A shot during a hunt doesn't always end as the hunter expects. The animal may run out of sight, the reaction may be unclear, and the shooting spot may look empty. In such a situation, the most important thing is not to act quickly, but to act correctly.
Searching for wounded game is first and foremost a matter of animal welfare. It's also an area where the hunter's initial actions can make a big difference to the authorized tracking dog handler's ability to find the animal.
This guide focuses on deer species and the Danish tracking scheme.
What does "schweiss" mean?
"Schweiss" is a hunting term for blood from cloven-hoofed game. A tracking dog (schweisshund) is trained to follow the trail of a wounded animal, often even when there is almost no visible blood on the ground.
In Denmark, there is an official Schweiss Register with authorized dog handlers. They are specially trained and, according to the regulations, can search for distressed game even on another person's property without first obtaining the landowner's consent.
The scheme is therefore much more than just a list of skilled hunting dogs. It is an organized system for qualified tracking.
If the animal is not down – take the situation seriously
After a shot at deer, you should note the animal's reaction and precisely where it stood. If the animal disappears and is not visibly dead, you should not immediately conclude that you missed the shot.
There may be very few visible signs after a hit. This is especially true with certain shooting angles and for larger deer.
A follow-up search may therefore be relevant, even when the shooting spot looks clear.
The first thing you should do after the shot
Stay in place for a moment. Watch where the animal runs and choose clear landmarks in the landscape.
Remember two points in particular:
1. Where were you standing when you shot?
2. Where was the animal standing at the moment of the shot?
These two locations should be marked precisely. This makes it easier to reconstruct the shooting direction and find the shooting spot.
Avoid immediately walking directly in the animal's escape direction.
How long should you wait?
There isn't one waiting time that suits all shots. The situation depends on the presumed hit.
With a clearly fatal hit, the animal may be a few meters or a short distance away. With a more questionable hit, premature pursuit can cause the animal to rise from a wound bed and move much further.
If you are unsure about the hit, it is better to contact an authorized tracking dog handler and agree on how to handle the situation, rather than experimenting with waiting times yourself.
First go to the shooting spot
When it is safe to leave your stand, you should go to the spot where the animal stood – not directly after it.
The shooting spot can contain important information:
- hair
- blood
- bone fragments
- tissue
- stomach contents
- hair of specific colors or lengths
- tracks from the animal's first escape jump
Mark the spot, even if you find nothing. A small branch, a marker, or a GPS position can be valuable for the dog handler.
Don't trample the shooting spot
If several hunters gather around the shooting spot and walk in circles, the track image becomes more complicated.
Therefore, keep the number of people at the site down. Once you have found and marked the most important things, the area should be left undisturbed.
This is especially true if a tracking dog is to be called. The dog can work on a disturbed trail, but there is no reason to make the task more difficult.
Shot signs tell something – but not everything
The animal's reaction to the shot can give a hint about the hit. An animal can jump, arch its back, kick backward, or run seemingly unaffected.
But shot signs are not reliable enough to solely determine if and where the animal was hit.
Two animals with almost the same hit can react differently. Therefore, shot signs must be combined with findings at the shooting spot and the subsequent search.
What does the appearance of blood mean?
Blood can provide information, but its color and quantity should not be over-interpreted.
Bright and frothy blood may indicate a hit in the lung area. Darker blood may come from other areas. Greenish or brownish material may indicate involvement of the gastrointestinal system.
But the trail changes over time, and an animal can be seriously wounded without leaving much visible blood.
If you are in doubt, the doubt itself is a good reason to let a specialist assess the situation.
When should you call for a tracking dog?
You should contact an authorized tracking dog handler if there are signs of wounding, if the hit is unclear, or if the animal is not found quickly and safely after a presumed fatal hit.
The same applies to an apparently missed shot if you cannot definitively rule out a hit.
The precise legal obligation depends on the situation and applicable rules, but ethically for hunting, the principle is simple: a potentially wounded animal must receive a qualified search.
Why shouldn't you just use your own dog?
A regular hunting dog can be good for many tasks, but a difficult wound search is different from a training ground.
An authorized tracking dog handler has both a specially trained dog, experience with shooting spots, and authorization to continue the search across property lines.
Furthermore, an inexperienced dog can push a wounded animal further or make the trail more disturbed.
Your own dog can play a role in simple situations, but in case of doubt, the search should be left to the register.
Why is it harmful to go too far yourself?
A wounded deer will often seek peace and lie down in a wound bed. If the hunter follows shortly after the shot, the animal may be flushed.
Once flushed, it can move significantly further and use energy that would otherwise cause it to stay down.
This both prolongs the animal's suffering and makes the dog work more difficult.
Therefore, restraint is often the most important action after an uncertain shot.
Mark the escape direction
If you can see where the animal disappeared, choose a clear point: a specific tree, a hole in the fence, a stone, or a track.
From the shooting spot, that line can help the dog handler understand the sequence of events.
It's surprisingly easy to misjudge the direction when you first descend from a stand and see the landscape from a different height.
A quick photo from the stand with your phone can therefore be useful if it can be done without delaying or disrupting the handling.
Inform the dog handler honestly
When you call, state precisely what happened.
Describe:
- species and approximate animal
- time of the shot
- distance
- shooting angle
- the animal's reaction
- what you found at the shooting spot
- how far you may have followed the trail yourself
- whether a dog or people have already been on the trail
It doesn't help to "sugarcoat" the shot. The dog handler needs the information to plan the work.
Search across boundaries
An authorized tracking dog handler has special powers in connection with the search for distressed game. This means that a search does not necessarily stop at the property boundary.
As an ordinary hunter, however, you should not assume that hunting rights entitle you to continue freely on another person's land.
This in particular is an important reason to use the official scheme in cases of doubt.
Finishing shot and safety
A wounded animal may be found alive. The dog handler must therefore be able to conclude the search quickly and safely.
As the requester, you must follow the dog handler's instructions. Do not walk ahead of the dog, and do not fire a shot without a clear and safe situation.
Searches can take place in dense vegetation, darkness, and unfamiliar terrain. Safety must therefore be at least as consistent as during the hunt itself.
If no signs are found at all
An empty shooting spot is not proof of a missed shot.
Hair can blow away. Blood may only appear later. A projectile can pass through the animal without leaving clear material exactly where it stood.
If the animal's reaction or the situation raises doubt, a follow-up search may be the right solution.
The tracking dog works with scent, not just visible blood.
Search for red deer
For larger deer, the shooting spot can be particularly difficult to interpret. A large animal can run far despite a serious hit, and a projectile does not always create an exit wound.
This means there may be very little blood at the shooting spot.
Therefore, the threshold for requesting a qualified search should be low if the red deer is not visibly dead.
Search for roe deer
Roe deer are smaller, and a well-placed hit will often result in a short flight. But even here, an animal can disappear into dense vegetation a few meters from the shooting spot.
It's tempting to just follow, because the distance seems small. However, if the hit is uncertain, it may be better to stop early than to push a wounded animal further.
What does a tracking dog search cost?
The Danish authorized tracking dog handlers perform the work as a voluntary scheme. The requester can usually be charged for travel expenses according to the applicable rates, while a regular commercial hourly rate is not paid for the search itself.
The current practical information can be found on the official website of the Schweiss Register.
Can you call at night?
The timing of the search depends on the specific situation. Some trails should be followed quickly, while others may benefit from waiting if it provides the animal peace and better working conditions.
Therefore, call the dog handler and agree on a time instead of choosing a standard waiting time yourself.
The most important thing before the hunt
Save the contact information for the Schweiss Register before you need it. It is much easier to have the information ready than to search for it with a high pulse in the dark.
On group hunts, the hunt leader should also have a clear procedure for wounded game and coordinate who contacts the dog handler.
Frequently asked questions about tracking and searching
Do you always have to find blood to call for a tracking dog?
No. An animal can be hit without visible blood at the shooting spot. Doubt about a hit can itself justify a follow-up search.
Are you allowed to go after the animal yourself?
With a clearly fatal hit, a short trail can sometimes be simple. With an uncertain hit, one should stop early and contact an authorized dog handler.
Why should the shooting spot be marked?
It gives the dog a reliable starting point and helps the dog handler understand the shooting direction and escape path.
Can a tracking dog handler go onto a neighbor's land?
Authorized dog handlers have special powers to search for distressed game on another person's property according to the applicable rules.
What if I think I missed?
If you cannot definitively rule out a hit, a follow-up search is better than assuming the shot was a clean miss.
The best search begins with the hunter stopping in time
After an uncertain shot, the impulse is often to do something immediately. But the best help for the game may be to mark, observe, and leave the trail undisturbed.
An undisturbed shooting spot and an animal that has not been flushed provide the authorized tracking dog handler with the best working conditions.
This is one of the clearest instances where good hunting craftsmanship is demonstrated after the shot – not before it.