Hunter's guide

Before the Shot

Preparation is the foundation of a responsible hunt. Here are the most important things you should do before you take a shot:

• Know the area – Learn how game moves through the landscape. Pay attention to bedding, feeding, and travel corridors.

• Know the boundaries – Identify property lines and avoid taking shots near them. A mortally wounded animal may still run some distance.

• Talk to your neighbors – If possible, set up written agreements allowing you and neighboring landowners to recover wounded game that crosses boundaries.

• Understand your weapon – Make sure your firearm, bow, or crossbow is appropriate for the game you’re hunting. Match the right bullet, bolt, or arrow to your setup.

• Use ethical ammunition – For firearms, soft-point bullets that expand and exit the body are preferred. Choose copper projectiles over lead when possible. For archery, choose fixed broadheads over mechanical ones to reduce failure risk.

• Practice realistically – Know your weapon, your limits, and how shooting from a stand or blind changes your form. Practice shooting from the position you'll hunt from.

• Avoid risky shots – The only reliable target is a broadside heart/lung shot. Don’t shoot if the angle or visibility isn't ideal.

• Respect your range limits – Straight-walled cartridge rifles, shotguns, and crossbows have shorter effective ranges than regular centerfire rifles. Know your effective range and sight in accordingly.

• Use a rangefinder to confirm the distance of the game or mark known distances around your stand with flagging tape ahead of time.

• Record your shot if possible – A phone or action camera video can help review your shot placement later.

After the Shot

The shot is just the beginning. What you do next is just as important:

• Wait! – Stay in your stand at least 30 minutes after the shot. This gives the animal time to bed down and expire without being pushed further. If other animals are around, they won't associate you with the shot.

• The animal lies dead in sight? - Great! Congratulations on a successful hunt!

• No sight of the animal? - Don't panic. Most animals are found within a couple of hundred yards from the hit site.

• Mark your position – Use biodegradable flagging tape (or even toilet paper) to mark where you were when you shot.

• Approach slowly – Walk carefully toward where you believe the animal was hit, scanning the ground. Try not to step in or disturb the area. Less contamination makes the job for our dogs easier.

• Find and examine the hit site – Look for blood, hair, bone, meat, or gut matter. Note the color, texture, and size of any signs. Observe carefully, take your time.

• Do you see gut matter? Wait! These shots are usually fatal, but it takes several hours for the animal to expire. It will be better to continue the search at a later time.

• Do you see bone fragments? Wait! Leg shots are not always fatal, but the longer you wait, the higher your chances that the animal lies down and can't get up anymore.

• Mark the site – Use flagging tape to mark the location without disturbing it.

• Follow the trail carefully – If you see blood, track slowly and mark your path with flagging tape at every confirmed sign.

• Found the dead animal? – Great! Recover it respectfully and celebrate responsibly.

• Still alive? – If you jump the animal and it flees, mark the wound bed, back out immediately, and call us.

• Lost the trail? – If signs dry up or the trail becomes confusing, stop your search and contact us. The longer you search blindly, the harder it is for the dog to do its job later.

Important: Avoid grid searches unless you’re out of options. A dog works best on an undisturbed track. A search party leaves behind a lot of scent, making the track harder to follow and reducing your chances of recovery.