Search with dog

What is search?

Search is the process to quickly and effectively end the suffering of game that has been injured in connection with, for example, hunting or in a vehicle collision. A search hunter, together with a trained search dog, tracks the weathering of the injured animal. The dog stands or brings down the game so that the hunter can get a shot that puts an end to the animal's suffering. Search is an important part of hunting ethics and game management, which ensures that hunting is conducted sustainably and responsibly.

What laws and regulations apply?

It is the Hunting Act Sections 27-28 (JL) and the Hunting Ordinance Section 17 (JF) that regulate searches for game in Sweden.

• Hunting Act § 27: The hunt must be conducted so that the game is not subjected to unnecessary suffering and so that people and property are not exposed to danger.
• Hunting Act § 28: If game has been injured while hunting, the hunter must immediately take the necessary measures so that the animal can be tracked down and euthanized. This also includes situations where an injured animal enters another hunting area
• Hunting Ordinance § 17: During all hunting, a dog may be used to track or retrieve injured or fallen game, provided that the dog is under the control of its handler. Dogs under such control may also be used to search for game in order to prevent damage to the game, for example during mowing or for other game conservation purposes.

When the animal enters someone else's land

When the game enters another hunting area, the hunter must ensure that the holder of the hunting rights there or the land owner is notified as soon as possible. If the hunting right holder or landowner can only be reached with difficulty, the Police Authority may be notified instead.

Investigation of the shooting scene

Investigation of the shooting scene is the first step in the search. Here, the hunter systematically analyzes the location where the shot was fired and the initial hit area to gather information about the impact of the shot and the potential direction of the animal after the hit. Important indicators to look for, which can provide clues about the animal's condition and where it may have gone, include:

• Traces of blood
• Hair
• Muscle tissue
• Legs
• Lung

A search must always be initiated if any of these are found at the scene of the shooting, as this indicates that the animal has been hit, but got away. A quick examination increases the chances of ending the animal's suffering as soon as possible.

Search dog – an important role

The task of a search dog is to track down the injured game and position it so that the hunter can get a shot that kills the animal. In the case of injured small game, the dog can sometimes be the one to end the suffering himself. A search dog is a tracking dog that is specially trained to follow the scent of injured game.

This is what the law says about searches with dogs:

• A specially trained tracking dog must be present at the shooting site two hours after shooting game, bear, moose, deer, deer, wild boar and mouflon sheep.
• A retrieving or marking dog must be accompanied when hunting ring dove, goose or duck. This also applies to all bird hunting that occurs between sunset and one hour before sunrise.

Common dog breeds

There is no dog breed that is considered particularly suitable for all types of dog searches. However, it is possible to train a search dog to specialize in a certain type of game, such as birds, ungulates or small game. Here are some suitable dog breeds for different types of searches.

Moose and bear

• Giant dog
• Greyhound
• Moose dog
• Laika
• Karelian bear dog

Hoofed game

• Schweisshund
• Quail
• Kopov

Small game

• Terriers
• Beagle
• Dachshund
• Duster

Bird

• Spaniel breeds
• Retrievers
• Setters
• Pointers
• Sausage
• Münsterländer

Don't end the search too early

Injured animals can sometimes move long distances or hide in dense vegetation. Therefore, do not end the search prematurely without carefully following all clues, even those that may initially seem insignificant. In some cases, it may be necessary to return to the shooting site several times to gather additional information or wait until conditions improve, such as in bad weather or when tracks are difficult to follow.

Train your search dog

Start training your dog as a puppy. Hunting and searching with a dog is of course based on the dog's ability to follow tracks and understand its task, but it is also based on a deep relationship between dog and hunter, based on trust and cooperation. Here are some basic steps and tips to effectively train your search dog:

1. Basic obedience and tracking

Commands such as "sit", "lay", "stay", and "come" are essential to handling the dog in the field. Therefore, start by training basic obedience. In parallel, you can start with short and simple tracks in an environment with few distractions. Be sure to use a reward that the dog is particularly fond of, such as a toy or food, to motivate it to follow the trail.

2. Increase the level of difficulty and introduce game tracks

Gradually increase the length of the tracks and introduce different surfaces and terrain types. It is also important to train in different weather conditions for the dog to become adaptable. Once your dog has become confident in following human tracks, you can start introducing him to game tracks. This may involve using blood traces or parts of game to teach the dog to identify and follow tracks of injured animals.

It may sound obvious, but it is important to train the dog to look for injured game, and not healthy game.

3. Simulate real hunting

Use simulations of real hunting and search situations to prepare your dog for the challenges it will face. This can include working with gunshot sounds, different types of game and complex trail situations. Searches can be long and demanding, so be sure to also train the dog's endurance and ability to maintain concentration over time.

4. Patience, consistency and positive reinforcement

Be patient and consistent in your training, and adjust methods according to the dog's individual needs and temperament. Always use positive reinforcement to reward desired behavior. This encourages the dog to repeat the behavior and builds a positive association with the training.

Equipment when searching

With the right equipment, you can streamline the search and ensure both your and the dog's safety in the meantime.

To the dog

• Dog bearing
  A dog tracker is a hunting GPS that is attached to the dog's collar and enables the hunter to track the dog's position in real time. It helps you keep track of your dog, especially in dense vegetation or during long dog searches where it can end up out of sight.
• Protective vest for the dog
  A protective vest protects the dog against injuries from sharp objects, e.g. branches and tangled vegetation. It can also offer protection from predators. Many vests are also designed to be visible from afar.
• Pull rope
  A lead is used to keep the dog close to the hunter or to control the dog during tracking. It is particularly useful in the early stages of training or in situations where it is important to have direct control over the dog.

For searching

• Red dot sight & thermal camera
  These help the hunter locate animals in darkness or dense environments. Thermal cameras are particularly useful for spotting animals by identifying thermal radiation, while the red dot sight facilitates precision when killing in low light.
• Binoculars
  Binoculars are great to have with you to scout for animals from a distance and assess the situation before approaching. It is an important tool for reducing disturbances in the area and for planning the next step in the search.
• Search light
  A powerful headlamp is important for searching at night or in poor light conditions. A lamp with adjustable brightness and which can switch between different light modes, such as red light which is less disturbing to the game, is preferable.
• Sledges and flatbeds
  For transporting larger game from remote locations back to vehicles or base camp, sledges (in snowy conditions) or flatbeds (for all types of terrain) can be very handy.