The American Beagler Forum

I had something happen to me that is a first in the 45 years that I have been hunting rabbits with beagles. I have one beagle that I raised from a pup, and started without the aid of other dogs, running pens, pet rabbits and other aids. Duke is now 5 ½ years old. While he is not a field trial quality dog, he is a good hunting dog, that will jump rabbits on his own, run them in circles, and go till he can’t go any more. He minds well and will come to call or gunshot, unless he is running a rabbit.

He and I were out three days before the Northern Illinois small game season closed. We had been hunting for about 3 hours in 3-4 inches of old snow. The area is filled with tree tops, ravines and briars, and is also a good place for deer. In some places you can see 40 to 50 yards,and in the heavy stuff, maybe 10 to 15 yards. Duke doesn’t run deer so I didn’t have to worry about that possibility. Anyway, we were about out of the brush on our way back when a rabbit jumped up out of some brush. I was kind of surprised, but got one shot off. I thought I probably hit it, and Duke began to run the trail.

I stayed where the rabbit got up and left Duke run the rabbit way back into the timber area. I could barely hear him running about 300 yards back in the brush, when he let out sort of an abbreviate bark, more like a yelp. I waited to hear him bark again, but nothing. When he has let out howls in the past, it was because the rabbit got into a hole, but this sounded more like he ran into something while he was barking. I waited and listened for a few minutes and didn’t hear any more barking.

I marked the general direction of his last bark, and walked for about 200 yards in that direction, calling him. I waited and called for about five minutes and got no response. Now I was really getting nervous, as he has never failed to return to my calling him, certainly within five minutes-(as long as he is not running a rabbit). The last thing I could think of was to shoot my gun, as that always brings him to me, again, unless he is running a rabbit. So I shot, and waited, and called for another three to four minutes, and again no sign of him. At this point I was thinking about how in the world I could find this dog. What if he is hurt, fell down a well, or who knows ??

Finally, I turned around, and I see Duke standing about 20 yards away. But when I call him, he looks at me and then walks back into the brush. He stops after walking a bit and looks back at me. So, I’m guessing he is trying to tell me, or get me to do something. I encourage him with a “go get em boy” and follow after him. He leads me on for about 40 yards, down into a little ravine, and then craws under some briars and stops. When I get to him, he is standing over the rabbit, which is still living. The rabbit had a broken back leg, and the chase had caused enough damage to wear him out. Needless to say I was happy that I found the rabbit, as I hate to cripple an animal and not find it. However, I was ecstatic to find my dog, which brings me to this question.

Is there a tracking collar that I can use, that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, that will tell me the location of my dog. I have seen the $500 to $600 units with the antennae on the collar, but I wouldn’t want to use that on my dog, as I suspect it would get torn off. I do not use shock collars so I was wondering if they have some sort of tracking capability ??

What do you use to track you dog, if you can’t see, or hear them, and they don’t respond ???

Kind of makes you think !!!

Try buying a used tracker and collar off of ebay.....

I had a similar thing happen last week only the dog had hurt its leg and wouldn't/couldn't come in when called. I went to the truck, pulled out my tracking reciever, and tracked him right to where he was. Had it not been for the tracking system I probably wouldn't have found him until the next day...if at all. I would never turn a dog loose without one now!!!

Use a cheap short range tracking devce (bell)

You would be surprised how durable the collars and antennas are these days. Most of the tracking systems out there are very reliable when used correctly, I use the tracker maxima which you can program 5 different collars into. The peace of mind it provides is worth every penny, the only time I am frustrated with it is when I forget to put it on the dogs. The amount of time and money I have into my dogs makes it worth it.

Thanks fcr the responses. I have tried the bells on the collars, but due to too much shooting without hearing protection, I can't hear the higher tone of the bells anymore.

I will look into buying a tracking system.

Thanks again.