10/22/2026
HUNTERS, PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THIS!
PLEASE DON’T MAKE A VETTED TRACKING TEAM YOUR LAST RESORT!
As we enter one of the busiest times of deer season, with the rut in full swing, I want to address something that has become a recurring issue over the last several tracks.
First and foremost, I understand that every hunter wants to recover their deer. I respect that, and I appreciate the effort that goes into trying to find a wounded animal. However, sometimes those efforts can do more harm than good.
Over the last several tracks, we have received numerous calls for deer that have already been pursued by unvetted dogs, pushed by hunters for 500+ yards, or searched for extensively before a professional tracking team was contacted. Many of these calls aren’t coming until the following day.
Unfortunately, by the time we arrive, the odds of a successful recovery have already been significantly reduced.
I want hunters to understand something. A good recovery doesn’t start when my dogs put their noses on the ground. It starts with the decisions YOU make immediately after the shot.
If you are uncertain of your shot placement, cannot locate your deer within approximately 100 yards, or lose the blood trail, PLEASE BACK OUT!
Call a vetted tracking team. Give that deer time. Give the dogs an opportunity to do the job they have been trained to do.
I cannot stress enough that not every dog is a wounded game recovery dog. There is a tremendous difference between a dog that will follow deer scent and a dog that has been properly trained and proven to work wounded game.
Now, with that being said, I need to establish some boundaries for Rockin’ Trees Wounded Game Recovery moving forward.
If you have already put other dogs on your deer, we will not be prioritizing that track as a follow-up recovery.
If your deer has been extensively pushed or searched for, your track may be moved to the bottom of our priority list.
This is not to punish anyone, and it is certainly not meant to disrespect another hunter or dog handler.
But here’s why this matters.
During the rut, we receive multiple calls a day. We spend countless hours on the road, in the woods, and working our dogs. Every hour we spend trying to sort through a heavily disturbed track is an hour another hunter and their deer may be waiting for us.
And quite frankly, it is not fair to those hunters who made the decision to back out, preserve the track, and call for professional help from the beginning.
My dogs work incredibly hard. I put a tremendous amount of time, money, and effort into their training, conditioning, and overall well-being. Their time, energy, and safety matter to me, just as much as giving every hunter the best opportunity for a successful recovery.
I take pride in what we do. I take pride in my dogs. And I take pride in helping hunters recover deer that otherwise may never have been found.
But I also have to make decisions that allow us to help as many hunters as possible while maintaining the highest possible recovery success rate.
PLEASE remember:
* Unsure of your shot? BACK OUT.
* Lost blood or haven’t found your deer within 100 yards? BACK OUT.
* Think you may have made a marginal shot? Give the deer time and contact a vetted tracker for guidance.
* Considering putting an untrained or unvetted dog on the track? PLEASE reconsider.
* Need help? Call a vetted tracking team FIRST, not LAST.
You only get one opportunity to preserve an undisturbed track. Make it count.
This post is not directed toward any particular hunter. It’s simply something that needs to be addressed because we are seeing it happen far too often.
At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: to recover that deer, minimize unnecessary suffering, and give the animal the respect it deserves.
Thank you to every hunter who has trusted Rockin’ Trees Wounded Game Recovery over the years. We appreciate you more than you know!
🐾 Rockin’ Trees Wounded Game Recovery
Trust the dogs. Trust the process. Make the call before it’s too late.
South Carolina Tracking Network has a list use it. Let us tailgate your deer or give you answers.
