Moose hunting and deer hunting bring intense emotions to big game enthusiasts. Adrenaline, stress, and excitement accompany every encounter with a moose, a deer, or even a bear. But beyond the precision shot — where quick observation, distance calculation, and shooting angle are essential — every hunter knows that an unexpected scenario can occur. The game does not always fall on the spot, and sometimes a wounded moose or a hit deer remains unfindable, leading to disappointment. To be ready for these moments, many opt for robust equipment like hunting clothes hunting clothes Rack Man from L’Homme Panache designed to face the realities of the field.
In this context, the recovery of wounded game becomes a crucial step. It reveals the hunter’s ethics, their respect for the animal, and their commitment to wildlife and the environment. Let’s see how to increase the chances of finding a moose or a deer after the shot, while respecting the principles of responsible hunting.
An original text by Valérie Gauthier, hunter and ambassador of Sportchief
The impact and reaction after the shot
The hunter must analyze the effect of the shot and the animal’s reaction. During a moose hunt or a deer hunt, it is crucial to determine if the shot seems lethal or if the wounded game has fled. In this case, a precise visual landmark must be taken immediately to facilitate the search.
Observing the posture, direction, and reaction of the big game at the moment of the shot allows quickly assessing the area hit and anticipating the type of pursuit to undertake. A technical hunting coat, like the Predator Hugo Strong ensures comfort and mobility during these decisive moments.
The search
Going to the shooting location and finding one’s moose or deer is a moment full of emotions: joy, pride, and gratitude. But when the wounded game has fled, doubt and disappointment set in. The fear of losing the trail of the big game then becomes very real and every clue — a drop of blood, a hair, crushed vegetation — takes on great importance to hope to find the animal. To remain discreet and enduring, the J.T. Moose camo clothes from Jason Tremblay Morneauare ideal allies during the search for wounded game.
The hunter’s ethics facing wounded game
At this moment, the word ethics takes on its full meaning for me. More and more female hunters choose adapted equipment, like the Filles de bois collection signed by Kate Nadeau-Mercier which embodies responsible hunting and respect for wildlife.
The ethics in moose or deer hunting takes on its full meaning at the time of recovery. The hunter’s ethics are based on clear principles: respect for wildlife, the environment, and the animal taken. The first responsibility is to do everything possible to find the wounded big game, since every moose or deer shot must be consumed and honored.
Hunting is not limited to the shot: it involves persevering in the search, even when clues are minimal or invisible. Giving up is never an option: finding the game is an integral part of responsible hunting practice.
Finding wounded game thanks to bloodhounds in Quebec
When a moose or a wounded deer remains unfindable despite your efforts, the best solution is to call on the bloodhound handlers of the ACCSQ. The rule is simple: stop your search and leave the scene intact until their arrival.
Before the introduction of bloodhounds
Before 2008, big game hunters had to rely solely on their own means to find a hit animal. They observed clues like blood, hair, tracks, or broken vegetation, and sometimes organized drives with friends. This method, often ineffective, led to the loss and waste of many game animals.
Since 2008 in Quebec
The official introduction of bloodhounds in Quebec in 2008 changed the game. These specialized dogs are capable of following a scent trail invisible to the human eye, even several hours after the shot. Their work greatly increases the recovery rate, reduces the animal’s suffering, and allows the hunter to honor their practice by consuming the moose or deer taken.
Field testimony – a memorable search
My hunting season in my zone was closed, and I was at home having lunch when a friend called me. He had made a shot on a female moose that morning and, worried, asked me for advice. Used to using the Moose Tracker app by Yves Martineau to analyze clues after a shot, I quickly checked his observations: the blood spots seemed thin and the color suggested a flesh shot. Without wanting to discourage him, I shared my doubts.
Aware of the difficulty, he then asked me to contact a bloodhound handler of the ACCSQ, knowing I always had my contact list handy. With my partner, we joined the handler on site. Upon arrival, he took the time to listen to the hunter’s story and analyze the situation. The first clues found — a few drops of blood and pieces of flesh — confirmed that patience would be needed.
The dog resumed the same trail the hunters had already followed. Despite the many tracks on the ground, it persisted and moved forward with an assurance that impressed. Quickly, the handler formulated a hypothesis: the moose had been hit in the leg. We traveled nearly two kilometers to a huge beaver dam, where clues were scarce and where the hunters had stopped their search.
About 1.5 km further, the dog stopped abruptly: the female moose lay in a watercourse, wounded in the shoulder. The handler ended her suffering, allowing the hunter to recover his game. A huge relief, concrete proof of the effectiveness of a bloodhound in moose hunting.
About 1.5 km further, the dog suddenly stopped and signaled something. In front of us, the female moose, hit in the shoulder, collapsed in a watercourse. The handler, professionally, ended her suffering. This act freed the hunter from his doubts and allowed him to recover his game.
This moment was filled with immense relief. For me, it was concrete proof of the essential role that bloodhounds play in big game hunting in Quebec. Without the handler’s expertise and his dog’s perseverance, this search would surely have been in vain.
Conclusion
I am more than impressed by the incredible work of the bloodhound handlers of the ACCSQ. Without their intervention, this harvest would surely have been impossible. I am especially happy for my friend to have been able to recover his female moose, and proud of his hunter’s ethics. Because every shot, whether at the moose or the deer, deserves rigorous follow-up. Finding one’s game, or doing everything to achieve it, is an integral part of responsible and respectful hunting.
This day will remain engraved in my memory. Seeing the dog’s effectiveness, the bond with its handler, and the hunter’s relief deeply marked me. It was as rewarding as if I had harvested the game myself.
One last piece of advice: big game hunting in Quebec is even more rewarding when well prepared. Never hesitate to contact the bloodhound handlers, and complete your equipment with suitable technical clothing like Rack Man from L’Homme Panache, the J.T. Moose camo clothes from Jason Tremblay Morneau, the Filles de bois collection and the Hugo Strong hunting clothes by Hugo Girard to hunt comfortably and confidently.
