Brushpile's Tracking Pack

I took a very difficult track today. A hunter shot a mature buck and had everything on video, then the hunter backed out for the night. In the morning the hunter walked everywhere searching for any sign of the buck, and contacted Chad Stark, who referred Brad Shoemaker. Thanks Chad Stark.

By the time I arrived the track was over 20 hours old, it was 90 degrees, wind was 20 mph, there was zero blood and the hunter grid searched for 10 miles! There wasn't even blood on the arro...w, which had white hair. The buck was gut shot at a steep angle, with the arrow exiting the bottom of the belly, but there was not one drop of blood the entire track!

I started with Elkie, who got us close, but Elkie was over heating, so I put Elkie in her crate and got out Heidi, who is in season. Heidi initially tracked everywhere we went with Elkie, and it was exhausting and beginning to look hopeless when we all sat on a log and rested Heidi. I explained to the hunter that as evening approached the scent would rise from the ground, and that we would then restart at the hit site.

Heidi was exhausted, but she has a ton of prey drive, so she restarted, slowly working out the track, taking it to Elkie's point of loss at the edge of the woods, that overlooked a sea of briars. We were going through cover so thick that I couldn't see 10 feet, and suddenly there it was!!! At first the hunter didn't believe Heidi found it, and then there was an outpouring of emotions. Moments like these are why I love tracking.

Elkie lost the track at the edge of the woods because Sun, heat and wind had dissipated the scent, but the evening air brought it back up from the ground. Heidi wasn't used much last year because she had a litter of puppies in November.

The hunter films her hunts and has 18,000 viewers on Instagram. The hunter did a one hour photo shoot, and I'm hoping she posts a video to the forum. The pics I took show the sea of briars, the buck, the hunter and of course Heidi, who found her buck.

 
The tracking season was hectic during the rut, so I didn't have time to post pics, but here's an interesting track from today:
Coyotes ate most of this buck overnight. There was ZERO blood, and I'll show why. This was a 385 yard track.

The buck was shot with this brand of point. The point didn't cut on contact and appeared not to deploy, leaving only a small hole with no exit. The buck was slightly quartering away so the arrow was stopped by the far shoulder.






Elkie got a chew, but she prefers not eating second to coyotes.

 
I've been wondering why these threads have been so quiet. I check in every so often to see if there have been any recent post as I enjoy reading them.
 
I had the good fortune to be the delivery guy for one of Brad's pup - Fritz. Suburban Hunter lives in Maryland but has a farm in central Kentucky that I have the good fortune to shed hunt on. So Suburban Hunter wanted a shed dog and he buys one of Brad's Teckel out of Otto and Breeze. Breeze is a sweet heart of a dog and has passed her UBT2 Certification.

That stands for United Blood Trackers. Not many dogs pass the 2 level but she did this year. So I leave Portland, TN at 7 AM on Thursday morning 12-5-19 headed to Fair Grove, MO which is about 20 miles north of Springfield, MO. My 2nd trip to the Brushpile. So I travel well and arrive about 30 minutes before dark. I took some chestnuts for Brad's neighbor. I gifted those to him because he has helped out on the Brushpile and the deer hit Brad's place and his neighbor too.

So Breeze has 5 pups left out of 7 - all male when I arrive. Within about 10 minutes a man from Louisiana shows up to take his pup home. The man had to be home in time to watch LSU play GA. Breeze was fine watching strange people interact with her puppies. The pup I was to deliver was already picked out - I was just the delivery guy. Mr. Fritz as I called him was assertive and active. The more I watched this pup the more I loved his nature.

So on Friday evening one pup was picked up soon after dark that went to southwestern MO. About an hour later another pup was picked up that went to Champaign, IL. Breeze was still fine even she knew they were leaving with her puppies.

That left two pups and on Saturday morning at 5:30 AM I began to load my truck. Brad was heading to track a buck. We got a photo of Mr. Fritz with me. Just a great pup - I wish he was mine. I would have clearly selected him for me - so I knew my friend from Maryland has the best male I saw.

Fritz would sound off for about 10 minutes after each stop and then settled into a good nap. He gets an A for his travel grade. He was handed off before dark in Bowling Green KY. I got home in time to see the beginning of the second half of LSU-GA. I got some gas money for my efforts which I appreciate and I got to see Brushpile. Brad's dogs - Otto and Anna are going to have a litter soon. I expect I might get one of those pups.

Wirehaired are very affectionate pups. It took all of one day's time to get to me.

Oh by the way - Elkie (Queen of Brad's Kennel) tracked that buck down on Saturday. I would have bet $100 on that outcome.

Since Jan. 2017 I have been dealing with some the most amazing labs in the nation - I own 2 great ones and have seen the best dogs run Antler Hunt Test. The Teckels are just as great at what they do as the labs I have been around.

As much as Brad loves his dog, Debbie may love them even more. A pup born into that kennel is truly a blessed pup.

Thanks for reading this post.

Wayne
 
WAYNE IS A GOOD MAN!!!! It pleases me to begin my 200th post with that comment!!! I cannot thank him enough for getting Fritz to me. Fritz is settling in nicely with my 2 adult golden retrievers. He is spunky and energetic. One of my goldens is a little cantankerous but Fritz is not afraid, he gives it back to her. It's been a few days now, he's learning the "flow" of the house and he's been to my vet for his initial exam. We will begin training this weekend. I can't wait.

PS: I believe you can find the most recent updates about the Brushpile on FB.
https://www.facebook.com/Brushpile1...53jozUcttxj5zVRsctd_gXQahvN9M4wIY&__tn__=HH-R
 
Last edited:
WAYNE IS A GOOD MAN!!!! It pleases me to begin my 200th post with that comment!!! I cannot thank him enough for getting Fritz to me. Fritz is settling in nicely with my 2 adult golden retrievers. He is spunky and energetic. One of my goldens is a little cantankerous but Fritz is not afraid, he gives it back to her. It's been a few days now, he's learning the "flow" of the house and he's been to my vet for his initial exam. We will begin training this weekend. I can't wait.

PS: I believe you can find the most recent updates about the Brushpile on FB.
https://www.facebook.com/Brushpile1...53jozUcttxj5zVRsctd_gXQahvN9M4wIY&__tn__=HH-R
Fritz will be a good one!
 
I agree Brushpile - I believe 100% that Fritz will be a good one. I just wish I was training him for my own. He is in a great home so he will reach his potential.

Wayne
 
I would love to be able to post videos of my dogs tracking and of pups that I sold that are progressing well. Can anyone tell me how to post videos?
 
Breeze (UBT2) x Otto (UBT1) has produced another great litter! I advertised Breeze's last litter here and sold a pup in Maryland that just passed UBT2 at 7 months. That pup could have passed sooner if not for COVID19 restrictions.

One male in this litter is available. These dogs are good pouches in the house, and very loyal. There is no dog hair in my house, because dead hair remains in the coat until combed out. I shoot a deer and go home for my house dog to track it. My dogs weigh under 25 pounds and can't drag me through brush, yet do as well as any hound; after all they are hounds!

20200526_192705_zpsnt6zb61v.jpg
 
My wife and both tried and failed to post pics from phot bucket. If I could post pics I would be sharing regularly. :-(
 
My wife and both tried and failed to post pics from phot bucket. If I could post pics I would be sharing regularly. :-(

It’s actually pretty easy if you resize them first. I don’t use a hosting site, I post them directly from here. I had the devil’s own time with it until I started resizing, now it’s easy. Just follow the prompts.
 
It’s actually pretty easy if you resize them first. I don’t use a hosting site, I post them directly from here. I had the devil’s own time with it until I started resizing, now it’s easy. Just follow the prompts.
Can you list the steps that you use, and what app you use to resize your photos?
 
I have one of Brad's pup from Otto X Anna. My Jackpot turned 4 months old on June 7th. He is a lover - if he ever refuses to love on a person, I will know they are a potential serial killer.

Jackpot is being trained to be a tracker to recover wounded deer. Jackpot has a huge fan club already.

I know of about 5 other pups from Brad that are all making excellent tracking dogs. I am 100% pleased with Jackpot.

Wayne
 
What a fun read! Brad, you have such a fun and rewarding hobby going, I see how it could even take precedence over your hunting time in the woods. As I've already said, if we have a hard time on a trail in the future, we'll be calling, BEFORE we grid search. Could you send me you phone number in a PM? We are located near Coffeyville, KS, if that's too far, I understand.
 
Back
Top