In this episode of The Nose Knows Game Recovery Podcast, we sit down with another experienced deer tracking team that specializes in using trained tracking dogs to recover wounded whitetail deer for hunters. This is a real, honest conversation about what actually happens after the shot — the good, the bad, and everything in between.

We dive deep into real-life deer tracking stories, including successful recoveries, tough losses, and the hard decisions handlers and hunters have to make in the field. We talk about blood trailing vs. dog tracking, how scent behavior changes based on shot placement, weather, terrain, pressure, and time, and what hunters should realistically expect when calling in a tracking dog.

This episode also covers working dog behavior and training, including how tracking dogs read scent, body language clues handlers watch for, and how different dogs work tracks differently. Whether you’re interested in deer tracking dogs, hunting dog training, or just want to understand how dogs are used to ethically recover wounded game, this conversation offers real insight from people who do it regularly.

We also discuss:

What makes a good deer tracking dog

Common mistakes hunters make after the shot

When to call a tracking dog and why timing matters

Night tracking vs. daytime tracking

Leash work, line handling, and handler-dog communication

How tracking dogs help recover deer with little to no blood

Ethical recovery and respect for the animal

Training young tracking dogs vs. experienced dogs

Real-world scenarios hunters don’t see on social media

This podcast is for whitetail hunters, bowhunters, gun hunters, dog handlers, and anyone interested in wounded deer recovery using trained dogs. No highlight reels, no exaggeration — just honest conversations about tracking deer the right way and learning from real experiences in the field.

If you hunt whitetails, enjoy listening to hunting stories, or are curious about how tracking dogs work on wounded deer, this episode is for you.

👍 Like, subscribe, and share to help support ethical deer recovery and the working dogs that make it possible.

deer tracking dog, deer recovery dog, wounded deer recovery, whitetail deer tracking, blood tracking deer, tracking dogs for deer, hunting dogs, working dogs, bowhunting whitetail, deer hunting podcast, hunting podcast, tracking wounded deer, deer recovery stories, ethical hunting, game recovery, scent tracking dogs, tracking dog training, deer dog, whitetail recovery

In this very first episode of The Nose Knows Game Recovery Podcast, I sit down with Joshua Gunn of Smelly Benelli – Wounded Game Recovery to talk all things deer tracking with dogs, blood tracking dogs, and real-life wounded deer recovery stories from the field. Joshua shares how he got started with tracking whitetails, training Benelli, lessons learned from tough tracks, long nights in the woods, and tips for new deer trackers who want to get better at reading their dog, following blood sign, and staying patient after a hit.

This episode is packed with hunting stories, shot placement discussions, tracking strategies, dog behavior, scent work, and what really happens on a track when the trail gets cold and the deer keeps pushing. We talk about high-odds recoveries, heartbreaking losses, adrenaline-filled finds, and how a good dog can turn a hunter’s worst moment into their best day.

If you’re into deer hunting, blood trailing, wounded deer recovery, whitetail season, game recovery teams, tracking dogs, hound work, and listening to real trackers talk about real recoveries, you’ll love this episode. Whether you’re a seasoned tracker or just curious about starting your first tracking dog, this conversation offers working knowledge, entertainment, and a look into the bond between man, dog, and the game we chase. Hit play, kick back, and enjoy some great tracking talk with Smelly Benelli.