follow THE houndS
Kentucky Deer Tracking & Wounded Deer Recovery
Certified Tracking Dogs • UBT • ABTA
Kentucky • Ohio • Indiana
Not sure if your deer is recoverable? Call or text us before continuing the search. Early contact gives your deer the best chance of a successful recovery.
859-300-9693
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Kentucky Deer Tracking & Featured Recoveries
Every track tells a different story. These featured recoveries show what our Kentucky deer tracking team and certified hounds can accomplish when the trail gets difficult—even after blood trails, ground searches or drone searches have come up empty.
Big Boy Beneath the Surface
Rosie & Merlin • 0.82 miles • 39°F creek recovery
Merlin tracked this deer 0.82-mile through two fence crossings and three wound beds, finding Josh Asmus’s 200-pound buck almost completely submerged in the North Fork of Elkhorn Creek.
48 Hours Later
Rosie • 48 hours old • More than one mile
An earlier drone search located the buck alive, but he moved after being illuminated and could not be relocated. The drone search ended with the deer still alive and unrecovered—a situation our tracking team has been called into more than once. Rosie started 45½ hours after the shot and worked more than a mile through ravines, creek beds and the Chaplin River before recovering the 13-point buck just over 48 hours after the shot.
The Christmas Tree Giant
Merlin • Kentucky public land • Nearly a two-mile hike
Rain, almost no visible blood and a completely unexpected direction made this public-land recovery a serious challenge. Merlin stayed with the trail and led Christopher Daniels to a massive 13-point buck with one tine shaped like half a Christmas tree.
White Foot’s Last Run
Rosie • 650 yards • More than 200 feet downhill
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Rosie followed this solid 10-point buck 650 yards from the hit site, dropping more than 200 feet in elevation before finding him in a creek bed. The buck earned the name “White Foot” from his white feet and distinctive white chest stripe.
Rain Check? Not a Chance!
Merlin • 15½ hours old • 375 yards
Hours of heavy rain had washed away nearly every visible sign left by Eric Reynolds’s 9-point buck, nicknamed “Goofy” for his backward-pointing brow tine. Merlin completed the 375-yard track in just 17½ minutes—pretty solid work for a rookie Magician working only his second deer.
The Velvet 11-Point
Rosie & Merlin • 16 hours old • Approximately 600 yards
This liver-hit velvet buck traveled roughly 600 yards through briars, chest-high deadfalls and a rocky creek bed. Merlin began the track before Rosie took over and finished the job, recovering an incredible 11-point buck for a youth hunter.
Back-to-Back Velvet 9-Pointers
Rosie • Second recovery of 2024 • Velvet 9-pointer
After opening the season with a velvet 9-point recovery, Rosie struck again and recovered another velvet 9-pointer—back-to-back early-season wins for the hound.
The Tennessee Troll
Rosie & Merlin • 32 hours old • 950 yards
With only faint blood for the first 75 yards, the hounds worked through heat, dense vegetation, deadfall and a rocky creek with multiple water crossings. Rosie stayed committed to the creek and led the team to this massive 167 4/8-inch velvet buck nearly submerged along the bank.
Screenshots Don’t Make Steaks
Merlin • 660 yards • Thermal search came up empty
A thermal drone found no heat signature the night before, but Merlin locked onto the trail and worked 660 yards to recover Channing Carey’s 8-point buck—the team’s 10th recovery that season after a drone search came up empty.
Meat on the Line
Rosie • Late-night recovery • Coyotes nearby
Rosie worked a late-night track with coyotes close by and recovered this doe in time for Ian Parris, keeping the meat on the line and another deer out of the coyotes’ reach.
Meet the Hounds
Rosie
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Redbone Coonhound • UBT Certified • ABTA Certified
Rosie is known for her drive, determination, and ability to work the air as well as the ground. She thrives on long tracks through thick cover and difficult terrain, never giving up until the search is over.
Merlin
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Wirehaired Dachshund (Teckel) • UBT Certified • ABTA Certified
Small in stature but relentless on the trail, Merlin excels on older, technical tracks. His calm, methodical approach has helped recover deer many hunters believed were lost.
Every Deer Deserves the Effort
Every deer is a valuable wildlife resource, and every ethical effort should be made to recover one that has been wounded.
Recovering deer that might otherwise go unfound reduces wasted game, supports responsible wildlife management, and helps ensure that one tag truly means one deer.
But our work isn't measured only by recovered deer.
Sometimes the greatest value we provide is answers. By following the trail from the point of impact, our tracking dogs help reveal what actually happened after the shot. Even when a deer isn't recovered, understanding the story can give hunters confidence that every reasonable effort was made and bring closure during one of the most difficult moments of the season.
A drone may show you a picture of a deer. A tracking team can tell you the story—from the stand to the tailgate.
What To Do After the Shot
01
👀 Watch
The recovery begins the moment you pull the trigger or release the arrow.
Watch the deer for as long as possible and pay close attention to:
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Where the deer was standing when you shot
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How it reacted to the shot
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The direction it traveled
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The last place you saw it
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Any sounds you hear after it disappears, such as crashing, coughing, or a fall
Don't underestimate what you see. Sometimes your observations after the shot are the most valuable evidence you'll have.
Stay in your stand or blind as long as you can. Resist the urge to climb down immediately.
02
📍 Mark
Mark everything.
Before leaving your stand or blind, mark:
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Hit Site
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Last place you saw the deer
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Direction of travel
As you begin tracking, mark every blood spot with flagging tape, biodegradable tissue, or even toilet paper.
Use your phone's maps app or hunting app to save important locations, but don't rely on GPS alone.
03
🔍 Analyze the Hit Site
Every clue matters.
Before following the trail, carefully examine the point of impact. Every clue helps tell the story of the shot.
Look for:
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Blood (Color, texture, amount)
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Hair (Color, texture, amount)
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Bone fragments
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Tracks
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Disturbed vegetation
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Stomach or intestinal matter (odor)
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Your arrow or bolt (if archery hunting)
📸 Before disturbing anything, take clear photos of the hit site and all evidence. Good photos can help us interpret the hit and recommend the proper wait time before we ever arrive.
04
⏳ Wait
Every recovery is different, but tracking too soon is one of the most common reasons a deer is lost.
General guidelines
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Heart / Double lung: 30–60 minutes
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Liver: 6+ hours
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Gut / Stomach: 6–12+ hours
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Single lung or leg: Track ASAP with dog.
If you're unsure, wait and give us a call.
We'll help interpret the evidence and recommend the best recovery plan before anyone starts down the trail.
05
📞 When to Call a Tracking Team
Most deer are recovered without a tracking dog—and that's exactly how it should be.
However, if you:
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Lose the blood trail
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Aren't confident in the hit
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Have very little blood or sign
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Bump the deer from its bed
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Reach the last blood with no idea where to go next
Stop and give us a call.
03
🔍 Analyze the Hit Site
Every clue matters.
Before following the trail, carefully examine the point of impact. Every clue helps tell the story of the shot.
Look for:
-
Blood (Color, texture, amount)
-
Hair (Color, texture, amount)
-
Bone fragments
-
Tracks
-
Disturbed vegetation
-
Stomach or intestinal matter (odor)
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Your arrow or bolt (if archery hunting)
📸 Before disturbing anything, take clear photos of the hit site and all evidence. Good photos can help us interpret the hit and recommend the proper wait time before we ever arrive.
What Hunters Are Saying
⭐ 5.0-Star Google Rating • 100% Recommended on Facebook
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"Awesome experience with Merlin tracking down a buck that I thought would never be recovered!"
— Eric Reynolds
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"We searched for hours with no result. With the help of Wes and his pup, we recovered our deer."
— Greg Horn
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"Wes and Merlin found my deer in under 30 minutes. Very knowledgeable, and Merlin did a great job."
— Connor Tackett
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"Both times were very successful and made our hunt complete with a grateful ending."
— Rick Wilson
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"Watching and learning how the tracking dog works was awesome. Definitely calling them again if services are needed."
— Andy Farmer
Common Questions
What areas do you cover?
We primarily serve Kentucky, Southern Ohio and Southern Indiana. For high-priority recoveries or exceptional cases, we are available for long-distance tracks with adjusted travel fees.
When should I call for a dog?
Immediately after losing the trail. The longer you wait and the more scouts you have grid-searching, the harder it becomes for the dogs to isolate the specific scent of your animal.
How much does the service cost?
Our pricing includes a base call-out fee that covers travel and operating expenses for most service areas. For longer-distance recoveries, a modest fuel surcharge may apply. Contact us for pricing based on your location.
Is tracking legal in Kentucky?
Yes. We operate professionally and in full compliance with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife regulations regarding the use of leashed tracking dogs for wounded game.
What if the deer is still alive?
We prioritize ethical recovery. If the animal is jumped and still mobile, we evaluate the situation and determine the appropriate wait time or pursuit strategy to ensure a humane end.
If we don't answer, we're likely on another recovery or in an area with limited cell service. Leave a voicemail or send a text, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
💬 Text photos, your location, and any questions.