Some people sometimes say of a true enthusiast that he seems to have it in his blood because he is so invigorated and enthusiastic about the activity he is doing.
• Also read: Increase your chances of hunting deer
The Association of Blood Dog Handlers of Quebec, also known by the acronym “ACCSQ”, is an important organization whose mission since 2008 has been to provide a recovery service for injured large game animals and to raise awareness among Nimrods to call them upon the scent of an animal was lost during the hunt. You can learn more about these brave volunteers by visiting accsq.com. It would also be beneficial if you took a look before heading into the hinterland to note the contact details of some of these valuable allies who work in your industry.
A fool, a real one
Pierre Marleau, 39, from Rivière-Rouge, has been working as a dog handler for 11 years. His playground, where he has carried out almost 300 research projects, stretches from the Outaouais to the Laurentians.
I used Pierre’s services several years ago after I shot a trophy deer badly. When I first met him, I didn’t know that he had spent the whole night looking for big game. With his hard hat, his research equipment, and his extremely serious, even extremely tired look, he seemed like an alien. I quickly realized that he was a professional, very well equipped and had taken all the necessary measures to achieve his goals with his faithful canine companion. As soon as he takes off his uniform, he becomes the best joker. So I asked him to tell me about some of his adventures. Here is the gist of what he said.
An oversight
Early in the evening, Pierre receives a call from an outfitter who needs his services for a customer. He rushes to get ready, knowing he’ll have to drive almost two hours to get to a meeting in the middle of nowhere. He hastily checks all his research materials again and storms off. After about fifteen minutes of driving, our expert thinks back to the equipment he has stored in the trunk of his SUV. He has a strong intuition that something is missing. He thinks and thinks again, only to be suddenly overwhelmed by an indescribable feeling. “It’s not true, Maud… Taba… from… [suivi de plusieurs autres jurons] It can’t be, I forgot my dog at home! » Pierre then screamed as loud as he could. Ita waited patiently for him in his park, where he had sent her to do her business. He laughed heartily as he tried to explain to me how crazy he looked and how helpless he was.
Research that has a nose
In the middle of a night when temperatures are below freezing, Mr. Marleau and the hunter who needs his help are on the trail of a deer in agricultural land in the Lower Laurentians. His dog has to work very hard to follow his trail because the frozen ground blocks the scent of the animal that passed by several hours earlier. He hopes to find this game as he was diagnosed with liver damage from the start.
The lack of visual clues in the terrain means you have to trust your dog almost blindly. After crossing the field, the buck walked along the river and laid down. Unfortunately, as they got closer, they pushed him back and he crossed the stream. Soon it gets dark and tiredness sets in. You have no choice but to turn around and head back to his SUV. Almost at his destination, he sees his dog standing motionless next to an animal and she is busy sniffing it.
Fearing it was a porcupine, he called to her and she came running back happily. Unfortunately, Ita got sprayed on the nose by a damn skunk. Pierre is completely discouraged because his valuable assistant can no longer detect the smells and track the deer. That’s why he has to stop the search and drive almost 150 km in his SUV with his smelly beast. It’s 4 a.m. and he’s exhausted. He parks at a rest stop and tries to sleep despite the terrible smells. About fifteen minutes later he heard two female voices speaking to him. These are policewomen who find it suspicious that a man is dozing near an open window at -10 degrees.
They then discovered that he was not drunk but in a state of complete disgrace and that his vehicle stank for miles. The story still has a happy ending, because the hunter found his deer the next morning just on the other side of the river.
I listened to your advice
Our expert is called and the hunter explains the following scenario: “See on the other side of the beaver pond, far away over there?” I shot a deer there just before it reached my apples, but when I went to shoot I lost mine Glasses! The deer immediately climbed the hill behind him and stopped next to the fir tree we see over there. After a few seconds of searching on all fours in my cache for my glasses, the deer fled into the forest. » Pierre asks the man: “Do you think you hit him from that distance, or was he just afraid of the sound of your rifle?” » The gentleman replies: “I have no idea. They advise us not to cover our tracks unnecessarily, so I decided to wait for you to visit! » Mr. Marleau responds by saying, “We ask that you do a minimum of research before calling us. » Helpful as ever, Pierre and his dog, followed by the hunter, cross the beaver pond and head towards the famous fir tree. When he arrives at the tree in question, he explains to the Nimrod that he does not have to go any further because the remains of his six-pointed tree have fallen there. When Pierre returned home, he was a little shocked, thinking that perhaps the Lord had just called him to help him get his deer out of the forest!
Unexpected disappearance
A female moose without a calf comes within firing range of a lady’s crossbow. She shoots an arrow which, upon analysis, shows that it only caused a superficial injury to a bone. The deer continues on its way and arrives before its partner. In return he shoots the animal. During the search, Pierre and his loyal canine companion fight off the moose and find no clear signs of fatal injury. At 2 a.m., after heavy rain, they go to bed in the truck. When Mr. Marleau wanted to continue the search early that morning, he went to the outfitter where the customers were staying and knocked on their door without receiving any response. He later learned that the couple had found the arrow that evening, which was stuck in a three-meter-high tree. A heated argument broke out, which was so violent that they packed their things in the middle of the night and headed back to town. Pierre admitted to me that he was speechless for many minutes.
To learn more, visit Pierre Marleau’s Facebook page or call 450 944-3121.
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