FAQ - Deer Recovery Information

Are there other Trackers in Iowa?

I am a member and officer of the Iowa Blood Trackers Association.

You can find us on Facebook, and we maintain a list of all the vetted and certified trackers in our network.

Presently we have 33 vetted trackers available to help Iowa hunters, and we are always happy to help you find a tracker close to you.

I highly recommend spending a little time getting to know who the trackers are closest to you before you need them.

Below I will provide a link the Iowa Blood Trackers Association Facebook page and a link to the state tracker map. Taking the time to know who they are, their availability, costs, and how they work can save some time and stress when you really do need them. Reach out to them and they will be happy to visit with you.

Although we would appreciate the opportunity to help you recover your deer, there are other great trackers in Iowa and we are happy to help you find a vetted tracker if using us is not practical.

When Should I call a Tracker?

We field many calls from hunters looking for advice after the shot - sometimes while they are still in the tree!If you suspect your shot is not ideal and you want help, please call! We are happy to talk through your situation and help you put together a recovery plan, even if it appears you may not need a dog.

If you have already started looking for your deer, we suggest considering using a tracker if:

You physically bump the deer out of its bed, or find a suspected wound bed
You have tracked the deer for approximately 200 yards without finding it
When you stop TRACKING blood and start SEARCHING for blood
When you find gut matter on the track, or on your arrow
When things don't "feel right"

In all of these cases, we recommend backing out and considering calling a tracker for advice.

Wait Times Before Tracking

As hunters, we hate waiting to track after the shot. It's hard to do. However, as a tracker, we want to give you the best opportunity for recovery, and proper wait times play a crucial role. During the rut in particular, this may be the most important decision you can make.Much has been written, and many charts have been published about wait times, and I'm not going to rehash these here.We agree with some of the published information, but have found the best practice for the best results is to say "it depends".There are many variables at play, and we consider these before recommending a wait time for your particular situation. We will explain these variables to you as well as the reasoning behind them.

It would be easier if there were a one-size-fits-all chart that gave these answers.

There is not.

We suggest you consider the advice of an experienced tracking team instead.

If we wait to track, won't Coyotes get to my deer?

That is always a possibility.

However, tracking to soon runs the risk of jumping the deer and having it go on to property where we can't get permission. Also, the longer of a track your wounded deer leaves the more likelihood there is of coyotes finding your deer.

We will work with you to determining the best wait time.

Can we track without blood?

We do not need blood to track your deer.

Our dogs are following a cocktail of scents including declining health pheromones, body fluids, dander, broken vegetation and disturbed earth. Many times blood is present, even if we are unable to see it.

How does rain or snow effect our ability to track?

Moisture is the trackers best friend, as it actually makes tracking easier for the dog. Although it can wash away any visable blood present, the scent is still there along with all the other odors the dog is tracking.

Snow is usually not much of an issue either, the dogs can smell the scent thru the snow. When it melts and refreezes it can create a barrier making tracking more difficult but we will work around this.

In general, tracking can be more difficult when it is hot and dry, but rain and snow are not a huge concern.

What time of day do you track?

We will track any time of the day or night, and in many cases tracking after dark is preferable to take advantage of more favorable tracking conditions or when tracking on public property.

Can you track on public property

Yes, we are allowed to track on public property in Iowa, and we often track in public hunting areas.

We do want to remain respectful of other hunters that may be using the area, so this may influence when we decide to track.

What if the deer goes onto someone else's property?

In Iowa, the right to retrieve laws allow you to cross onto private property without landowner permission to retrieve game as long as you leave your weapon behind, can prove you have visible sign the deer crossed onto the property, and only the hunter is allowed to go onto the property. Although this is legal, we still recommend attempting to obtain landowner permission first.

When tracking with a leashed tracking dog, we cannot cross onto private property without landowner permission.

One of the questions any reputable tracker will ask is "do you have permission from neighboring landowners in case the deer left your property?"

We strongly recommend getting this permission ahead of time to avoid a property stop.

Will you track does?

We will track any deer you shoot!

We understand that many hunters will not pay a tracking fee for a doe, which is one of the reasons we do not charge.

Every deer you shoot, regardless of size or sex deserves your best effort to recover.

Grid Searching

It is common practice when you have decided to track a deer and lose the sign to start wandering around searching for more sign or the deer itself. At times, a number of buddies get involved to cover more ground.

We've all done this. It's normal, and sometimes it works.However, we would suggest that this be a LAST resort, and you try a trained tracking dog first.

Grid searching before calling a tracking team can sometimes make it more difficult for the dog. An experienced team will work through it, but it can take longer to do so, eating up a busy tracker's time and putting more unnecessary miles on their dog.

Please consider a dog before calling your buddies to grid search the area.

Iowa Tracking Laws

We suggest there is value in understanding the basic laws around the use of tracking dogs for deer recovery in Iowa.

If you are working with a tracker that ignores these laws, we would suggest finding another tracker.

Dogs must be leashed at all times with a lead no longer than 50'.
The hunter must hold a valid hunting license for the season.
Landowner permission must be obtained before using a tracking dog on private property.
When tracking outside of legal hunting hours, a weapon may not be carried by the hunter or tracker.
If the deer is found alive, the hunter may dispatch it with a legal weapon of the season during legal shooting hours.
Deer found alive after legal shooting hours may not be dispatched by the hunter or the tracker.

Drones for Deer Recovery

Drones are currently not legal for use in deer recovery in Iowa. There are some drone operators in Iowa who are charging hunters for deer recovery...just be aware. Legislation has been introduced a number of times to legalize the use of drones without success, and this will likely come up again in the 2027 session.