouble working out the mess that was created. This decreases the chance of recovery or makes a 10 minute track into 2 hours."

What’s the oldest track you’ve successfully recovered a deer from?

"28 hours old"

What’s the best way for someone to find someone to help them if they need a tracking dog?

"The South Carolina Tracking List and I’m sure other states have something similar."

What should they expect to pay for someone to come out and help them?

"Every tracker is different. I suggest reaching out to a tracker that would cover your area and discuss an estimated cost for them to come out. It is better to have a tracker already saved in your phone rather than scrambling to find one after a bad shot or lost blood trail."

Do most people tip?

"I have a set fee that depends on how far I travel but sometimes people give me an extra tip after a recovery."

What is Ray doing when it’s not deer season?

"Relaxing after a busy few months. Ray goes on all vacations and loves the lake and beach. We also go on walks and runs in the woods on trails and game management for exercise."

And were you looking for a tracking dog when you found Ray or was that an unexpected bonus?

"I initially did not get her with the idea of deer recovery, but after working with her when she was a puppy I saw the passion and drive she had for this job and knew this is what we were going to do."