Tracking Dogs Can Helping Wyoming Hunters Find Their Game

As hunters prepare for their 2026 big game hunting seasons, some will draw the hunting license they've been dreaming of for years. Finally, it's happened: you're going to get the opportunity to head out and search for that trophy.

Imagine this: you're lined up with what should be the perfect shot, but something happens, and the shot you thought was going to be perfect wasn't.  You hit, but it wasn't a good hit. The animal takes off, and you give it some time, hoping the shot was better than you thought, but you can't find it.

Your elk is gone.

If your heart is fluttering right now, at just the possibility of this happening, bookmark this website: https://www.rockymountainbiggamerecovery.org

Rocky Mountain Big Game Recovery is a network of nearly 50 leashed tracking dogs that are trained to help you recover that animal of a lifetime. The group started in 2018 after its founder, Scott Gillespie, attended a tracking seminar in Oklahoma City, OK, and then got his first tracking dog. The duo began tracking lost big game animals in Northern Colorado.

By the 2019 hunting season, Wyoming legalized the use of dogs to assist in the search for downed or lost big game animals. That's when Scott's mission to help hunters find their harvest began, and word of the R.M.B.G.R. began to spread.

In 2021, Scott's group had grown to five trackers in total, and they turned the program into a nonprofit. In the five years since, the network has grown to 47 trackers in multiple states, including Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, South Dakota, New Mexico, and Washington, with new states being added all the time.

The way the program works is simple. If you're in a pickle and can't seem to find your animal, you can go to the website Rocky Mountain Big Game Recover.org, and by using the interactive map, find the tracker who's closest to your hunting area. The tracker will ask you a few questions to see if a track will be possible. If so, they'll arrange to meet you and start the search for the animal. If they're not available, they can share your information with other trackers in the network, in hopes that one team can help you.

In the five years since the group really began with their mission to help as many hunters find their animals as possible, the number of new trackers has grown each year. The group is always looking for new teams that would like to get involved. Scott mentioned that some of the trackers are not hunters but love the experience of working with the dogs and helping hunters find their lost animals.

If you're interested in becoming a tracking team, Rocky Mountain Big Game Recovery is holding a seminar in July in Saratoga, WY. During the event, handlers of all experience levels, whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine your skills in real-world scenarios. You will have the chance to gain hands-on experience, learn from fellow trackers, and put your dog to the test in a supportive and educational environment.

You don't need to attend the seminar to get involved; you can contact Scott, and he's happy to chat with you and answer any questions you may have about getting started or joining the network. You can call or text Scott at 970-222-6946.

I had a chance to chat with Scott about the organization. Check out the interview here.