HUNTING
SUMMER TRAINING PART II: TRACKING By Scott Haugen
W
atching a dog effectively track, be it a furry animal on land, an upland bird in heavy cover, or a crippled duck across water, is one of the great rewards of hunting with a good dog. While much of a dog’s ability to track comes down to genetics, a great deal can also be taught.
ONCE AGAIN I TURNED to good friend Jess Spradley, one of the West’s top versatile gun dog trainers, for advice. In addition to breeding an elite line of pudelpointers, Spradley trains multiple breeds year-round from his home in Lakeview, Oregon. “The goal of tracking is conservation; that is, not losing a wounded bird,” begins Spradley. “I’ve started many pups tracking at 2 months old, getting them to use their nose on command. At first I place a little piece of hot dog in the yard for them to find. Right away I give the command ‘find it,’ so they know this isn’t a game. Their reward is eating it once they find it, and I always set them up for success. Place it in a spot where they can smell it, even see it once they’ve moved close to it.” As soon as he can, Spradley progresses to using a dead bird to track. Some pups pick up on a bird smell quickly; others take a bit more time than with hot dog training. “Using a bird carcass – one I’ve taken the breast meat, legs and thighs from last season – stored in the freezer, I’ll pull it out to train with,” Spradley offers. “As with the hot dog, I set up for success. With a bird, I’ll pull some feathers and make a small pile where
Using a check cord while teaching bird tracking helps keep your gun dog focused and moving forward, as trainer Jess Spradley demonstrates. (SCOTT HAUGEN) calsportsmanmag.com | JULY 2022 California Sportsman
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