Dog Tracking Collars

Know where they are and what they are doing using state of the art GPS dog collar technology.

Satellite tracking has changed the way we hunt and keep up with our dogs

Tracking our hunting dogs has come a long way since trailing hounds through the English countryside on horseback. While those times may create a rich history of dog hunting, there is a more modern, and technical, way of monitoring the hunt. GPS (global positioning system) has been introduced to sporting breeds only recently, however, this technology is not new us. When John F. Kennedy announced a “space race” he put a mechanism in motion to create a navigation system that would eventually replace the map and compass. In the early 70’s the US Department of Defense developed this system that is now integrated into even the cell phones in our pockets. By placing the power of GPS in our handheld devices we can now transfer that ability to tracking our hunts with the utmost precision and accuracy.

How it works

GPS is simple. A receiver on the ground, or in your hand, collects signals from multiple satellites and triangulates your position on a map. It basically says, “You are here.” Your position is displayed in Latitude and Longitude, the same grid system use by Christopher Columbus when he crossed the Atlantic in 1492. Using GPS is simple, understanding lat and long is not so simple. For example, your receiver may read something like N 34° - W 77°, meaning 34 degrees north of the equator and 77 degrees west of the prime meridian. Lat and long can be expressed in decimal degree format, such as 34.5489°, decimal minutes displayed as 34° 31.22’, or in degrees minutes and seconds written as 34° 31’ 41”. Minutes and seconds are obviously in units of 60, however this has nothing to do with time. Most receivers can be set up in whichever unit format you prefer. When setting up your receiver you should also want to ensure you are using the same “datum” as those you are sharing information with since the world can’t agree on where exactly the equator and prime meridian is exactly on the ground. Common datum’s used in the US are NAD27 CONUS or WGS84.

Obviously plotting lat and long coordinates can get complicated and thankfully we have additional tools now for locating position. Geo-referenced maps and aerial photography can now be overlaid on many devices to create an interactive map to follow. Spending time to understand and read these types of map products are necessary but not at all difficult. If you have spent any time on Google Earth for example, you have studied geo-reference aerial photography. These are the same types of products either preloaded or available to add to most GPS dog tracking systems.

GPS vs. Radio telemetry collars

In past decades many hound hunters made use of radio telemetry tracking collars. These dog tracking collars transmitted a “pulse” or “beep” that could be picked up by a directional antenna and corresponding radio receiver. The direction of the antenna and strength of the signal would give a general location of the hound, but in order to be more accurate you would need to triangulate by taking multiple readings from various locations. Also, in order to determine the direction in which they were traveling you would need to take several readings over time. If you ran multiple hounds you would need multiple frequencies on your radio receiver. GPS dog tracking systems have eliminated this extra work and can provide you with the exact location of your hound, or multiple dogs, in one instant. These modern units can even tell you if they are treeing, on point, or what direction they may be traveling in. A plus of radio collars is an extremely long battery life, since it doesn’t take much energy to transmit the signal, which could be advantageous if a hound becomes lost for several days. I know several hunters that actually run both systems for this reason. However, a radio telemetry system is also very expensive as it would be more economical to replace an old system with GPS.

Advantages of using a dog GPS collar

For many reasons GPS dog tracking collars change the way hunt. We’re now able manage tracking better which in turn allows us a better hunt. Many GPS collars also can serve as a containment fence. By placing boundaries along property lines or roads we can control the area our pups hunt and ultimately confine them to a safe area. Several GPS tracking device for dogs also serve dual purpose and can be used as a training collar. The bundling of these two devices only makes sense when working or running young pups.

Add all those functions to a digital location and mapping device and you can easily see the many benefits to incorporating a GPS dog tracking system into your hunting routine. Not to mention the fact that it also maps your location and the way back to the truck. While old outdoor methods and traditions should be maintained, and every kid should know how to use a map and compass, a GPS dog collar is a game changer in the way that you and your gundog hunt.

--Derrick Moore
Senior Field Staff