So, I have my 17 month old trained GSP that I will have out with us this year, which I am really looking forward to. Here is the question, the cover we hunt is THICK, I am talking CRP that could cover a CAR! Great for birds and I am sure we will see plenty. How do most of you keep track of your dogs whereabouts?? I am not wealthy so buying a GPS collar is not an option(unless anyone wants to give me one). So I have heard of people using bells or the beeper collars. My father-in-law has a beeper collar that he uses on one of his dogs. Due to the fact that she is incredibly small and she likes to range a bit. It is set to beep only when she is on point, which is ok but is frustrating when you cant find her when she is just running. So what are your opinions/suggestions?
Need opinions!!
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TennesseeTraveler
Active member
I have been just where you are. Had a good track-n-train collar that I would tape cotton in the speaker cylinder to quiet the tone down. I could not put up with the constant beeping. I ran the collar on point only mode but at times in the big CRP- ran it on 10 second intervals for the one of my setters. My Ryman/Hemlock setter never got so far away that I really had to worry about it. The SportDog collar I had been using has a locate button that will beep the collar when pressed. I would use that instead of running on the 10 second interval. That might be one option. You only beep the collar when you feel you don't know where your dog is.
I have since bought the Garmin Alpha. I know that you are not in the place where you can justify that purchase. I waited until I had significant points on a Cabela's credit card and saved gift cards from holidays to make that purchase. I have to say the Garmin makes keep track of you dog in heavy cover easier and more enjoyable. I used to be able to track my Ryman/Hemlock through heavy cover because he was large enough (a tall 80 lbs) to make a "wake". The 60 lb setter I ran with him- not so much. I now have a hard-charging, full grown setter- at 30 lbs. She makes no noise, no wake and often would run right by you- only to make you think a rabbit went by. The Alpha works great for her. I only have to look at the transmitter to find the relative direction and distance of her location. I am now saving my money for a Garmin Fenix 3 smart watch. It pairs with the Alpha so would only have to glance at my wrist to see where she is at.
Sorry for the Garmin advertisement. I am in the same financial boat you are but after a few years of regular spending (putting everything on the card) and saving gift cards from holidays, I was able to improve my situation.
Good luck!!
I have since bought the Garmin Alpha. I know that you are not in the place where you can justify that purchase. I waited until I had significant points on a Cabela's credit card and saved gift cards from holidays to make that purchase. I have to say the Garmin makes keep track of you dog in heavy cover easier and more enjoyable. I used to be able to track my Ryman/Hemlock through heavy cover because he was large enough (a tall 80 lbs) to make a "wake". The 60 lb setter I ran with him- not so much. I now have a hard-charging, full grown setter- at 30 lbs. She makes no noise, no wake and often would run right by you- only to make you think a rabbit went by. The Alpha works great for her. I only have to look at the transmitter to find the relative direction and distance of her location. I am now saving my money for a Garmin Fenix 3 smart watch. It pairs with the Alpha so would only have to glance at my wrist to see where she is at.
Sorry for the Garmin advertisement. I am in the same financial boat you are but after a few years of regular spending (putting everything on the card) and saving gift cards from holidays, I was able to improve my situation.
Good luck!!
if you are young and have good hearing a small bell on her collar will work, or even get some multiple dog tags or old keys and clip off the extended part of the key so they cant poke the dog but will jingle.
hunting pointing dogs in cover like that is a stressful PITA I find better places to run my pointers even if there are fewer birds
,
hunting pointing dogs in cover like that is a stressful PITA I find better places to run my pointers even if there are fewer birds
,
jimw
New member
Track GSP
I'm with Bobman on the cover you hunt. Pheasants will be track stars in really heavy Crp and your dog will become frustrated trying to get them to hold for a point or flush. It will be very difficult for you to keep up with what he is doing if you can't see him. If you've heard that pheasants can ruin a good dog - this is true. I would be interested in hearing about your experience after the hunt.
I'm with Bobman on the cover you hunt. Pheasants will be track stars in really heavy Crp and your dog will become frustrated trying to get them to hold for a point or flush. It will be very difficult for you to keep up with what he is doing if you can't see him. If you've heard that pheasants can ruin a good dog - this is true. I would be interested in hearing about your experience after the hunt.
I was in your boat too. Tess is a 60# vizsla and doesn't make a "wake" that is visible in most situations. On top of that, her color is almost perfect camouflage for November CRP grass. Before buying an Alpha, I relied on several strategies:
- A 2" reflective orange collar for warmer weather or an orange reflective vest for colder weather.
- A TT "Sport Upland" collar. While it doesn't specifically have a "locate" feature, you can use it that way. I set the collar that it would beep continuously if it was "on". Then, you can turn the beeper itself on or off using the transmitter. I don't think they make this model anymore.
- Since I'm often hunting in a group, there was always "where's tess?"
While she never ranged all that far, I did get anxious at times when I didn't know where she was. She's not one these dogs that will only hunt in front of me. That was particularly true in her first season or two when she was still learning to hunt and I was still learning her personality. Never wanted to be "that guy" always blasting the whistle and talking to the dog.
Last year in December I upgraded to an Alpha using a similar strategy to Tennessee. Save the points, ask for gift cards, etc. I never wanted an Astro because I didn't want her to have to wear an Astro AND an ecollar. I wish I had bought the Alpha sooner. It's soooo nice to just look at it and know.
- A 2" reflective orange collar for warmer weather or an orange reflective vest for colder weather.
- A TT "Sport Upland" collar. While it doesn't specifically have a "locate" feature, you can use it that way. I set the collar that it would beep continuously if it was "on". Then, you can turn the beeper itself on or off using the transmitter. I don't think they make this model anymore.
- Since I'm often hunting in a group, there was always "where's tess?"
While she never ranged all that far, I did get anxious at times when I didn't know where she was. She's not one these dogs that will only hunt in front of me. That was particularly true in her first season or two when she was still learning to hunt and I was still learning her personality. Never wanted to be "that guy" always blasting the whistle and talking to the dog.
Last year in December I upgraded to an Alpha using a similar strategy to Tennessee. Save the points, ask for gift cards, etc. I never wanted an Astro because I didn't want her to have to wear an Astro AND an ecollar. I wish I had bought the Alpha sooner. It's soooo nice to just look at it and know.
KSBrittman
Active member
I run a tri -tronics G-3 upland special , the remote has a locate mode on it where I can find out where my dog is at if in ear shot . I run the beeper in point only mode / hawk scream .
Dog-tra has a collar with a locate button on it as well . You might search the web or the Collar clinic for a used one .
Dog-tra has a collar with a locate button on it as well . You might search the web or the Collar clinic for a used one .
Crossing shot
New member
Alpha is the new Garmin collar. Astro was the first introduced. Lot of guys that had Astros are upgrading. You should be able to find a used Astro for about $350.
I would rather tote a single shot shotgun and hunt with an Astro than the gun I use now. Not even close.
I would rather tote a single shot shotgun and hunt with an Astro than the gun I use now. Not even close.
BritChaser
Well-known member
A collar bell. You'll always know where the dog is. When the bell stops ringing your dog is on point. Much better than looking down at a device in your hand. Your eyes and alertness remain up and you are aware of where you are and others are at all times. Your ears, not your eyes, do the work with a bell.
marsingbob
Member
I hate to add to the crowd, but you need to find a way to get a gps collar. I lost a dog in January in the Owyhee country and there were no roads, people or anything but sage brush and coyotes for 15 miles in the direction she was headed. It was 5 degrees that night. I was extremely lucky and found her late the next day. Never again without a collar.
Try to find a good deal on an Astro. It is a really good collar. People are selling them to buy the later models.
Try to find a good deal on an Astro. It is a really good collar. People are selling them to buy the later models.