Registered: Jun 2024
Location: East Texas
Posts: 3

Gents, I'm hoping to get some opinions on the use of Stephens Stock curs as potentially excellent blood/scent trackers of arrow hit deer.
Have been considering the following breeds:

1) Stephens stock cur (possibly Rowdy bloodline).
2) Black and Tan hound.
3) Bluetick hound.
4) Plott hound.

Criteria of most concern:

1) Looking for best / coldest nose breed that also has brains to use it.
2) As quiet (closed mouth) as possible while tracking, but barking upon
finding deer is just fine.
3) Ability to tree is, of course, of no importance at all.
4) Ability and desire to hunt for and with his owner would be great.
5) From a strain/bloodline well known for producing very cold nose.

Looking forward to comments from you fella's with experience in these breeds. Thanks very much!!

Richard
East Texas

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Registered: Jun 2024
Location: East Texas
Posts: 3

Ok guys, 239 views of original post, but no replies. Let me simplify the question and be more specific and see if that helps:

"Which breed likely has a better cold nose....an average black and tan coonhound or an average stephens stock cur?"

Finally, last question:

"If YOU were going to track a fatally hit deer, what breed of dog would you choose to perform the tracking?"

Thanks for your help, gents!

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Registered: Oct 2022
Location: Leesville SC
Posts: 15

I know you had 4 breeds picked out to choose from, but sounds like with the criteria you are looking to cover, you are looking for a bloodhound. Just my opinion. There are too many variables within a breed itself to say which one would have a “colder nose”. Some blood lines are bred for colder nose or faster speeds, some are bred for open trailing or hard treeing, etc. I think any breeds you mentioned could track a wounded deer if trained to do so, but a bloodhound is BRED for cold trailing / tracking.

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Registered: Jun 2024
Location: East Texas
Posts: 3

Great points, Drafts.

No doubt a Bloodhound would have the best cold nose possible out of all dog breeds. However, a powerful 100+ lb. dog straining at the end of a 30-foot tracking lead through heavy cover would really be a handful!!

Have talked to quite a few guys who obtained Bloodhounds when they first got into blood-trailing for deer. Only one of them stayed with it. The rest of them either 1) got out of the sport all together, or 2) eventually obtained a smaller, more manageable tracking breed.

Of the breeds I mentioned, the Black and Tan clearly has the most Bloodhound DNA / ancestry in their development. Their size, build, super long ears, head shape and large, square muzzle practically scream "Bloodhound".....and from what many old-timers say, their cold-nose trailing abilities are not far off from those of a Bloodhound, either!

Thanks much for your feedback, Drafts!

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Sheridan, WY
Posts: 1152

I think tracking a recently injured deer would be something you could train about any dog to do and wouldn't require a particularly "cold" nose. As far as which breed has the traits you want- you really shouldn't look to a breed for traits anymore- you should look to specific bloodlines. You could find a really cold tracking bluetick, and also find a bluetick who only runs hot tracks and pop up coons. Same goes for any breed.

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Seeking Soli Deo Gloria through the hounds.

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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Yadkin County NC
Posts: 1664

I've helped train several blood trackers and the absolute best was a dachshund. Only set back was he went under everything. Made it tuff in thick places. In eleven years if put on a trail in a reasonable time he would find it. Now with garmins he could have been released instead of run on a lease. Turned him loose once in a thick laurel bluff and found him two hrs. laater standing on the deer pulling hair. Helped train a bloodhound for a friend that was very good so I don't think the breed has much to do with it. A beagle would probably be a top choice.

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