A week or so ago there was a discussion about hounds. Coon dogs, bear and all.

I'm just curious, what's the best tracking collar for a dog?

I pretty much know, I've watched guys use them and all. I've messed with tracking collars myself. But I'd just like to have first hand experience, from folks that have used and own tracking collars.

My biggest concern is how difficult it'd be to get the things programed and set up for what I need it to do.

I just got a new pup, (14 months old) the other day. If I'm gonna do it, just as well do it right.

But I'd appreciate your insight. Pros and Cons.

The garmin system is the way to go. The astro was the first it tracks it doesn't correct. The alpha tracks and corrects. The alpha 200 has a bigger screen and has the most bells and whistles. Go to gun dog . com they have lots of how to 's. Look into ukc clasifieds go to dog related site they have used ones to get prices. I won't hunt without it.

The garmin makes the dog and the handler better.Just have to be smarter than the dog.

It does depend on what you want. If you just want to track the astro a solid unit. If you are training the alpha is great but there is more to it. You have to switch screen back and forth between track and train. For years I used a astro and a separate training collar and it worked great.

I use a Dogtra Pathfinder. About half the cost of Garmin and it works great. It's nice because you can do either track and train... or just track (if you do competition hunting) by just buying separate collars instead of a whole separate unit. The maps are also way better than Garmin.

Not a tech guru by a long shot. I just followed the basic instructions and was up and running in no time at all. Lost my controller in south east Colorado last year. Found a replacement and in seconds after charging linked up with the collar again. I just use the dog tracking, hunt tracking, functions. I do drop a pin at the truck if going on long hunt in unfamiliar country. My favorite perk is knowing when dog is on point when I can’t even see her.

Get the Garmin Alpha. You can find used units online Native Dog Supply always has deals both new and used.

Years ago I bought the SportDog TT system at the time it was the only company with track and train system. Within 6 months they upgraded to the 2.0 system and a few months later Garmin released the Alpha. My buddy's run both Astro and Alpha on their dogs and it is a stellar unit and system. They require a yearly Birdseye subscription but it's worth it.

One huge perk most houndsmen use Garmin so by some chance your hand unit goes out a buddy can track your hounds ot you can track theirs.

I have several Astro 320’s and an Alpha 100. I like the Alpha the best.

I don't know about tracking collars but I've been using the Garmin Tri-Tronics Sport Pro E-Collar for about five years now and have nothing but good to say about it. It's affordable, expandable (up to three collars with one sending unit), loaded with features and very durable.

I trust the Garmin/Tri-Tronics brand name.

As an aside; it features headlights on the collar, two bright LED lights. At first I thought it was a pretty silly feature. Then one of my labs discovered my nearest neighbor (about three hundred yards away) was feeding deer. I don't know what is so interesting up there but the dog has taken to occasionally sneaking over there when left out at night. Now I put the collar on him and use the lights, makes it easy to see where he is. There's no sneaking off when he has his headlights on! LOL

Garmin bought tritronics. They track and train now. Be hard to beat.

Thanks everyone. That's pretty much what I figured.

Just thinking, if I'm going to spend $900, just as well spend $1,000. Not even 2 tanks of gas.

I've been checking online, seems the used or factory rebuilt units are only $100 less. Just as well get a new one, with the warranty and all.

Let me ask how much is the "bird's eye view" thing cost per year? The places I'll be hunting, I know the ground, as long as I know the distance to the dog and direction, I'm pretty much there. Not sure about the aerial photos and all?

But I'd like to have more than one collar, maybe 2 or 3. But it would be nice to be able to track my buddie's dogs and know where everyone is, and what's going on.

I'll check the links above and see what they have to offer.

One thing that I like about the Alpha 100, it's been out a while. I think 12 years, so the bugs should have been worked out by now. But I'm looking at the Alpha 200.

Give me advice.

I ran the Alpha 100 for 3 years great unit no issues, I upgraded to the 200i and was very happy I did, the thing is awesome lots of upgrades.

The garmin 200 is smarter than I am....so far but I'm working on that. I've gotten the basics and it's been amazing for both tracking and training/ correcting. No regrets spending the $$ for it at all.

Red snow, new Garmin comes with 1 year subscription. Native Dog Supply has a new unit for $800.
You can find deals both new and used for the collars. They used to have an add extra collar bundle.

Here's another site with good deals

https://www.outdoordogsupply.com/

Well, I put the word out.

A man just offered to sell me a Garmin Alpha 100 and 2 collars for $750.

He's a bear hunter, I don't know him that well really, we've met and I respect his word. He said everything works, has the chargers and the whole works.

What do you think? Should I jump on the deal?

Sounds fair to me. Have him have everything charged up and running when you meet up. That’ll tell the tale.

I have the garmin alpha and a Track and trainer. I looked for used but spent the extra for new. I know how i take of my equipment. No regrets.

Well, the man is to stop by tomorrow and show me how they work.

I've talked to 5 local guys, and they've all told me, $700 would be a good deal. And with the extra collar, that's probably another $200 or so?

Anyway, we've agreed to $750, for the whole works. I'm not going to haggle over $50, if he's willing to show me how they work and all. Already programed and all.

So, hopefully, me and the dog will be up and running Sunday.

Well, the man showed up with his 2 collars and the control box Saturday. Showed me how they work. I paid him $750 we shook hands and I think I did ok.

Took my new dog out Sunday and cut her in the wind, and I'll tell you that dog can cover some ground. But that GPS unit is working smooth, just so very neat. At one time the dog was out 1.9 miles from me and moving at 6 MPH. It showed her treed 2 times, but that was when she was pulling up those steep sides. We were only out 4 hours or so, not positive what she was running, it wasn't a deer, and she wasn't just running the road. It was snowing pretty good, so not tracks to be found. Who knows?

But the screen on the unit isn't all scratched up, and the collars look good, so I think I did ok.

The man that I bought them from has another Garmin Alpha 100 and an Alpha 200, told me that he wants to upgrade to another 200. So he can track more dogs.

But I'm happy with it so far. I tracked her down the other day and it said 40 yards, there she was. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had a clue. Money well spent.