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Dog tracking
Questions and answers
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Do I need to register my dog?
The DNR requires the person to register themselves as a tracker, not the dog.
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Does a tracking dog need to be leashed?
A dog being used for hunting, in field trials, while being trained for hunting or field trials, or for other purposes as allowed by the department on land under the control of the department and open to such use does not need to be leashed.
The tracker must have knowledge of the dog's location and be able to demonstrate a method to control the unleashed dog, which may include voice command.
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Does the hunter have to stay with the dog tracker?
The registered dog tracker must be accompanied by the licensed hunter who wounded the game. The hunter who wounded the game must be the person to dispatch (kill) and tag the game once it is located.
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If you are tracking your own deer, do you have to report the track?
All blood tracks need to be reported, for others as well as personal tracks.
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Do I have to register as a tracker even if I am/am not carrying a firearm?
Anyone using a dog to track wounded game must have a valid dog tracking permit regardless of whether or not they have a firearm.
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Can a dog track on private property?Any person or dog involved with tracking wounded game must have landowner permission to track on private property.
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If someone is an out-of-state registered tracker, do they need to register in Michigan?
Anyone using a dog to track wounded game in Michigan must register through the Michigan DNR and log their start and end track.