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[danielforresttikka 0]

I am new to this forum and would be interested to know if any other stalkers know of any one who uses a springer spaniel as a gun dog primarily for tracking deer , i know of two people round my way who use them and both have there own views but unfortunately both have different opinions .I am a keen stalker who stalks Mainly Fallow, Roe and Muntjack in the oxfordshire area.

[tommydeer 2]

I am new to this forum and would be interested to know if any other stalkers know of any one who uses a springer spaniel as a gun dog primarily for tracking deer , i know of two people round my way who use them and both have there own views but unfortunately both have different opinions .I am a keen stalker who stalks Mainly Fallow, Roe and Muntjack in the oxfordshire area.

 

Hi Daniel

 

I too stalk a lot in Oxfordshire and surrounding counties. With regards to Deer dogs, i can only speak of personal opinion. A spaniel providing it gets the right training is a more than useful deer dog. I feel as though people get too caught up in the "what dog for deer" debate. It really is only personal opinion.

 

I myself use a teckel, which is a cracking little dog, but would have probably been a nightmare had i not kept on top of her. I know of people who have used labradors, spaniels, Ridgebacks and even labradoodles to which they have had great success with.

 

So i dont think its the breed you need to worry about, just the time and training you put into it. Yes its maybe easier with a specialist tracking dog like a teckel or bavarian because its more natural for them. The only problem you will ever have is expectation. Hopefully you dont need the dog too often, therefore it might even be 12months before it goes onto a difficult trail, then you expect it to come and find you and take you back to the deer.

 

Best of luck with it!

[markbivvy 6]

the old bill and custom gents, can train spaniels to find anything, so why not a deer.

i have one that is a demon with fox, and not just finding them.

[danielforresttikka 0]

I am new to this forum and would be interested to know if any other stalkers know of any one who uses a springer spaniel as a gun dog primarily for tracking deer , i know of two people round my way who use them and both have there own views but unfortunately both have different opinions .I am a keen stalker who stalks Mainly Fallow, Roe and Muntjack in the oxfordshire area.

 

Hi Daniel

 

I too stalk a lot in Oxfordshire and surrounding counties. With regards to Deer dogs, i can only speak of personal opinion. A spaniel providing it gets the right training is a more than useful deer dog. I feel as though people get too caught up in the "what dog for deer" debate. It really is only personal opinion.

 

I myself use a teckel, which is a cracking little dog, but would have probably been a nightmare had i not kept on top of her. I know of people who have used labradors, spaniels, Ridgebacks and even labradoodles to which they have had great success with.

 

So i dont think its the breed you need to worry about, just the time and training you put into it. Yes its maybe easier with a specialist tracking dog like a teckel or bavarian because its more natural for them. The only problem you will ever have is expectation. Hopefully you dont need the dog too often, therefore it might even be 12months before it goes onto a difficult trail, then you expect it to come and find you and take you back to the deer.

 

Best of luck with it!

[danielforresttikka 0]

Thanks for your reply Tommy and Mark i am pleased that other people think the same as i do .My springer would be mainly a much loved companion on my outings and should the need arise be able to pick up a trail and follow it .The only other concern i have is that the colour of springers are liver and white and so would stand out but at the end of the day if youve stalked your quarry properly they would not have even known you were there before you squeezed the trigger so the colour of the dog matters little.On a different topic i would be interested to know how you have done so far this year Tommy in the oxfordshire area .For the last week ive been out before dusk after roe buck but havent had any success yet but it has been nice to be out and about anyway .

Thanks again lads for your replies.

[mattydski 560]

Yep, A guy I occasionally stalk with breeds springers for tracking deer. He and the dogs are top of their game. I wont put his name up because he is not a member, but he is a journalist and writes for the monthlies.

Matty

[danielforresttikka 0]

Thanks Matty its all good to know and Hopefully some time this year i may have my new stalking buddy,only question now is dog or bitch?

[tommydeer 2]

Ive had a reasonable start to the season, taking out most of the rubbish at the moment. Ive always found that success is down to research. I could take you to bucks tonight. I work in a deer job so its a little easier for me, you just need to to know your ground and you'll find your deer and their routines. Obviously it helps if you have good numbers, if youve got 200 acres and only 10 roe on it you dont want to be shooting many bucks!!!

 

With regards to the colour of a spaniel, deer are almost completely colour blind and so a spaniel isnt neceserily a bad choice because its colour variation will break up, rather than a solid colour.

 

Hope that helps

[Beechessam 0]

A Spaniel will do the job with no problem.

 

But do not allow it to work game or rabbits until it is 100% on deer otherwise you may find it attention and focus distracted from the job in hand.