If a guy had him in heel position on a lead, what possible advantage would he gain while hunting any big game?
Man, that’s cool. I hike all summer with my 2 labs and hate to leave them behind when the time comes.I take my dog everywhere. Deer and elk camp included. Never had a problem. Last year I visited with a game warden at the trailhead after I came off the mountain. He didn't question if my dog was used for hunting and commented that he was surprised that I'd want a deaf dog along. Maybe someone else might be inclined to be a prig, but this guy was totally cool with it.....
Nice looking dog. My drahthaar has been broke off deer since I bird hunt in areas with large numbers of whitetails. So he tends to have an aversion to deer. And after this weekend for his second round of rattlesnake aversion training, hopefully an aversion to them as well.We hunt in different parts of the planet, but a dog by your side for indicating deer, is legal in our eastern states (Australia) and considered to be a significant advantage. If my GWP has the wind in her favour she alerts me to any deer in that arc and can alter my hunting plans, speed and glassing appropriately. She hunts mostly at heel with me.
Better trained dogs will consistently walk the owner directly onto a deer through both air &/or ground scent....our Sambar deer will hold ground when confronted by a single dog allowing the hunter to slip in and take advantage of the deer's attention on the dog. I have even had hind's challenge my GWP and force her back to me....it's kind like having a live deer retriever, doesn't happen all that often but it's memorable when it does.
http://www.gma.vic.gov.au/hunting/d...ing-game-birds-and-deer-with-dogs-in-victoria