Primitive weapons season opens up for everyone in our area this weekend. There are so many rifles that are considered “primitive” that we should just go ahead and call it “Opening Day.” I’m not complaining; I’m ready to get in the woods with my kids. This last cold front had the deer moving and all of my shooter bucks out with plenty of daylight. This weekend is calling for hot temperatures, but I’ve got my eye set on the cold front coming in early next week.
This week has been a big in our house. If you recall, last year my son and I were training our dog, Reese, to track deer and she was doing amazing. She found every deer we put her on. We trained with her throughout the spring and summer and she continued to amaze us. Reese has officially been invited to the Louisiana Blood Trailing Network and happily joined.
Reese is a dog that my kids adopted from 4 Paws Rescue in Ruston. The only information we had was the mom was supposed to be a chocolate lab; we had no clue who the father was (cue Maury Povich). With a little help from Sharon at Sexton Animal Clinic, we realized the father must have been a cur, specifically a black mouth cur. If you research the best tracking dogs, black mouth curs and labs are at the top of the list.
We are a few weeks into this season and have already gotten three calls to track deer. Each time, Reese has answered the phone and a dead deer has been at the end of the trail. It may sound cliché, but when in doubt, back out. If you are questioning your shot, go check the shot site and then call for help. The more you walk around and spread human and deer scent on the trail, the harder it will be for the dog to find it. We trackers do not care if it is a 50 yard trail or 2 miles. We have the same goal that the hunter does; we want to find the deer in a timely and ethical manner.
If you are questioning your shot, please do not hesitate to call a handler/dog in our area. You can go to the Louisiana Blood Trailing Network on Facebook to find a complete list all across the state but here is the list of people in our area:
Lincoln Parish:
Georger Seacrist 318-245 9398
Eric and Krissy Williams 318-303-1995 or 318-533-0402
Brandon Wallace 318-680-7659
Daniel Doster 318-478-0737
Stoney Stone 318-548-6400
Gary Cobb- 318-245-9358
Todd and Gracie Moreau 318-278-5393
Justin Dewey 318-381-5337
Brandon Larue 318-355-9123
Devin Doster 318-509-9994
Garrett Parker 318-334-7498
Brian Rieger 318-355-7148
Nick Kanavel 318-243-5487
Ryan Harmon 318-245-4636
Jacob Cobb 318-243-6546
Jake Smith 318-230-0934
Waylon Rosson 318-608-9201
Sherman Smith 318-245-1168
Kevin Doster 318-376-1257
Garrett Parker 318-334-7498
And last but not least…
Dusty/Anders McGehee 318-243-4600
I can tell you firsthand from someone who has needed a dog and from someone who now has a dog, please play it safe. We do not mind coming and finding the deer for you. We are all working for the same goal, to load your deer up in the back of your truck. We do not mind a short track and would definitely rather you call us for a short track than jumping the deer and it go from a 100 yard track to a 2 mile track.
If you need a dog and are outside of Lincoln Parish, go to the Louisiana Blood Trailing Network on Facebook. You can send a direct message or post it to the page. Within minutes, you will have someone responding to you. We are here to help and enjoy finding your deer just as much we do our own. Happy hunting.
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Dusty McGehee is a native of Downsville and a 2006 graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a bachelors in wildlife conservation. He is currently employed by WestRock and serves as an environmental engineer at the Hodge Mill. Dusty is an avid hunter and crappie fisherman, fishing crappie tournaments with his son when he is not in the woods. He and his wife Rachel have three young outdoorsmen/women: Anders, Ridge, and Mae. If you have a story idea or question about the great outdoors, you can reach Dusty at dusty.mcgehee@westrock.com.
