Breeze tracked across wide/shallow tributaries, heading up one. We passed over a bed, continued on and Breeze indicated that the buck was close, so I told the hunter to get ready... then there he was! It would have been an easy shot for me, but once again the hunter was out of position. The buck jumped and headed down the creek toward the river, with Breeze fired up! The buck crossed the stream and then crossed the small river. Breeze swam the river and got back on the buck, jumping it again, and the hunter shot twice and missed. The buck stayed in the river and ran upstream as I watched.
The buck had tried every trick to lose the dog and Breeze was unrelenting. The buck went through thick briars, leaving blood that marked our pants.
Now the buck was staying in the river for 100 yards before I saw him leave. I put Breeze right back on him and told the hunter to grab my belt, and shoot the buck anywhere!
The hunter was exhausted, and I thought to myself that if the hunter was tired, a wounded buck had to be about done. Suddenly, there he was again! The buck jumped and the hunted shot through the hind quarter and into the vitals. After 3 miles and jumping him 5 times, Breeze got her chew, as the buck died in the river he used to escape all day.
This track was started 24 hours after the buck was shot.