VonStratos makes good points about which dog to buy--if you're doing waterfowl, a retriever; if you're doing upland birds and rabbits, a pointer is great.snakeyes32 wrote:Now i'm not sure I was going to buy this dog because I don't hunt ducks but still wanted a Dog to take out with me that would still be useful. I might still buy it just to have a Dog with me but this make me think twice about it. There are very few things that I have prob tracking after a shot Wolves being one of the few things. Anyways i'll prob still buy one.
I do mostly deer so I always have a scenthound with me. They were great to begin with, then they were bugged for awhile and now (imo) they're great again. They cross water no problem, they don't lose the trail like mad, etc.
Since I bowhunt, the trail will always continue bleeding, the animal will always eventually die no matter how bad the shot, so the scenthound can be put back on the trail again and again if you need to. It's of huge use in places like Whitehart and Timbergold where you might lose a track in heavy brush when a deer doubles back or turns sharply. The dog can find the track right away and put you back on the right--well, track. I personally definitely recommend it, particularly if you bowhunt--indispensible.
PS if you're deciding, you might want to also decide which you like the looks of best. I have a Female Light-Coat Coonhound, a Black male Labrador and a male "Chocolate Milk" German Pointer. You'll be spending a LOT of time with them so aesthetics might matter to you! (The coonhound is NOT this big, she's just on a little hill in front)