Shot site indication

[Siggy]

Has anyone trained their dog to indicate the shot site? I am frequently having difficulty finding the shot site ever since I started using copper - the non-fragmenting bullet just doesn't release enough blood for me to pick up. My old dog casts around and immediately starts tracking and I don't get chance to examine the shot site.

So I am thinking of training my new dog to indicate the shot site, like a drug/bomb/bed bug detection dog would. Has anyone else done this, and if yes does it interfere with or enhance blood trail tracking? To my way of thinking, it would allow me to examine the signs at the shot site before commencing the track, and give me a chance to confirm the dog is on the right trail, but my fear is that the dog would stop and indicate while blood trailing - which may or may not be a useful.

Any tips or advice gratefully appreciated

 

[Dunwaters]

Has anyone trained their dog to indicate the shot site? I am frequently having difficulty finding the shot site ever since I started using copper - the non-fragmenting bullet just doesn't release enough blood for me to pick up. My old dog casts around and immediately starts tracking and I don't get chance to examine the shot site.

So I am thinking of training my new dog to indicate the shot site, like a drug/bomb/bed bug detection dog would. Has anyone else done this, and if yes does it interfere with or enhance blood trail tracking? To my way of thinking, it would allow me to examine the signs at the shot site before commencing the track, and give me a chance to confirm the dog is on the right trail, but my fear is that the dog would stop and indicate while blood trailing - which may or may not be a useful.

Any tips or advice gratefully appreciated

Be careful what you wish for.
If you train your dog to indicate the initial shot site, how do you train him not to indicate every subsequent bit of blood or tissue?
I use pointers, once the head drops and they head off at speed on a track, I generally have no further interest in the original shot site.

 

[Siggy]

Be careful what you wish for.
If you train your dog to indicate the initial shot site, how do you train him not to indicate every subsequent bit of blood or tissue?
I use pointers, once the head drops and they head off at speed on a track, I generally have no further interest in the original shot site.

agree - proceeding with caution!

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Not entirely what you've asked but I'll try and keep on a longline until ive located the shot site then let him do his thing...

Doesn't always go to plan but I've had reasonable success with it

 

[Ratel]

Mine finds the shot site when she finds the deer.

 

[Chris Richardson]

Has anyone trained their dog to indicate the shot site? I am frequently having difficulty finding the shot site ever since I started using copper - the non-fragmenting bullet just doesn't release enough blood for me to pick up. My old dog casts around and immediately starts tracking and I don't get chance to examine the shot site.

So I am thinking of training my new dog to indicate the shot site, like a drug/bomb/bed bug detection dog would. Has anyone else done this, and if yes does it interfere with or enhance blood trail tracking? To my way of thinking, it would allow me to examine the signs at the shot site before commencing the track, and give me a chance to confirm the dog is on the right trail, but my fear is that the dog would stop and indicate while blood trailing - which may or may not be a useful.

Any tips or advice gratefully appreciated

cracking endorsement for copper ammo here

 

[Siggy]

Not entirely what you've asked but I'll try and keep on a longline until ive located the shot site then let him do his thing...

Doesn't always go to plan but I've had reasonable success with it

That pretty much what I do with my current dog, but the problem is I don’t always know if I am following the wounded deer or the herd. Also I don’t get to see what the wound sign is to make an assessment of what is the best tracking strategy.

 

[Selous]

Has anyone trained their dog to indicate the shot site? I am frequently having difficulty finding the shot site ever since I started using copper - the non-fragmenting bullet just doesn't release enough blood for me to pick up. My old dog casts around and immediately starts tracking and I don't get chance to examine the shot site.

So I am thinking of training my new dog to indicate the shot site, like a drug/bomb/bed bug detection dog would. Has anyone else done this, and if yes does it interfere with or enhance blood trail tracking? To my way of thinking, it would allow me to examine the signs at the shot site before commencing the track, and give me a chance to confirm the dog is on the right trail, but my fear is that the dog would stop and indicate while blood trailing - which may or may not be a useful.

Any tips or advice gratefully appreciated

My dog becomes visibly more alert when he finds the shot site. He doesn’t indicate it specifically but it is noticeable that his behaviour chsnged. Can I ask what bullet you are using? It might be easier to change this to get you a better blood trail.

 

[Siggy]

My dog becomes visibly more alert when he finds the shot site. He doesn’t indicate it specifically but it is noticeable that his behaviour chsnged. Can I ask what bullet you are using? It might be easier to change this to get you a better blood trail.

I’ve used a variety of copper, never going to get the same splatter as an SST!