So, how do you find a tracker with dogs?

How do you pay them? By the mile driven to you? find or not?

Not trying to pimp out another message board, but this link can be quite helpful.

https://www.texasbowhunter.com/disc...32770-2023-2024-season-tracking-dog-list

Another place to look https://www.unitedbloodtrackers.org/find-a-tracker/

We had a thread here for years but was not updated much with taking dogs off when no longer available.

With the amount you spend on guns and glass this shouldn’t need to be a question you need to ask Buzz.

Every feed store in Junction, Menard, and the one in Roosevelt has their business cards all over the place. The ones in Sonora probably do too.

on another forum they discussed using a thermal to find a wounded animal and apparently it works great - be much faster and easier IMO

https://pulsarnv.com/products/axion-2-xq35-pro

Problem? Details?

It can work great, unless you have a lot of elevation changes and/or thick brush that a thermal can not see through. Most of my east texas property, until all the leaves fall from the trees and brush, and even after on some parts, you wouldnt see a dead deer 20' into it

My advice is to do your homework, find a guy, have a couple of conversations all before you need one. When the time comes you know who to call and what the arrangement will be.

Thanks all, I'm hopefully my outfitter has his go to but was watching a show on TV where they used a tracking dog to find his deer. Got me thinkin.

Don’t you have a Lab Buzz? Have you tried it to see if it will track? The best cover is your own blanket.

He does (assuming you're still using Mike)...and he's a good one. Found an axis a buddy of mine shot last summer and it was HOT and not much wind.

Sounds like you are covered!

Two years ago we needed one on my sons buck. First I called the guy who does my mounts and lives down the road. He gave me number of who he knows so called him and he was tied up with new baby and double shift and two counties away and gave me the number of a guy a little closer out of Jack County. Connected with them and were at the gate at 9 am this next morning. Had the deer within 45 minutes. Great experience but expensive but worth it. Would have never known it was dead without the dogs. Went 700 yards with part lung/liver shot. Don't shoot that far back!! Think it was $400. Just ate the last sausage log from it but got lucky finding one.

Last weekend he shot his best buck. I said please don't shot where you hit the last one. This one dropped in its tracks. Perfect shoulder shot. Whew.