He Trained His Dog To Hunt Antlers

2012 - Volume #36, Issue #1, Page #30

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Jeff Palmer has a shed antler hunting dog. He started training the golden retriever as a puppy to seek out antlers. Now at 5 years old, the dog is an accomplished antler hunter, and Palmer has ended up with some award worthy antlers.
  “I wanted a dog I could take to the woods with me when I looked for shed antlers,” explains Palmer. “This past shed season, which starts in March and can run to May, she found a 5-point side that scored in the mid 50’s on the Boone and Crocket Club scale. The same day she found another that I expect would have scored in the 70’s, based on others I have found.”
  Palmer credits a friend who trains cadaver hounds for the Madison, Wis., police for teaching him training tricks. As an avid antler hunter, he had plenty of antlers around the house. When the dog found one he had set out, he would give her a treat.
  When he and his daughter Alexia took the pup on walks, they would set out antlers to be found. Over the course of several years, finding hidden antlers evolved to finding shed antlers.
  “My trainer friend told us that a dog’s nose isn’t fully mature until about 2 1/2 years and can mature in other ways even later,” says Palmer. “Until this past year, Trixie would get distracted and had to be reminded to look for antlers. This past shed season, she was finding them all on her own.”
  Palmer says where he once had to position the dog, she now searches the wind for antler scent and seeks them out. Since starting the training program, Palmer estimates Trixie has found approximately 40 antlers on her own. Palmer uses them for crafts, as decorations and as gifts. He is more than satisfied with Trixie’s finds.
  “Each year her focus has been getting better,” says Palmer. “She ventures out, up to 50 yards from me. She’ll go into heavy brush or marshes where I would rather not go. It’s a real pleasure to have her with us.”
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jeff Palmer, 2495 Keenan Rd., McFarland, Wis. 53558 (ph 608 838-9491; jallenpalmer@hotmail.com).

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He Trained His Dog To Hunt Antlers FARM HOME Miscellaneous Jeff Palmer has a shed antler hunting dog He started training the golden retriever as a puppy to seek out antlers Now at 5 years old the dog is an accomplished antler hunter and Palmer has ended up with some award worthy antlers “I wanted a dog I could take to the woods with me when I looked for shed antlers ” explains Palmer “This past shed season which starts in March and can run to May she found a 5-point side that scored in the mid 50’s on the Boone and Crocket Club scale The same day she found another that I expect would have scored in the 70’s based on others I have found ” Palmer credits a friend who trains cadaver hounds for the Madison Wis police for teaching him training tricks As an avid antler hunter he had plenty of antlers around the house When the dog found one he had set out he would give her a treat When he and his daughter Alexia took the pup on walks they would set out antlers to be found Over the course of several years finding hidden antlers evolved to finding shed antlers “My trainer friend told us that a dog’s nose isn’t fully mature until about 2 1/2 years and can mature in other ways even later ” says Palmer “Until this past year Trixie would get distracted and had to be reminded to look for antlers This past shed season she was finding them all on her own ” Palmer says where he once had to position the dog she now searches the wind for antler scent and seeks them out Since starting the training program Palmer estimates Trixie has found approximately 40 antlers on her own Palmer uses them for crafts as decorations and as gifts He is more than satisfied with Trixie’s finds “Each year her focus has been getting better ” says Palmer “She ventures out up to 50 yards from me She’ll go into heavy brush or marshes where I would rather not go It’s a real pleasure to have her with us ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jeff Palmer 2495 Keenan Rd McFarland Wis 53558 ph 608 838-9491; jallenpalmer@hotmail com

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