33 Hunting Dog Names for Adventurous Canines

Published on 06/30/2022

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If you’re an avid hunter, you may be getting a puppy to be your partner in-crime during your outdoor adventures together. And there are tons of dog breeds that are meant to be hunters, including Labrador Retrievers, English Setters, German Shorthair Pointers and more.

Whether you plan to utilize them for bird hunting, deer hunting, or rabbit hunting, your new pup deserves a hunting name worthy of a true outdoors pup. So you may be searching for the best hunting dog names (especially some badass hunting names and duck hunting names).

Brainstorming on your own can be hard, but we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of some good hunting dog names for your new puppy or adopted dog.

Best Hunting Dog Names

Bolt
Clay
Goose
Deke
Hemingway
Tally
Brock

Bolt: This term is notorious in fox and mink hunting to cause a quarry so the animals leave its shelter or underground refuge. The quarry is “often bolted by use of terriers so that it could be hunted again by hounds.”

Clay: If you’re a hunter, you’ve likely done some shooting practice on clay pigeons–so it’s more than a fitting name for your pup.

Goose: This classic name of course is a tribute to the geese that duck hunters may be after. (Or if you’re a Top Gun fan, it’s a fitting tribute, too.)

Deke: This term is actually a common name for a decoy. Plus, Ducks Unlimited’s official mascot is a black Labrador retriever named Deke–so it might fit your pup perfectly.

Hemingway: The famed author Ernest Hemingway was an avid duck hunter, and began his novel “Across the River and Into the Trees” describing a duck hunt in Italy. A great name for any puppy with an owner who loves literature.

Tally: This term is crucial during fox hunting, and is used to describe the movement and location of a fox, including: tally-ho, tally-ho away, tally-ho back, and tally-ho over.

Brock: You may just like the sound of this name for your pup, but it also has a hunting background: it’s the colloquial term for a badger.

Hunting Dog Names for Males

Charlie
Reed
Buck
Covey
Highball
Wader
Hup

Your good boy deserves a great hunting name. Here are 7 of the hunting names for male dogs.

Charlie: While it’s also short for Charles, Charlie is also another term for a fox.

Reed: Duck calls are another common tool utilized during duck hunts, including single-and double reed calls. If you always keep one with you during duck hunting, it’s a great name for your pup too.

Buck: A buck is the name for a male deer. And if you and your pup will be pursuing a 10-point buck together, it’s the perfect name.

Covey: This is a fitting hunting dog name that is also a term for a flock of quail, between 6-15 birds.

Highball: The highball duck call is a particular long range call that may help lure in the ducks to you and your dog if you’re out in the field.

Wader: Most duck hunters rock some waders to avoid getting wet while hunting ducks. And this reliable gear is a great name for your puppy, too.

Hup: You may be familiar with this term during hunting, especially with spaniels, which is used to “allow the guns to keep up with the dog. On ‘hup’ the dog sits.”

Female Hunting Dog Names

Doe
Kimber
Shy
Jip
Velvet
Ghillie
Slipper

If you plan to take your favorite girl into the great outdoors with you, here are 7 of the best girl hunting names to choose from.

Doe: A doe is a female deer, and if you plan to bring your girl dog on deer hunting trips, she may be your good luck charm.

Kimber: Gun enthusiasts will know what this name pays homage to arms manufacturer Kimber, which duck hunters may use.

Shy: Rabbit hunters may be familiar with this term, which is the “structure that hides the ‘slipper’ from the hare as it is urged forward into the field at a hare coursing event.” It’s a great name for your female rabbit hunting puppy.

Jip: This is the hunting term for a female dog—short and sweet for any girl who will be by your side on the hunt.

Velvet: If your pup is going to be deer hunting with you, this name refers to the velvet that covers developing antlers and is usually scraped off.

Ghillie: This sweet name is perfect for your little hunter girl, and is the term for a hunting guide who accompanies a shooter or fisherman, notably in Scotland.

Slipper: While this is also the name of a house shoe, in the hunting world it’s also “the person who releases the two greyhounds to chase a hare at a coursing event.”