A couple of weeks ago I caught up with a Young buck and my first shot hit it a bit far back. I managed to squeeze of a second a bit rapid and the beast fell down into the bushes and ditch. I waited a few minutes and then decided, as I had the spaniel in the truck, to let him out and see what he did with a deer scent. Well, he was a bit slow to catch on to a scent but when he did, he went straight for the spot where the second shot hit the buck and then he found the deer a couple of yards away.
So now my question. WHen he found the deer, he imediately grabbed its back end and tried to drag it out of the ditch. He was really reluctant to let it go and I did not want to tell him off for it as it was his first deer. My worry is that this type of behaviour may make him hard mouthed when it comes to retrieving game. He is 4 years old and very soft mouthed. He even retrieved a ducking unharmed which my son kept for 4 months before releasing it onto the fish farm.
Am I worying about nothing and should give him lots of encouragement or should I keep him for just the game and not deer?
Cheers
Andy
So now my question. WHen he found the deer, he imediately grabbed its back end and tried to drag it out of the ditch. He was really reluctant to let it go and I did not want to tell him off for it as it was his first deer. My worry is that this type of behaviour may make him hard mouthed when it comes to retrieving game. He is 4 years old and very soft mouthed. He even retrieved a ducking unharmed which my son kept for 4 months before releasing it onto the fish farm.
Am I worying about nothing and should give him lots of encouragement or should I keep him for just the game and not deer?
Cheers
Andy