Best Tracking System Available

[bluegrass]

Just a question for those of you with better knowledge about them than I...in your opinions, what is the absolute best tracking system out there, assuming money isnt a factor?? If you didnt need to ask how much the system cost, which would you buy?? Tony

[TurnLeftBeagles]

The most flexible tracking unit would have to be the Tracker Maxima 5000/25

[Duke]

I bought a used 10 dog Tracker Maxima 5 years ago, it works great and has found several of my buddies lost hounds while Hare Hunting. Small compact and you have no reason not to carry it with you. I use it at least 100 days a year.

[steve w]

I recomend a TRACKER too. I never run without it. Other than the dogs themselves it is the best money I have spent on this sport.I started with a Johnson reciever and while it worked fine I found out fast it did me no good at the truck.The portability can't be beat, and the ability to know where they are at all the time is worth the price to me.You can get them equiped to hook up to a yagi or roof top antenna now, just sent mine in for the upgrade and it was worth the 99.00$ Sometimes you can find them on EBAY for a good price. Also when I spoke to TRACKER about the upgrade they said a new model was coming out in Sept. so you may want to look into this. Thier web site has nothing yet but it's http://www.trackerradio.com If you purhase from them the collar choices are multiple, I have the Strike model and it is fine for a 15" dog but I think to big for a smaller dog. Remember that range and accuracy are determined to a degree by signal strenght of the collar,I run Johnson collars mostly. Ultralites in particular with out any problems but the Strike out performs them. I was told the Intello was better yet.There should be alot of info on all this allready if you do a search, I know there was a good discussion on rabbitshuntingonline. Another good source of info is http://www.gundogsupply.com Happy Hunting

[randy37]

tracker also, the company will back the warranties and they will get the unit back to you asap. very pleased with mine.

[bluegrass]

What is the effective range of the Tracker Maxima system?? Realistically how far can you track your hounds say, up in the UP through the cedar swamps and in the hills of Kentucky?? Tony

[klrconcrete]

I hate to be the odd man out but I have owned a wildlife system for just over ten years (the trx-3 to be exact) with wildlife lightweight collars and it has performed flawlessly every time out, I originally had the three element folding antenna but this past winter I switched to the small two element it does the job but does not have pinpoint accuracy at longer distances that the bigger antenna has. I have a close friend who has a tracker system with Johnson collars and he has fits with his in cold weather and it also lacks accuracy at longer ranges.

[tom summers]

I have the wild life 10 dog and I have tracked as far as 9.5 miles with the three yagi antenna and 4 mles with the new smaller antenna I think it out performs the tracker but the tracker is more convienant.

[Jack]

The question was , what is the best tracking box. I have a Wildlife 1000 and use Johnson collars. It is not handy, but I only use it if a dog is Awol. I think the Wildlife unit is the best one made.

[steve w]

Tony if the dog is at the top of the hill in Kentucky I would expect 4 to 5 miles, but if he's in the bottom maybe only half mile if there is alot of brush and the hill is big. In the swamps maybe 3,more likely 2. There are a lot of factors that determine range. I have always found my dogs is all I can say accurately and truthfully. I did hang all my collars in a tree here at the house and drove away to see what kind of signal I would get and in some places I checked I was shocked at how soon I lost a signal and at others I was amazed at how far I got. I've compared it against my Johnson unit and it is not that much differant.I run hare in the N.E. Lower, jackpine mostly and some cedar swamps and seldom are they out of range.When they are it is usually because the dogs or me is in a hole. kl tell your friend to find Ultralife lithium batterys and his cold weather problems will be over.I found em at Lowes and Mernards, or search online. For me it is not best to walk back to the truck to get a tracking unit from where I last knew where my dogs were, they always are going in the wrong direction so it is best to work from the point of loss. I keep the Johnson in the truck with the yagi just in case, but in the 4 years I've used Tracker it has done all the work.

[crewchf]

Between the bell collar and the tritronic classic 70 collar mine ain't got no neck left for any other collars,,, how're you guys a pullin this off???

Crew Chief

[pztrailman]

I have a Wildlife TRX-16 mounted on the yagi. I carry it in a pouch and carry it over my shoulder. I have it with me where ever I go, not at the truck. I use Wildlife 3850 collars that are mounted on the same collar as my Tritronics.

[houndsnmules]

I have had quick track for about 14 yrs with no complaints. The furthest I tracked in flat country was 7.5 miles. In the mountains I would say about 4-5 miles. When you get a tracking system get a friend to help you out. Especially if you are in mountain country as you can get a reflextion of the signal.

[klrconcrete]

I had my trx-3 in a holster that hung around my neck and carried the antenna over my shoulders in a case made by wildlife this case also holds a 410 snakecharmer so I am completey hands free and my box is never left at the truck.

[tom summers]

Pztrail do you notice problems with the shock collars mounted like this? I did the same thing and the more I used the shokers the shorter the distance became that they would reach. I took them off and worked fine again. my collars are pre-g2 units.
Thanks Tom