The Association Belge pour l’Utilisation de Chiens de Sang, known as ABUCS, brings together handlers and enthusiasts of bloodhounds. Their mission is to promote blood tracking and train teams capable of effectively finding wounded game.
Blood tracking: an essential practice
Blood tracking involves following the trail of a wounded animal using the exceptional sense of smell of a specially trained dog.
This practice plays an important role in the ethics of hunting. It allows for:
finding a wounded animal
limiting the suffering of the game
recovering the harvested game
avoiding the loss of animals in the territory
An association dedicated to blood tracking dog handlers
TheABUCSbrings together handlers of dogs specialized in blood tracking and highlights the importance of this discipline in hunting practices.
The association acts in particular to:
promote blood tracking in Belgium
train handlers and their dogs
organize training sessions and workshops
share best practices among enthusiasts
Thanks to these actions, the association contributes to improving the effectiveness of searches and strengthening the ethics of hunting.
The role of the blood dog
The blood dog is trained to follow the traces left by an injured animal. This track can contain very faint clues such as:
a few drops of blood
fragments of fur
tracks
odors left on vegetation
Thanks to their highly developed sense of smell, these dogs are capable of following a track for several kilometers if necessary.
Certain breeds are particularly suited to this type of work, including:
the Bavarian bloodhound
the Hanoverian bloodhound
the dachshund
certain breeds of hounds
A demanding training
Blood tracking requires great experience and rigorous training.
The handlers who are members of theABUCSregularly train their dogs to develop:
the ability to track
the dog's concentration
the bond between the handler and the animal
the analysis of clues left on the ground
This training allows teams to intervene effectively when a hunter calls upon their services.
A contribution to responsible hunting
Blood tracking is now considered an essential practice to ensure a respectful hunt of wildlife.
Finding an injured animal allows for:
reduce the suffering of game
respect the ethics of hunting
improve game management in the area
promote responsible hunting practices
Handlers and their dogs therefore play an important role in the hunting world.
A network of enthusiasts in Belgium
TheABUCSbrings together handlers from different regions of Belgium. This organization allows hunters to quickly find a team capable of intervening to conduct a search.
Collaboration between hunters and blood tracking dog handlers helps to enhance the effectiveness of searches and ensure compliance with the rules of responsible hunting.
Why highlight ABUCS?
At The Hunter Camp, we highlight organizations that contribute to ethical hunting and responsible wildlife management.
TheBelgian Association for the Use of Blood Dogsplays an important role in this field by promoting blood tracking and training teams capable of intervening to find injured game.
Thanks to the work of handlers and their dogs, many animals can be found each year, thus respecting the principles of sustainable hunting.