GPS To The Rescue
Gary, I was somewhat skeptical of the collar/GPS units when they first came out. I was particularly concerned that with the weight factor and trying to keep the collar/shoulder harness transmitter/antenna upright, but the newer models have solved both those problems and just keep getting better. Garmin, SportDog, and others have even incorporated the GPS system with the training collar functions into one unit. I use them on both of the boys and they don't seem to notice them at all. I started using the GPS collars to try to avoid the situation that Harold experienced. I spent many days and nights in my younger years searching for lost hounds and don't care to relive those experiences.
At the end of a grouse hunt, I not only know where the dogs are, but with the topographic map data installed, I am able to find a route to return to the truck without having to cross 3 mountains and valleys, two streams and the great swamp. I also like the feature that allows me to set a boundary area for the dogs to work in and gives me an instant alarm if they cross out of the perimeter.
A lot of the farms and areas I hunt have become more developed with busy roads and highways nearby. I set the GPS hunt area with a generous buffer zone between it and such hazards. Both of my dogs are trained to recall with a single beep on their remote collars and this has worked well to bring them back inside the safe area. Nothing is perfect, but this system does reduce some of the worries.
Gary, I can't use the beeper collar either for two reasons, each time the GPS collar transmits the dog's position, the beeper collar "hawk calls" that the dog is on point and because each time the collar beeps, the dogs think they are being recalled. So for me it is GPS with the bell. Fred.
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