The American Beagler Forum

Anyone have experience with WMI Tracking Systems?

I am seriously considering a WMI system for my next large purchase for my dogs. I feel a tracking system would be invaluable for the field trialer, going far away from home and running dogs in open, unfamiliar areas, especially when sending a dog out with another handler for a cast. Nothing would be much worse than riding around in very unfamiliar areas looking for a lost dog, hours after the hunt is over, tired and ready to go home! I've never had to do this, and never hope to, but if it happened, a tracking system could end the problem quick.

Do you use a tracking system? If so, which brand?

Thanks in advance!

Darrin, I've owned 2 Wildlife and one ATS tracking system. For serious long range tracking you can't beat the ATS, but it has a bigger antenna and is a little harder to use. I Personally like the Wildlife. Quick TRack and Johnson are also good. I had the TRXS 64 and also the TRXS 3 with the small #3850 collars. It is a very good sustem with a lot of range. The reciever is mounted on the antenna and is easy to carry. Wildlife also has a TRXS 16 that should be a great system for several dogs.

I own a WMI tracking system and love it. I have the TRX-3S and it has been perfect for my needs. The collars are very small and add not alot of weight to the dog and the receiver is very easy to use. I lost a dog where I run all the time and that was it for me, one phone call and that was it. I ordered directly from the WMI. I also bought everything rechargeable and like it more than having to buy batteries.

I have always owned a TRX-3S and have never had any problems with it. The only bad thing about it is its size. Ive considered buying one of the "Tracker" systems simply because of its small size, but I figure if it aint broke dont fix it!
The Wildlife HLPM-3850 collars are second to none! I wouldnt consider any other collar on the market! No matter what system you decide on I would recommend the HLPM-3850 collars.

I started with a Johnson's Merlin 10 channel system and quickley found out that I 'd be walking to the truck to get the system before I'd be walking to the dog. It's just to much to carry for me, Also the big antenna and brush did not seem practical either. So I bought the Tracker system and love it. Range has been no problem, I have seldom used the long range mode and they have been out there on hare. The ability to program each collar in and KNOW that it's set right is invaluable. And I especialy like the accuracy close up, if I lost a collar I could find it easily or more importantly find a down dog quick.I do use the Johnson collars, they are a little cheaper and thier service is great. I just bought two of thier 4000 hour collars for my big males and they carry them fine. The only drawback I have found is in extreme cold the 9v battery's get weak. I carry the Tracker under my coat and keep a couple extra battery's on me.

Has anyone used the Wildlife Materials "Mini" 2-element antenna with their WMI receiver? This antenna looks small enough to carry in your hunting jacket, much like the Tracker antenna, except the receiver is not built in. I would really like to have a unit small enough to actually stuff into my hunting jacket if need be. I know the Tracker brands fit that bill, but I have had so many folks at a local coonhunter club recommend the Wildlife units to me over all the rest there seems to be little comparison.

I use wildlife.

I think the peace of mind of having a tracking system is worth the cost.

My buddy has the same freq. with the quick track I like his unit also.

The big dofferance is the quick track uses a 9 volt and the wild life with replacable batts uses alot of AA's.

I have the rechargeable wild life batts.

If I were gonna get a unit w/o rechargeable batts I would get the quicktrack.

There both good.

I think the tracker system is nice but I find it hard to use when there is alot of interferance. But I don't have alot of experiance with that unit.

Robert W Mccoy JR would you please elaborate on interfearance? I have not found this to be an issue. Nor batter life in the Tracker, it uses 9 volts too. Darrin G. in the new wicks catolog I seen a smaller Marshall spring loaded antenna that might be nice but I still can't see geting all that in my pocket but I haven't seen one either.

Steve,

We were running dog's down here near a power plant.
There are tran tracks that run through one part of the ground we run on.

Plus there are alot of power lines that run through the property.

While we were running my friend had his tracker on him and was tracking the dog while they were running.

Once the dogs crossed the tracks and got on the other side of the train cars that were parked on the tracks he could no longer read wich direction the were going.

But I could with my wild life tracker.

Don't get me wrong I like the tracker and I like that it's more portable.
But if I were only going to own one it would be a wild life or a quick track.

I use to own a Tracker also, it is nice and easy to carry, but if dogs are around a big body of water you will pick up signals from the opposite direction the dogs are in.
That was back when I coon hunted, they may have improved them now.
But if I was going to buy one I would lean towards the wildlife, my buddy had one of those and when my tracker wouldnt pick up my dogs he would pull his wildlife out and get the reading of where they were at.
Trent

Thanks guys, I suspected powerlines and such but have not had any problems yet and I do use it around them. I will head for a lake and see what that brings too.

How about the WMI "mini" antenna setup, anyone have any experience with using it?

I have heard they are a little hard to get used to.

Sometimes you can't tell if the dogs are in front of you or behind you.

A buddy of mine has one and he likes it but he said it's just a little harder to use.

This is very good topic, we are also thinking about a tracking system and have little experience. I borrowed a buddies that coon hunts but his reciever and antenna were to large to carry around, almost like carring a gun case around.

It seem best to get 4 collars, 3 for the dogs and 1 to hang on the bumper of the truck...lol... Sad part is, I'm not kidding... Patch

I hear ya Patch! I'll probably buy a collar to just simply leave in the truck also.....LOL!

I'm not really concerned about loosing my dogs while running/hunting here around home. I'm extremely familiar with the area and feel comfortable, but the concern lies when at trials far away from home or going on a hunting trip far away in unfamiliar territory.

I am now convinced in a tracking system, and will be laying back some funds from time-to-time to buy a Wildlife Materials TRX10 receiver, 3850 WMI collars.....my only undecided item is the antenna....the Yagi OR the Mini??? I really want something cabable of being carried in my hunting jacket in the field....and the Yagi would havta be left in the truck...too big. But will the Mini give any range??? Thats the million-dollar question!! LOL