Does Your Hunting Dog Need A GPS? (3)

Most systems include an integral e-collar, so a single handheld device lets you conduct traditional e-collar controls and commands. The upside is you can control multiple dogs with just one handheld unit. Obviously, you have to buy individual collars for each dog. I’m still an amateur happy to work two dogs at once, but I’ve seen pros managing three and four. I do wonder if anyone has ever tried 20 dogs at once, which is possible with some collar systems. Talk about a circus! I think my head would explode.

While maintaining control of Dog is the main purpose of these GPS tracking/training systems, they are anything but one-trick ponies. Like traditional GPS mapping devices, you can use them to mark your truck or covey locations, leave waypoints, create routes, record tracks (your route traveled) and much more.

New users often find themselves more engrossed in the handheld GPS screen than the hunt itself. It’s fun to watch a map depiction of where the dogs are hunting or an aerial view of the terrain you’re coursing. My approach is to mostly ignore the handheld unit until it signals me that a dog is on point or until I want to see where my little dog’s gone. And that’s the beauty of a GPS collar. It lets me concentrate on the hunt, knowing I can find Dog wherever she’s gone.