Arkansas GFC K-9 Unit Tracks Down Win at Manhunt Field Trials

By Ammoland Editor Joe Evans

MAYFLOWER, Ark. -(Ammoland.com)- Tracking dog teams from corrections units across the South came together March 6-10, to compete in the 18th Annual Southern States Manhunt Field Trials at the Camp Robinson Special Use Area in Mayflower.

When the event had concluded, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission had sniffed out a first-place showing in the single-leash division.

Teams from Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Missouri and Florida were represented at the working competition, which held events for pack trailing, multiple leash trailing, single-leash trailing and drug detection.

Dogs from Angola Prison, Arkansas Department of Corrections, and many other well-known tracking teams were present.

The AGFC was the only team from a conservation agency and the only team to run dog breeds outside of bloodhounds and beagles.

“We use Labrador retrievers, so our teams got some strange looks when they first started going to these competitions,” said Sgt. Tracey Blake. “They’re competing with dogs that work with handlers every day, training to track down fugitives. But I think they’ve opened some eyes in the last few years.”

Although tracking is part of the AGFC K-9 unit’s purpose, it fills a role in evidence recovery …Read the Rest

Source:: AmmoLand