Tracking wounded game

Tracking of wounded game (ettersøk) is the follow-up of wounded game with an approved tracking dog (ettersøkshund). It is the one activity in Norwegian hunting that is most strictly regulated by law — section 26 no. 3 of the Wildlife Act (viltloven) requires that a hunting team (jaktlag) have access to an approved tracking dog when hunting elk, red deer or roe deer. It is not optional ethics; it is a precondition for hunting big game legally.

In practice this means that without access to a tracking dog you cannot hunt big game — not even if you have passed jegerprøven, skyteprøven, and hold a valid culling permit. The consequence is that tracking dogs are a critical piece of infrastructure in Norwegian hunting, and that dog handlers with approved dogs hold a central role in the structure of the jaktlag.

For anyone who wants to build tracking competence, it is a specialisation that takes several years — both training the dog and certifying the handler. But it is also one of the most valuable skills a hunter can have, because it opens up big-game hunting in a way few other skills do.

Why tracking is compulsory

Wounding is the biggest animal-welfare problem in big-game hunting. Even with good accuracy and the right ammunition, it will sometimes happen that the animal does not fall immediately — the bullet does not strike a vital area, the animal flees on, and you have to find it.

Without effective tracking, wounded game can:

Suffer needlessly for a long time before it dies
Disappear into the terrain and die rarely or several days later
Be found by other animals (predators, carrion birds) before you reach it

The consequence for animal welfare is considerable, and that is the background for the strictness of the legislation. Tracking with a competent dog can find wounded game in a short time — typically under 30 minutes for a fresh shot.

The duty applies to elk, red deer and roe deer under section 26 of the Wildlife Act. For other species tracking is not required by law, but it is ethically compulsory in the case of wounding.

How a tracking dog is approved

Tracking-dog approval is a multi-stage process:

Dog suitability — usually breeds with a developed tracking instinct. Classic breeds:

Norwegian Elkhound (grey) (NEG) — the country’s most popular hunting dog, also used in tracking
Bavarian mountain hound — a specialised tracking breed
Hanoverian mountain hound — also specialised
Drahthaar (German short-haired pointer) — an all-round hunting dog, skilled at tracking
Other breeds — several approved on individual suitability

Training — the dog must be trained in blood-tracking and fresh-track trailing from a young age. Local hunting associations and specific tracking organisations offer training and test preparation.

Blood-tracking test — a controlled test in which the dog follows a laid blood trail over a set distance in set terrain. The dog must show independent tracking and reliability.

Fresh-track test — a more realistic test in which the dog follows the track of recently taken game or a realistic simulation. It requires better tracking ability and stamina.

The course ‘Ettersøk videregående’ — the handler must complete this course.

Approval is valid for 5 years, after which re-approval must be done. Dog and handler are approved as an ekvipasje — it is not just the dog that is approved; it is the combination.

For anyone who wants to build tracking competence: sign up with a local NJFF tracking association or contact the Norwegian Agriculture Agency for local tests. Training and approval preparation typically take 1–2 years for a dog.

What a tracking job actually involves

When you shoot at big game and it does not fall immediately, or you are unsure whether the hit was lethal:

Wait — typically 30–60 minutes. Wounded game that is pursued immediately can run further than game that is left alone.
Mark the spot — where the animal stood when you shot, and where you last saw it. A GPS point or artificial marking helps.
Call the tracking-dog handler — in the jaktlag, or externally if you do not have your own.
The tracking-dog handler arrives — assesses the spot, what kind of hit it was, and decides the search strategy.
The start of the search — the dog is put on the track and follows it independently. The handler walks behind, observes what the dog indicates, and interprets the signals.
The kill if the animal is found — if the animal is found alive but injured, it must be killed quickly and humanely.
Reporting — serious tracking jobs are to be reported to the local wildlife officer.

For a typical tracking job on a fresh shot: 20–60 minutes. For longer or older tracks: up to several hours or days.

The tracking-dog handler’s role

The tracking-dog handler holds a special position in the jaktlag:

Availability — must be available during the hunt. Many handlers carry a phone on the days they are out hunting, or live near the hunting area during the season.

Competence — requires continuous training of the dog, often throughout the year — not just in the hunting season.

Firmness — the handler must be able to call off a hunt if conditions do not allow responsible tracking (weather, darkness, the dog’s condition).

Social dimension — the handler often becomes central to the social structure of the jaktlag because the role is so practically decisive.

For anyone who wants to build tracking competence, it is a substantial skill in its own right. Many begin by lending out the dog to experienced handlers in order to learn, before they take full responsibility themselves.

External tracking

If a jaktlag does not have its own tracking dog available, external tracking can be requisitioned. Classic forms:

Private ekvipasje — other jaktlag or individual dog handlers who offer a tracking service for payment. The price varies (typically NOK 1,000–3,000 per job).

Public tracking — municipal or county-level tracking arrangements that can be called on in acute cases. Particularly relevant for traffic collisions or serious wounding where local competence is lacking.

NJFF ekvipasjer — hunting associations often have approved ekvipasjer that offer tracking for members.

For anyone planning a hunt: be aware that if you do not have your own tracking dog available, you must have an agreed ekvipasje on standby. This is not an optional arrangement — it is a precondition for legal big-game hunting.

Traffic collisions and public tracking

The tracking arrangement is also used for traffic collisions — game struck by a vehicle. The police, municipal wildlife officers and local tracking ekvipasjer cooperate to track and kill injured game.

For anyone involved in a traffic collision:

Stop safely and switch on the hazard lights
Assess the situation — is the animal dead, alive but injured, or gone
Call 112 to report — the police assess whether external trackers should be sent
Wait for instructions — do not chase after the animal yourself, and do not kill it without authorisation

It is the municipal wildlife officers or approved trackers who have the authorisation to kill traffic-injured game outside the hunting season.

Handlers and dog welfare

As with all hunting, tracking has ethical questions about dog welfare:

Training should be positive and built up over time. Methods based on harsh coercion give poor wellbeing in the dog and poorer performance.

Physical fatigue — the dog should not be worked beyond its capacity. Long searches in tough terrain can be demanding.

Weather — in extreme cold or heat the duration and intensity of the search must be adjusted.

Rest and recovery — the dog needs regular rest days, including in the season.

For anyone who wants to become a tracking-dog handler: get to know good training methodology through NJFF or specific tracking organisations. The treatment of the dog is part of professionalism — not a side issue.

Next steps

If tracking is new to you: sign up for an NJFF tracking course or contact a local hunting association to learn the basics. Even if you do not want to become a handler, it is useful to understand the process.

If you have a dog and are considering tracking: join an NJFF tracking association and start training early. A dog must be trained from a young age for a good result.

If you are already a handler: build out with more search types and take part in competence exchange. Classic combinations are blood-tracking and fresh-track trailing plus loss searches (when the hunt cannot find the animal at all).

For related topics: big-game hunting is where tracking is compulsory. The hunting dog goes through breeds and training in more detail.

Learn more

Text: Snuitide (2026).