Local Hunter’s Missing Big-Buck Kill Draws Spotlight on Michigan’s Tracking Dog Community
TLDR SECTION:
Mike Hoeppner, an experienced hunter from Michigan, was hunting on Halloween morning when he lost track of his massive 200-pound 9-point archery clad in lots of dollars. After an exhaustive search, he enlisted the help of a blood-tracking Dachshund named Max, who found the deer within 5 minutes. Experts consider Dachshunds, Bloodhounds, Beagles, and Coonhounds to be the best tracking dogs available. Organizations like the Michigan Deer Tracking Network offer tracking dogs for the best chance of retrieving injured or lost deer. These dogs are able to smell deer even when there is no visible blood trail to follow and often find deer that human hunters might pass by. Thanks to these tracking dogs, Mike Hoeppner was able to locate his monstrous deer and will be able to mount his 9-point rack.
READ MORE – Local Hunter’s Missing Big-Buck Kill Draws Spotlight on Michigan’s Tracking Dog Community
FULL ARTICLE BELOW:
It was a foggy Halloween morning when Mike Hoeppner, a seasoned hunter from Michigan, lost track of his 200-pound 9-point archery buck. An experienced hunter, fisherman, and lifelong outdoorsman, Hoeppner had accomplished many exciting hunts over the course of his sports career, but he never lost a dollar he couldn’t find…until now.
After a two-hour search on foot in cold autumn rain and the densely wooded undergrowth of north Oakland County, Michigan, this experienced hunter nearly gave up all hope of retrieving the buck of his dreams. Measuring 138 5/8 inches in the Big Buck Gross Scored, this buck was recorded as being large enough to enter the Commemorative Bucks of Michigan state records.
In a last-ditch effort to save the day, Hoeppner enlisted the help of one of Michigan’s most valuable hunting resources: a blood-tracking Dachshund named Max. Weighing less than 15 pounds, these energetic little dogs are vertex trackers, successfully finding lost prey in some of Michigan’s densest wooded habitats. Moving quickly through slippery and wet terrain, it took this expert tracking dog less than 5 minutes to locate the lost male, who had fallen into a deep, overgrown ravine.
“I went on for over two hours in some of the thickest, nastiest brush, through fog and freezing rain, looking for this deer,” says Hoeppner. “The deer jumped the fence and left no blood trail to follow. I searched for more than 100 yards from one side to the other, and the tracker dog found the deer only 20 feet from where he had been looking all along. The deer was buried deep in a ditch with no white belly showing. I never would have found it if it wasn’t for this little dog,” says Hoeppner.
Stories like this attest to the value of Michigan’s sniffer dog industry, which helps recover hundreds of lost deaths each year across the state. With boundless energy and a sniffer hundreds of times stronger than humans, Michigan sniffer dogs often help retrieve bucks like this one. Experts consider Dachshund breeds, along with Bloodhounds, Beagles, and Coonhounds to be among the best tracking dogs available.
Human hunters have relied on sniffer dogs for centuries, from Viking times, when warriors were buried with their beloved dogs, to modern times, when dogs are deployed by the military, first responders, and even modern day field hunters like Hoeppner. Tracking dogs like Max are valued for their strong sense of smell, ability to be trained, and agility in navigating rough terrain. The best tracking dogs are independent, eager to please, possess a strong sense of smell, and have the stamina to locate lost animals.
Organizations like the Michigan Deer Tracking Network offer tracking dogs for the best chance of retrieving injured or lost deer. The network is staffed by a team of expert deer trackers, including some of the best deer tracking dogs in the state of Michigan. Dog teams often cover multiple tracks per day and receive dozens of calls daily during Michigan deer hunting season. Tracking dogs are licensed and tagged through the Michigan DNR and these dogs can often find deer that human hunters might pass by. They are able to smell deer even when there is no visible blood trail to follow.
Tracking dogs are a big help for hunters like Mike Hoeppner and provide a vital service in reducing the unwanted waste of missed kills and reducing prolonged suffering for an animal. “It is thanks to this tracking dog that I was able to locate my monstrous deer. It’s always an adventure hunting outdoors in Michigan!” comments hunter Mike Hoeppner, who will be forever grateful to his lucky dog (and lucky stars) when he mounts his 9-point rack.
The article focuses on the story of local hunter Scott Tefft, who lost a large buck in Michigan’s woods. Tefft enlisted the help of a tracking dog community to help him locate the animal. The article highlights the importance of tracking dogs in the hunting community and the dedication of the tracking dog owners.
The article also provides some interesting statistics regarding the use of tracking dogs in Michigan. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, there are currently over 1,400 licensed tracking dogs in the state. Additionally, the Michigan Tracking Dog Association estimates that over 7,000 tracking dogs are actively used in the state.
The article also includes some interesting facts about tracking dogs. For instance, the average tracking dog can cover up to 20 miles in one day and can track a scent for up to two weeks. Furthermore, the article mentions that tracking dogs are highly trained and can even be used to locate lost persons.
Overall, the article provides an interesting look at the importance of tracking dogs in the hunting community and the dedication of the tracking dog owners. It also provides some interesting statistics and facts about tracking dogs in Michigan.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How did the hunter’s buck go missing?
A. The buck was shot and wounded by the hunter, but during the search for it, the trail went cold and it was never found.
2. How does the Michigan tracking dog community help in such cases?
A. The tracking dog community in Michigan can help by providing specially trained dogs that can follow the blood trail of a wounded animal, allowing hunters to locate it and retrieve it.
3. How do tracking dogs help to ensure the safety of hunters?
A. Tracking dogs help to ensure the safety of hunters by allowing them to locate and retrieve wounded animals quickly, reducing the risk of them being injured or killed by other animals.
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