Has anyone used a decent working cocker to track shot deer. Can an all round rough shooting/beating/hide dog be used to track deer. What do I need to do to get her started off. Can I bottle some fresh blood and get her on that with a reward. How can I do this without taking her stalking yet. What will I need for training. Thanks.
Cocker for tracking
- Thread starter Antlerman
- Start date
geoffw
Well-Known Member
I'll follow the thread with interest. I've a 13m old working cocker, she's naturally mustard on flushing and retrieving birds and has been known to variously find a deer blood trail, but then b*gger off after a squirrel or, most notably, to step delicately over a grassed deer. 
This year I will drag skin/hoof trails for her.
This year I will drag skin/hoof trails for her.
Dan Newcombe
Well-Known Member
The main issue with a cocker etc is patience. Get that sorted and they can track as well as anything.
Introduce the same way as you would anything, it’s just the same as taking a line out shooting really. Bit of blood dragged about initially and then once it gets the idea develop with less blood etc.
I use one of my shooting labs for deer but put a harness on him to try and differentiate his roles to try and avoid him chasing deer out picking up.
Introduce the same way as you would anything, it’s just the same as taking a line out shooting really. Bit of blood dragged about initially and then once it gets the idea develop with less blood etc.
I use one of my shooting labs for deer but put a harness on him to try and differentiate his roles to try and avoid him chasing deer out picking up.
Dan Newcombe
Well-Known Member
If they are really steady to deer it can be a pain because they won’t be interested.
I had a lab that I took with me occasionally who was not in the least bit interested in deer. He would indicate they were ahead but after the shot couldn’t care less - I assume it’s because he had it drilled into him that Deer were not on the menu.
I had a lab that I took with me occasionally who was not in the least bit interested in deer. He would indicate they were ahead but after the shot couldn’t care less - I assume it’s because he had it drilled into him that Deer were not on the menu.
I’m sure mine would be the same. I only need to pick a gun slip up or my hunting clothes and she thinks we’re going shooting. She loves it. She’ll sit and watch as I breast pigeons weather it’s 2 or 100. Just for a few little bits for her reward. So a nice warm slice of heart should seal the deal. Just to shoot one now. Ha. Hopefully soon as I’ve just secured my first proper syndicate. 
Sonicdmb73
Well-Known Member
I don’t see why you couldn’t. Both my spaniels (Cocker and Springer) will track. The Cocker is very food oriented a reward for finding the end of the track.
They soon get the idea.
They soon get the idea.
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
And as for trails, you can get dried blood from several suppliers. Dribble blood and put a piece of skin, favourite ball, or other treat at the end. They soon get the idea.
If she is already steady just take her stalking with you.
Will you have a dog that will follow a 5km trail that is three days old - probably not (and in the UK there are real challenges with land ownership in crossing lots of boundaries after a wounded animal). Will she find that Roe buck that ran into thick bracken / reeds / heather and will save You three hours of trying to find it - absolutely.
Once they get the idea that at the end of a blood trail is lots of praise and reward most dogs quickly get the idea.
If she is already steady just take her stalking with you.
Will you have a dog that will follow a 5km trail that is three days old - probably not (and in the UK there are real challenges with land ownership in crossing lots of boundaries after a wounded animal). Will she find that Roe buck that ran into thick bracken / reeds / heather and will save You three hours of trying to find it - absolutely.
Once they get the idea that at the end of a blood trail is lots of praise and reward most dogs quickly get the idea.
Sonicdmb73
Well-Known Member
As mentioned my friend used many dogs. He started with one a terrier in his deer pen (he keeps a dozen or so fallow). The dog couldn’t see the deer once shot. He always gave both dogs (Lab too) a bit from the grolloch. The little dog soon got the idea. In the end he’d take both dogs who’d curl up asleep under the high seat till the shot.
Hanechdene
Well-Known Member
I have a cocker whose been stalking with me since a puppy however she has always been in the shadow of my Munsterlander so have never really had to prove herself.
That is till now, as my Munsterlander died yesterday, the cocker is going to have fill her paws so to speak.
She is steady with the rifle, points And to fashion will follow a trail, well till the scent of a pheasant or partridge crosses her path......
That is till now, as my Munsterlander died yesterday, the cocker is going to have fill her paws so to speak.
She is steady with the rifle, points And to fashion will follow a trail, well till the scent of a pheasant or partridge crosses her path......
Hanechdene
Well-Known Member
Thank you
clarkey188
Active Member
Hi I had a Nuttal line Patterdale terrier I used for deer, it took some training for him to be patient but he was an awesome dog. He tracked shot deer, told you when they were around and even pointed, sadly I lost him 2 months ago at the age of 15 and he worked right up until he was 14 years. He even found a badly wounded doe someone had taken a pot shot at that he dragged down and dispatched with a choke hold before I could get to him.
Rasputin
Well-Known Member
My cocker will track deer in a fashion but it’s rare I take him shooting unless in a deer box prefer to leave him in the car until needed which isn’t that often now I don’t have my own ground. Training for a warm blood trail I think any dog will do. I have now bought a border for this as my cocker just won’t sit still if it’s cold.
Not lost one yet even in thick stuff with the cocker and all I did to get him on the scent was every time I shot a deer marked the spot circled away from the dead deer bled it then went back out again. He soon picked up on the scent and would go into the throat/chest area where it’s bled the hardest part was getting him to sit still when gralloching. Have given him liver and deer hooves since he was a pup as well.
My only concern with him is going to a not quite dead deer so I always make sure he’s on and extending lead but tbh when he’s on the trail he just follows it.
When I was first starting I stalked with a guy who took me out had two cockers and they were rock steady and mustard so it can be done but I don’t think they naturally lend themselves to the siting part haha.
Not lost one yet even in thick stuff with the cocker and all I did to get him on the scent was every time I shot a deer marked the spot circled away from the dead deer bled it then went back out again. He soon picked up on the scent and would go into the throat/chest area where it’s bled the hardest part was getting him to sit still when gralloching. Have given him liver and deer hooves since he was a pup as well.
My only concern with him is going to a not quite dead deer so I always make sure he’s on and extending lead but tbh when he’s on the trail he just follows it.
When I was first starting I stalked with a guy who took me out had two cockers and they were rock steady and mustard so it can be done but I don’t think they naturally lend themselves to the siting part haha.
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