How to Deer Hunt With Dogs

1). Select an area to hunt. Dogs are particularly helpful in places in which deer can escape hunting pressure by going into thick cover. These areas are difficult for hunters to access, but dogs have no problem chasing deer out of them.
2). Once the area is selected, all hunters except the one handling the dogs should be posted at areas where deer are likely to run by, or in areas of high visibility. These could include clear-cut areas in the woods, old logging roads, or along ridges and ravines. Hunters should carry an appropriate firearm for deer hunting; rifles or shotguns are best.
3). Set the dogs loose once everyone is in place. The dogs' handler should do his best to maintain visual contact with the dogs, but once the dogs are free they are likely to follow the scents they smell. As a result, hunters often will hear, rather than see, the dogs chasing the deer.
4). Be ready to shoot after a chase begins. The deer likely will run in unpredictable patterns, but may run in front of a posted hunter.
5). If a chase moves beyond the area in which hunters are posted, try calling the dogs off since healthy deer can outrun most dogs. In many cases, deer will get away and if the dogs do not return, the hunting party should try to find them.
6). If dogs chase the deer out of an area and none of the deer are killed, try a new area since a group of dogs likely will cause any deer in the area to get up and run.