Elli Hill NYS Leashed Deer Tracking Dog

12/14/2024

We had a successful first year tracking with Elli! Here are some of our favorite moments. Thank you to all who contacted us to track for them. Best of luck for the rest of the season!

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11/15/2024

Congratulations to Garrett in Clinton today on his first buck ever! 🥳

I got the pleasure of tracking with him and his father, a SP K-9 officer.

Garrett took a great shot at 4pm yesterday, and we started around 11 this morning. Elli had gotten to a bed they found where they had lost blood, and continued the trail to find a speck more. She led us through a cornfield, where we weren't seeing any more sign.

After we checked probable places where she had no interest, we got into another area... Garrett's father notice her head snap (which I didn't) and saw it was blood she was checking out. Everyone's hope rose again then!

She was hot on it at that point, and took us into a thicker area. Suddenly, she stopped and perked her ears up. I saw a deer thrashing on the ground. The first dispatch of her career took place, as he was still alive 20 hours later! She had no hesistation to the shot and couldn't wait to get to it. I am so appreciative of the praise they gave her, and so was she! 🦌🐾

11/07/2024

We will be unavailable to track from tonight until 11/14. Sorry for the inconvenience. Good luck out there! If you need a tracker please check out:

All UBT members are eligible to be listed on the Find-A-Tracker map.A listing on the map does not represent The UBT’s endorsement of a tracker’s ability or business practices.Dog and handler teams will have varying levels of experience and training. OR Or, do a more general search by state: (sel...

11/07/2024

Elli's Deer, and Tom's Deer!🦌🦌
Chenango County
Long one but worth reading 😅

Tom called us Sunday night to come out on Monday for a deer he had arrowed on Saturday. He made the great decision that he would just immediately back out and ask for a tracking dog.

Elli got to the hit site and right away took to the line down the hill and left. After a bit she cut right into thickness. We eventually got to a creek and she checked all the hoof prints there for the right one. Since she was so animated, I was worried she was on a live deer. I asked her "Is this right, lets go back?" The answer was absolutely not, I won't look at you and will pull you this way! After a few more turns, we end up on this beautiful older 10 point buck. Unfortunately, coyotes got to him first. She got her fix of tugging on it and me praising her while calling the hunter to come to us.

The problem was, Tom had shot his deer on Saturday. The deer we found was still in rigor mortis (it was a fresher kill). Also, he had shot at an 8 point. Both of us were confused.

We went back to get his deer sled so I could help him. On the way back Elli started yanking me in a different direction. Running through the woods with her, we then found his 8! He said "that's my deer!" The 10 must have followed the same path of the 8, and she took to his line. While she was having the biggest celebration of her life finding 2 deer in 20 minutes, my mind was spinning.

I called the DEC to let them know what had happened, as we have to call in every track. The 10 point was gut shot, it could have traveled a long way especially with bordering state lands. After talking to them, they advised us what to do. Now, the biggest euro mount on our wall is hers, and rightfully so. That old buck will be forever appreciated!🦌🐾

Thanks to A&M Euro Mounts in Plymouth! If anyone is looking for a mount, check out their page. They do wonderful work!

10/31/2024

Yesterday in Sherburne. Congratulations to Carson on his first bow buck!🎉

Elli and I had an awesome track with "the cave deer."

Carson took his shot at this nice 8 this morning at first light. I wasn't optimistic of finding him since they had tracked and lost blood after 400 yards with no beds. We got there at 530 tonight to get on the line. Elli cut left after the POL and after a while, led us to more blood. Then she was tracking him hard.

We got to a huge tree that had fallen down, and she slunk under the trunk. I had to have Carson hold the leash to walk around it for a ways.. when I came around the other side you can see why she wanted to get to the other side so bad!

Almost 700 yards later and sporadic visible blood, this deer would have been nearly impossible to recover without a dog! 🐾🦌

10/29/2024

Happy 2️⃣nd Birthday Elli Benelli!🥳

From being a rescue pup from Alabama who couldn't stand to get your paws wet or dirty...to becoming a NYS deer tracking dog, AKC good citizen and AKC novice trick dog, you've come a long way!

Thanks for keeping life so entertaining for us and so many other people, we love you! 🐾❤️

10/26/2024

Today in Deansboro with Matt!

Congratulations, Jeff! 🎉 High winds didn't help her out today, but they got it done! Jeff arrowed this deer at 4pm yesterday and lost blood after 40 yards. There was no visible blood until the deer was found about 400 yards away, crossing a steep ravine to get there.

10/22/2024

Today in Central Square, NY!

A big congratulations to Mitchell on his biggest deer yet, this huge buck! 🥳 He bow shot it last night at last light. Went in to search with his family and friends hours later and again this morning and then gave us a call. In these tough tracking conditions Elli was able to find him 500 yards away in less than 20 minutes from when we started. A win for everyone!🐾🦌

10/20/2024

Matt and Elli today in Rome, NY!

The hunter took a shot at this buck last night, but his arrow deflected on a branch. He did everything correctly, he knew that his hit site was to far back and decided to wait until the morning to start tracking. Him and his friend tracked about 90yds and lost blood and decided to call us. Elli did an amazing job and we were finally able to put our hands on his deer. 🐾🦌

10/16/2024

Today in Brookfield! We got a call that a hunter had bow shot a doe a bit too far forward around 8am. He had tracked it for 50 yards and lost blood in the rain. Elli and Matt went out at 5 tonight, and found it about 100 yards away in 10 minutes! Super proud!