Dogs on big game hunts

[Jason Snyder]

A jaeger lead is what you want.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Where do you live? Are you in Germany? I assume they don't do the DD utility test you mentioned in the US (that isn't the NAVHDA utility test) since we don't hunt big game, forbearers, varmints with our dogs? Would be fun to get my hands on a European DD training book to see how that training is conducted.

I live in the US. JGHV testing is actually fairly common here.

Testing Programs | Verein Deutsch-Drahthaar

www.vdd-gna.org

 

[Decker9]

That's awesome. I wish I had had a dog companion on my sheep hunts. Maybe next time!? It took me a minute to figure out why you were hiking in crocs with your boots dangling from the sheep horns (water crossing!). How do you control you dog in the dark (mornings/evenings)? I was thinking a hands free shoulder leash of some sort would be a good way to go if you needed to use it?

We had a few big creek crossings in a short distance, it was easier to just keep hiking in croc’s rather then getting my pack off and on, though I did anyway for this photo lol.

Iv never had any issue in the dark, I can see a curious dog may wonder a bit, but Iv never had mine venture more then talking distance away (usually if their our relieving themselves) Generally, they’ll be curled up beside someone looking for jerky and belly rubs, but after a good day of hiking, they usually zonk right out.

 

[buffybr]

I'm on my 6th Golden Retriever since the early '70s. They've all been on big game hunts with me...

 

[LoneGriz]

A jaeger lead is what you want.

That’s the one! I couldn’t think of the formal name.

 

[LoneGriz]

I'm on my 6th Golden Retriever since the early '70s. They've all been on big game hunts with me...

That sheep and moose pic with dog is awesome!

 

[buffybr]

That sheep and moose pic with dog is awesome!

Those were a couple of my DIY solo hunts...Just me, my dog, and my two horses.

 

[longtail]

love that pic of your golden on the rocks with the sheep...... too cool. i have a golden myself, she is 3 years old and even though she is very well mannered and listens well she lacks drive, energy to take out west. I was hopeful when we got her she would be my hiking companion but I learned very quickly she is more of a non athletic type. She overheats and tires out very quickly. Great for the house and chilling around the yard outside. even though her diet is pretty well managed and she gets daily exercise except for when its cold and really hot she has gotten somewhat overweight. We did find out recently she has thyroid issues and a slow metabolism probably part of the problem. Anyway, in the future i want to do my research a little more thoroughly and seek out a breeder to find a better mix of well mannered but also energetic. Cool Thread!

 

[TMac96]

This is an awesome thread. Great to see some dog pics and to hear how y'all big game hunt with your dogs. That is a dream.

I just dropped off mine off at training for 4 months this past Saturday, so I am missing him... Here's to hoping he comes back well behaved enough to do some of the things yall have described here!

 

[TMac96]

This is an awesome thread. Great to see some dog pics and to hear how y'all big game hunt with your dogs. That is a dream.

I just dropped off mine off at training for 4 months this past Saturday, so I am missing him... Here's to hoping he comes back well behaved enough to do some of the things yall have described here!

Had to add a pic for the fellow lab owners!

 

[Elkhuntinfool78]

This guy was the best hunting companion I could have ever asked for. I will say I got some strange looks a few times from other hunters we ran into...lol. haven't seen many saint Bernard's out hunting.

 

[TMac96]

This guy was the best hunting companion I could have ever asked for. I will say I got some strange looks a few times from other hunters we ran into...lol. haven't seen many saint Bernard's out hunting.

That is cool. What a beautiful boy... did he double as an insulated sleeping bag for ya?

 

[Sierra Hunter]

Hope to add more pics as he grows. He’s about a year now and I could see him being a great companion. I think he has the temperament

 

[3325]

Hope to add more pics as he grows. He’s about a year now and I could see him being a great companion. I think he has the temperament

Great pics.

I'm a former German Shepherd owner hoping to get another one soon. I never took either of mine on a big game hunt. But the history of the German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois in combat leads me to believe it could be done with great effectiveness. If a German Shepherd can alert to the close presence of NVA/VC in the Vietnam jungle without compromising its handler and the unit, it can be taught to alert to the close presence of elk in the Rockies without compromising the hunter.

It's clear that you can't use a dog to run, herd, or drive elk. But a dog that stays by the hunter and simply alerts to a close presence? The legality of it is unclear to me.

There are some videos on YouTube about "scout dogs" in Vietnam. Many former handlers interviewed. The loyalty and effectiveness of those dogs and the bonds the handlers had with them is amazing.

 

[limpet]

She comes everywhere. Whether it’s work, hunting, fishing, trapping, whatever she picks it up pretty quick.

 

[Sierra Hunter]

Great pics.

I'm a former German Shepherd owner hoping to get another one soon. I never took either of mine on a big game hunt. But the history of the German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois in combat leads me to believe it could be done with great effectiveness. If a German Shepherd can alert to the close presence of NVA/VC in the Vietnam jungle without compromising its handler and the unit, it can be taught to alert to the close presence of elk in the Rockies without compromising the hunter.

It's clear that you can't use a dog to run, herd, or drive elk. But a dog that stays by the hunter and simply alerts to a close presence? The legality of it is unclear to me.

There are some videos on YouTube about "scout dogs" in Vietnam. Many former handlers interviewed. The loyalty and effectiveness of those dogs and the bonds the handlers had with them is amazing.

He comes from working lines and is my second GSD I’ve had as an adult. I’ve done PP work with both. He’s just starting now that he’s getting mentally more mature and has a good base of general training.

Many years with a pack dog(s) and big game hunting, my old girls been on more sheep hunts then most folks I think, she’s packed a lot of meat over the last handful of years, and saved my arse twice from grizzly’s. Truly the best partner Iv ever had. The day I took my ram (7th day solo with my dog), I sat her with some gear for my final stock, 4-5 hours later with a ram in my bag, she hadn’t moved at all. She packed out 17lbs of sheep meat that Trip

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8 trips, 2km each way, I was thankful for her this day.
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When the creeks get deep though, your pack will get heavier lol

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Our first harvest together, she aced it.

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What I found the best training tool, was stalking every animal I could, especially bears being their so abundant. Key was talking calmly, keeping the dog calm, plus it was good practice for me. I did train on leash, but slowly took it away as she learnt to heel. A walking stick or willow to hold infront helps keep them in check, if she starts to wander, it’s back on the leash, usually 5-10 minutes, and she gets the drift.

I don’t know what it is about bears though, she won’t chase, but she will growl. Other game Iv never seen the same behaviour.

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This is epic, what a great partner. A couple questions. Can you unpack the grizz story, I’ve heard dogs give grizzlies a reason to engage but also guess they could alert or buy time in a worst case scenario. Curious your thoughts. What do you think of a dog packing weight every once in awhile on their joints, and how did you pack in that much food for the both of you on long trips?

 

[Decker9]

He comes from working lines and is my second GSD I’ve had as an adult. I’ve done PP work with both. He’s just starting now that he’s getting mentally more mature and has a good base of general training.

This is epic, what a great partner. A couple questions. Can you unpack the grizz story, I’ve heard dogs give grizzlies a reason to engage but also guess they could alert or buy time in a worst case scenario. Curious your thoughts. What do you think of a dog packing weight every once in awhile on their joints, and how did you pack in that much food for the both of you on long trips?

A couple of grizzly encounters with my old now retired pack dog. The closest one she would have been 4 years old. My dad and I were a few days in on a fly in sheep hunt. We each had our own tent, pitched about 20’ apart in the subalpine.

Was about 4:30am I was up crouch beside my tent making a coffee, my dog laying beside me, dad still sleeping in his tent, my rifle still in my tent. The wild was blowing pretty hard and I had my back to it, in a split second my dog was up in a roar from her bed darting off behind me. Just as I stood and turned there was a lone grizzly coming straight in toward our tents. He was on a lope, not a run or a charge, I don’t think he even knew we were there. Luckily he spun around with my dog on its tail not 50’ from our tents. Funny enough, 2 years later, exact same spot sheep hunting with my lady, we had this bear come in. Often wonder if it was the same bear.

IMO a properly trained dog is far better than no dog. A lot like a horse, they’ll let you know if game that’s close before we know. We have so many black bears around, stalking black’s was my best training tool of all. I can’t count the number of bears we’ve stalked, purely for training.

When she packs her food in, 4 freezer zip locks on each side of her pack makes for 12 days of food. Often I’d take a couple if we had thick brush to go through to help her out, or even her whole pack sometimes. I never did pack her with more then 15 pounds, unless we were coming out heavy in one trip. Most I ever had on her was 20-22 pounds, but not for long distances. Iv noticed more issues with dogs feet than with sore joints.

IMO it’s important to look at a dogs length and girth, a lot like a horse. Long back dogs don’t carry packs well if packed often, least weighted packs.

tbh I can’t tell an extra 5-10 pounds in my already 60-65 pound pack if I add dog essentials. When my 8-9 year old daughter would come on these sheep hunts, then I notice the pack got pretty heavy lol.

 

[Elkhuntinfool78]

That is cool. What a beautiful boy... did he double as an insulated sleeping bag for ya?

Haha, actually he did. I went several times in late November montana using my 15 degree bag when now I use a -10.... lol

 

[S-3 ranch]

He comes from working lines and is my second GSD I’ve had as an adult. I’ve done PP work with both. He’s just starting now that he’s getting mentally more mature and has a good base of general training.

This is epic, what a great partner. A couple questions. Can you unpack the grizz story, I’ve heard dogs give grizzlies a reason to engage but also guess they could alert or buy time in a worst case scenario. Curious your thoughts. What do you think of a dog packing weight every once in awhile on their joints, and how did you pack in that much food for the both of you on long trips?

My dog has a pack she wears, and she packs in her food and some of mine .
She goes everywhere with me , we dont have any bears but lots of hogs and she keeps raccoon and other stuff out of camp , porcupines are my only concern, she is a very good blood trail dog and has found other bow hunters lost game , but I didn’t take her to Alaska because of the long flight in a crate
Imo nothing is better than having a dog on a hunting or fishing trip

 

[medvedyt]

hunting big game here will not be the same if we are not going with our dog. like others she is barking way differently when we are encountering bears and even hunting them.

she did not even move last fall when wolves were howling around us but she kept us warm for sure.