Hunting Dog Training: Deer Hunting With Dogs: Training Tips & 5 Best Deer Hunting Dog Breeds

Hunting Dog Training: Deer Hunting With Dogs: Training Tips & 5 Best Deer Hunting Dog Breeds

Deer hunting with dogs is an adventure sport ; Hunters need some luck shooting deer. But things are pretty annoying when they stand in one spot until a deer come their way, as it could take a while for one to appear.

On the other hand, hunting with a dog is fun. The hunters just have to follow the trail the dog chooses until they are in shooting position. Sometimes they let their dog run the deer past their stall and take the hit. You really need a dog up to it for this to work, though.

Train your deer hunting dog

You have to use real dog training techniques in order to get real results. An ideal dog that you can train is a specialized deer indicator dog.

This type of dog will take you to the deer following a wind scent or a ground scent. The dog should be trained to walk slowly and silently in front of you. He should be able to stop when he finds the deer so you can take a picture.

You need to make sure your dog is seated and well in front. The dog should be able to watch and stay on track without you having to repeatedly give him commands. The starting point of your training is to train your dog to walk comfortably and slowly in front of you. Avoid heel cups for now. This way the dog won't feel pressured and it will do what is expected of it instead of backing off and chasing.

It is advisable to start training with a puppy at around 10 weeks old. A puppy will adapt much more easily to walking in front of you. You have to use your go command to make it walk forward when it stops. Try to walk in one direction with your dog and lead him back on track whenever he strays too far. Set up a range that your dog will stay inside and start monitoring you.

Training is much easier if you leave your dog on a leash. The next thing you need to teach your dog is "range." This is very important because your dog needs to know when to stop. You can achieve this by holding it with a long line or by using a shock collar. Then, let him advance far before pulling the chain to stop him. This trick helps the dog to control himself and monitor his own litter.

Anytime your dog strays too far from you and heads in one direction, it's because that's where he wants to go. So you have to tell the dog to go in the desired direction by pulling the rope or shocking it through the collar. You need to do this for a while before you take your dog off the leash. The aforementioned techniques will help your dog pay attention and stay in range when on a trail.

Make sure your dog is healthy for deer hunting by feeding him nutritious food. Decide what type of deer your dog is supposed to follow; either a running or injured deer. Introduce your dog to deer hide if you want him to follow a running deer and to deer blood if you want him to trail a wounded deer. Sprinkle deer blood or drag deer hide across the training field and out of sight, then release your dog to follow the scent of blood or hide. Successful training of a deer hunting dog requires you to use a puppy that is around 10 to 12 weeks old.

Top 5 Deer Hunting Dog Breeds

1. German Shorthaired Pointer

The German Shorthaired Pointer is native to Germany. The antiquity of this breed begins with dogs that were used for hunting game birds. It is considered a breed of noble and balanced appearance. These characteristics guarantee speed, endurance and strength. The dog is known to be a versatile hunter adept at high performance both on land and in water. Coat color can vary from a solid liver to a mixture of white and liver.

The breed is vocal and exhibits the following characteristics: trainable, bold, cooperative, intelligent, and affectionate. The dog's high energy is useful during training. The animal likes to learn new things; however, repetition and consistency are necessary. The breed is extraordinarily athletic and requires plenty of exercise. The German Shorthaired Pointer is one of the few gundogs that can perform all the roles of a gundog.

2. The American Foxhound

The American Foxhound originated in the United States. It is smaller with a more pronounced sense of smell. The dog was originally used to hunt foxes, but was trained to hunt other animals, including deer. The breed has a rough coat that protects it from branches and sticks while hunting. Her hair is different colors. The most common combination is tan, white and black.

The American F beef is bold, aggressive, stubborn and independent. Training can be quite difficult due to the dog's strong desire to hunt. Therefore, you should start training yours while it is still young. Although the breed is considered loving and sociable, it has not been used as a pet much. This dog requires about one to two hours of training and exercise per day. The breed sheds very little; thus, only random brushing is required.

3. The Bloodhound

The Bloodhound breed originated in Belgium and the United Kingdom. This is a large dog with the ability to trail a scent for several days over great distances. The dog's fearsomeness is due to its ability to follow a scent in the air rather than a scent on the ground. The breed's remarkable sense of smell has used them in many activities outside of hunting, including finding people.

The dog is noble, patient and gentle. This dog is well known for being decisive and independent. He tends to make his own decisions, especially when choosing a track with a very interesting flavor. In fact, the dog tends to be determined to follow a new lead. You may need to learn professional skills on how to train this particular breed. Generally, the bloodhound is a very effective deer hunting dog.

4. Weimaraner

The Weimaraner originates from Germany. He is a medium to large breed dog that is also lean and muscular. This breed is very adept at hunting a variety of animals, including deer, but it can also make a good family pet. The dog is beautiful with its silver gray coat. He is very intelligent and does not function well when left alone for a long time. The intelligence it shows promises success when hunting.

This breed is very athletic with lots of liveliness. He is a demanding dog that needs lots of exercise and strong leadership. It is very versatile as you can use it to track and retrieve game. The dog will definitely chase any moving object. So he must always be kept on a leash. The breed is a bit problematic to train as they are mischievous and stubborn. He is known to walk away when he enjoys a certain activity.

5. The Basset Hound

The dog originated in Great Britain and France. It is a short-legged hunting dog. It has a sensitive smell like the Bloodhound. It can effectively trail perfume without any problem. The dog may become overly obsessed to the extent that he ignores heel commands. It was specially developed for choosing perfumes. It has long droopy ears that almost touch the ground and is known to produce mournful vocalizations.

The dog is inconsistent when it comes to personality. The sad-eyed charm he displays sometimes makes it hard to tell if he can be independent and stubborn. He can be the best hunter, but he needs discipline and constant training. In general, he is good-natured, easy-going, and more lovable compared to other breeds. Hunting dog instincts make training a bit difficult, but they can detect deer from a distance due to their incredible sense of smell.

Tips for hunting deer with your dog

The dog must be well trained

The partnership you have with a well-trained dog is unlike anything you experience anywhere else. Sure, you'll spend a lot of time training your dog, but the results are always remarkable. Deer love thickets, but when they spread over acres, you'll be at a huge disadvantage without a well-trained dog.

Deer hunting with dogs is exciting, but it is not legal to hunt with dogs in all states. You could end up paying a hefty fine, if caught hunting in states where dog hunting is illegal. Avoid legal problems by checking with the necessary authorities in your area.

Always remember that deer hunting with dogs is just a sport

Deer hunting with dogs is simply a sport. You should always remember that. Therefore, don't punish or love your dog in any way if you don't shoot a deer. Instead, you should have fun in the field while enjoying your friend's company.

Opt for a dog with an acute sense of smell

The success of deer hunting with a dog depends on its sense of smell. Therefore, it will be wise on your part if you train a dog with a keen sense of smell for hunting. The best scent hound can be difficult to train because they tend to follow their noses instead of bowing, but they're your best bet for a successful deer hunt.

Use a stun collar and tracking collar while hunting

Silence is important even when a dog participates in the hunt. So, you should consider using an electric collar to remind your dogs of commands in case he doesn't follow them in the field. The tracking collar helps you catch up with your dog if he strays too far from you.

Conclusion

Deer hunting with dogs is more practical in some geographical situations than in others. If you've never hunted in thicket and waited hours for deer to appear, then you probably won't appreciate the benefits of having hounds hanging around and running in thicket. It's usually not possible for you to track the scent of a deer, whether it's injured or not. Therefore, a deer hunting dog is necessary for a successful deer hunting adventure.