In my opinion, tracking is not all about recovering the animal-it is often giving the hunter the peace of mind that he has done every thing possible to recover it. No tracker looks forward to backwhack calls, no evidence of a hit calls, nothing but white hair, etc. but if the hunter wants to put a dog on it I will either come or find another tracker to do so. I often tell them that if a hunter shoots a bullet in the air and think it might have come down on a deer, we will cover it or find someone who will. Confirming misses and backwhacks is not the fun part of tracking and does not help with recovery stats but in my opinion it is a necessary part of being a tracker. I have also come to realize that if i dont take a track it can affect another tracker’s plans.

I don't like taking some of them but we don't screen. I respect the folks that want to make for sure the animal is not recoverable. We have taken many misses this year because of the deer's reaction at the shot but that's part of it. We try to learn something even on these tracks.

I have known some to take as track that didn't sound promising and then get a call for one that sounded better and leave the other high and dry. I have zero respect for anyone that does this.

Agree wholeheartedly. We as trackers complain when we commit to a hunter but it can go both ways. I have also seen cases where a tracker commits to multiple back to back tracks and later backs out. If I have more than 1 booked I always try to give them names of someone else who may be able to get to them quicker.

Had a guy call the other night who “shot at one” crossing a road about 150 yards away…..Didnt see it react and couldnt find any blood but wanted me to come look for it……I didn’t take the track and told him that if he found any evidence of a hit to call me back….. Everyone just has to do however they see fit……