I�ve already tried to make an initial contact with Mike on the GA forum. I told him who I was, that I was fairly new to tracking, that I was hoping to learn more from the older trackers, and that I had met his son at the tracking convention over the summer. My attempt at extending a hand shake was snubbed and completely ignored. This time I�m just asking�I repeat asking, that we simply try and have some sense of everyone working together on here since the situation is what it is with so few trackers and so many wounded deer going untracked. Make of it what you want.

I don't think he plays on the internet the way we do. He makes a post or 2 to let everyone know he's available and he disappears and goes to work. If you really want to talk to him, call or text him. He's answered every one of my messages I've sent him this year. He seems really nice and helpful to me. In my opinion, your wording makes it sound too much like a business for you. Other trackers I have met seem to do it more for the love of watching their dog work. Maybe you should expand your area if you want to put Otis on more tracks. Your wording is turning people off from wanting to use you.

This is the 11th season I have been tracking with my dog and I am training a new one. I love to do it when my work schedule allows but from what I have read about results, if someone called me and said they had an option of Idaho Mike showing up to look for their trophy or would I come I would have to say go for Mike.

Very well then. I�m really not trying to start a fight. Just let it roll and let the cards fall where they may. I�ll try to contact Mike again privately. Carry on.

SMH and biting my tongue. Far as I know there is no tracking franchise with protected territories , Mike can go where he pleases.

I would try less to push your ideas or tracking on folks just FYI. I actually had good success on my throw and mow this fall. But the more you push yourself on folks the less they take you seriously and aggravate them in turn turning them off to you. Just my opinion for what it's worth.

Never in my life have I've seen a person start a turf war for a free service until today.

CNC I had a deer I needed tracked on 12/20/15 but did not brother calling you because I was in Dallas Cty. I knew my county wasn't in your coverage area. I probably should have asked but I didn't. I settled for having my buddy bring his lab that had found a few but in no way is a trained tracking dog. This deer went un-recovered. I'm 98% sure I hit him back (gut shot).

There is only one official tracker in Dallas Cty that I'm aware of. I've used him and will again if he's the only choice I have.

From the few post I seen from Mike, he seems like a good feller that is enjoying his retirement by spending time with his tracking dogs and doing it as a hobby. Sounds like he has great dogs and in his case #'s do matter, Its the pride and satisfaction he gets from seeing his dog find a deer for in most cases, a complete stranger that could of missed out on finding a trophy.

I think anyone would be kidding them selves if they thought they were going to make a living tracking deer.

I'm actually envios of Mike. I've got a highly trained lab that I enjoy duck hunting with. There would be nothing more sweet than being retired, traveling around with my dog on duck hunts, retrieving ducks for folks. I wouldn't even wanna hunt, just work my dog and watch him roll.

CNC I see what you mean, but I don't think anyone wants turf wars. Maybe y'all can work something out where he gives you first shot in your area, unless you're busy or not available.

I don't really have a dog in this fight, but I'd like to throw in my two cents worth...

After 12/19/15, I fully understand every aspect of what CNC is getting at...I shot a buck that day in Winston County and began looking on here and Google to find a tracking dog that could come help me. I started making phone calls around 3:30 that afternoon and made attempts to talk to 5 or 6 folks before I finally gave in and called Tom Munoz. I knew he was in Madison County and was too far to track my deer, but I was hopeful that he could give me advice on SOMEONE that could help me. Tom gave me Idaho Mike's contact info and Mike answered on the second ring. Unfortunately, Mike was still in Georgia at that time...About 8:00 that night, one person finally returned my call and he was available to come the next morning. He wanted to be there at 6:00am and wanted $140 (plus a tip if he found the deer)...I didn't get him to come, simply due to the fact that this deer wasn't worth $140 for me to find. If it had been a giant buck, then yes, I would've gotten him to come.

Here's my point: YES, this is a business to many of these trackers! YES, they can impede on each other's turf/territory! YES, many of them also have full-time jobs, so they might have to come at 6:00am before they go back to their second-shift job...I get that; I agree that they should be compensated for their time and effort, but they should also be a little bit more readily available! If this is your business, you should answer the phone or return a phone call/voicemail within a reasonable amount of time.

I don't know CNC from Adam's housecat, but I definitely understand where he's coming from. At the same time, I feel like Idaho Mike is doing our state/hunters a heck of a good deed, because many of the tracks DO go unanswered (I found that out real quick). As CNC has said above, they all should be able to work together for the greater good for every party that might be involved.

I ain't biting my tongue. CNC, I think your full of chit for whining like a pussy about Mike getting on "your" territory. That's horsechit! The man can go and do as he pleases. He has had and still does a proven dog, man don't worry and whine about pricing. He just does what he enjoys. And is DAMN good at it. Instead of throwing rocks at him. You shou be trying to learn something from him. But you trying to force that damn dog on people just like your Throw and Mow. You brag on yourself IMO. And folks don't get to far in this world when they start doing that. But I ain't ever liked ya, so you can pound sand for all I care. Or not even read this! Makes me no different.

I quit blood trailing cause my dog got old. And idiots kept calling me. Plain and simple

Lol somebody had to say it

Cnc it's ok to think it but don't post it for your customers to see. That post looks like a post of jelousy and desperation for tracks. Honestly your territory is only as big as you allow it to be and Idaho Mike allows his territory to be very large at his own expense. I don't know either one of you but I wish you both the best of luck in tracking.

I know if I need a dog Idahomike will be the first call made.

X2!!!

I hope that I never need a tracking dog but if I do and he's around, Idahomike will get my call.

I have his number already saved in my phone.

Good post....

CNC, you're an idiot plain and simple. Mike is a great guy and does it because he loves it, not because he is trying to make money like you. I have absolutely zero problem with you trying to make money but don't come on here trying to run off a guy that loves doing this and is doing everyone a huge favor by being here. I met Mike last year when he came and tracked a deer for me. Long story short, he drove 2 hours to where I was and found the doe I had shot and we tracked the buck for 1500+ yards per GPS until the deer swam the lake. I knew it was a very low hit but he came anyways. He did all of this and all he let me pay him was dinner at Waffle House and he stayed at my house that night. I've spoken with Mike on many occasions since then and have let him know that any time that he is in the area that he is welcome to stay at my house. Mike's as good as they come. CNC seems to be a different story

I encourage all of y�all to try and call in a tracker before this year is over. When you see that there isn�t really anyone in many gaping holes around the state then you will have a better understanding of what I�m saying. Some here understand it because they�ve already tried to get a dog brought out. Maybe I don�t word things very well sometimes. I�ll concede that. We all have character flaws. My bad�� But Mike asked where to post up and I�m trying to offer the suggestion that there are many of you getting left out in the cold (not jus the folks on this forum) and it just doesn�t make sense to be tracking in an area that already has me and AJ and Tony�..while you guys around Cullman�.Scottsboro�.Wedowee��Gadsden�.and several other areas�.get left out in the cold. Its much more beneficial to everyone if Mike is going to be able to cover any area then he would cover these unmanned areas and lets work together on here. I guess many of you don�t pay that close of attention to it but there has been track after track in certain areas that have just been left hanging. You minions can try to make this out to be a chest bumping competition if you want to but when the time comes that you finally do shoot that monster and you need a tracking dog��it will be to everyone�s benefit that there is one or two more guys out here with a good dog that is in the position of being able to come out and help you instead of you calling around, like I�m watching so many people do, and getting no one. I don�t know how to word it any differently�..Its to everyone�s benefit in this situation if we can work together instead of competing.