1St Track ..

[sussex 5,776]

First day of the doe season I was planning on an afternoon outing to a local farm o see what was about , so loading the quad , kit & dog I set of at about 3 pm , bright & sunny with a slight sw breeze I was up in the seat by 3.30 in case the deer appeared earlier than normal ..I have never taken the dog over to this place because its not a normal open seat were I can watch her all the time but as she's been so calm on her previous outings I thought I'd give it a go ..on a lead , she sat watching for 10 min's after which through the cracks in the floor I could see her lay down..I watched for the deer while she chilled ...still light the first of half a dozen doe's with fawns & a couple of yearlings came into the field through the trees , making there way up towards us I looked down , the dog couldn't see them but at + mtr she had them scented ..I was at this point going to take a yearling (for the freezer) but as I waited for one to come clear a buck ,about 4year old , made an appearance .Not a good looking animal the yearling was put on the back burner , the buck trotted up the field to about 60mtr or so where normally from this position I would have dropped him with a neck or head shot ...but decided as he was absolutely broadside to front box him ...the reaction to the shot was what I would have expected , a huge leap & flat out across the open field for 50 or 60 mtr with a jet stream of blood till he reached the wood edge where he stopped & flipped over onto his back ..just the odd kick for a few seconds , I could make out his form on the ground ...

Whist the dog could sent the deer she had no view of what had gone on ...I watched for 15 min before getting down , getting sticks /rifle , dog on her tracking lead & over to where the strike was ...this was 13 months of training coming to fruition , if she did the job ..Whist she had been under a seat , & found the deer I shot (head shot) this was the full job ..unseen shot & a blood trail this was it ..head down she picked up the track & virtually dragged me along the trail to the deer stone dead a few mtr's in the wood ....a fresh trail , straight , to a dead deer ..just about as easy as it gets but it pleased me no end .There has to be a start & this was hers ( & mine) .The old dog will be a hard act to follow , the new dog has a foot on the stage ! Kidneys as a treat the deer went 98lb in the chiller

[foxdropper 17,092]

Spot on mate .Good to be in harmony with our canines isnt it .

[sussex 5,776]

Well done Rich ,she is coming on well if she is as good as the old girl she will do well.

 

Could I be that lucky ......FD ..its so nice to be back out stalking with a dog , we aren't quite in harmony yet but at 13months I am well pleased with her progress..

[the monkey 337]

brilliant ,its nice when all the training comes together

[j j m 6,483]

very nice mate

[The one 8,398]

Sounds like shes going to make the grade

[spiderfly 111]

Great read and nice buck! Nothing better than a dog doing you proud!

[beast 1,884]

great stuff. will the dog be used for retrieving feathered game too, or will it be a deer specialist?

[sussex 5,776]

great stuff. will the dog be used for retrieving feathered game too, or will it be a deer specialist?

I will keep her on the deer for a couple of seasons , then I will use her for shooting over .the couple of seasons on deer will get her rock steady , she is out of cracking retrieving lines & is a natural at it , we do dummy work for the hand directions etc & I made up some dummies with partridge wings on just to get her used to the feel of feather . All in all she is coming on a treat

[beast 1,884]

best of luck with her, but by the sounds of things you wont need it