Having common dog sense is worth a whole lot, alot of people have never hunted dogs or used them, but want one for training... Common dog sense, got to have it a little bit atleast.... People have been using GPS trackers for years.

Yeah, a lot of the trackers have been using basic GPS too�. but the problem wasn�t knowing where the dog was located, it was making it stop before it ran in the road. That's what ha changed with the Alpha. The ability to do both in one unit. People have different distances they feel comfortable letting their dogs track out in front but even someone being conservative about it can still be several hundred yards from the dog when tracking. When the dog tracks up on that deer that�s still alive and it jumps up in front of them�..then I just don�t think people have been able to get their dogs to stop. They are either too far to here the command or just don't listen. Otis just wasn't going to listen without the threat of the shock collar. His prey drive flips and he zones out and gets tunnel vision. That beep snaps him out of it though. A high percentage of these tracks are near some type of paved road and I�d say its probably the biggest danger that I see so far.

Harold,

I'm saving up right now to purchase that Garmin Alpha for my Original Mountain Cur "squirrel dog in the making".

Talk about pricey.

Gonna purchase it at Gun Dog Supply.

Is that where you purchased?

Cuz I got a heck a deal on my Alpha off eBay. It's a factory referb with a 2 yr warranty. I paid a little over $300 for it. All you need is a tt15 collar and you would be set for a $700.

I used separate shockers on my Astro 320. But how many people you know that have had thier tracking dog ran over?? Serious question.

Yep, I ordered mine from gun dog supply. I don�t know if they still have the same deal going but they did throw in a nice little bag for free to keep all the different pieces in. It�s amazing how handy that little bag has been. I agree it�s expensive. If it just won�t tear up on me and last for more than one or two tracking seasons without issues then I�ll be ok with that though. We'll just chalk it up to the cost of playing the game. I sure feel a lot better with it. Peace of mind kinda thing.

Two

Here we go again. Headed out. Get in the woods if you can boys....it's on!

I�ve heard that these kind of tracks existed but up until today I was beginning to believe that it was all just a myth. Otis and I finally got on one this morning that was a pretty straight forward track. It was very rewarding after a stretch of really tough ones. The hunter was hunting on a long straight away in the road running through a young pine plantation. We took the pic after we got the buck back to the edge of the road so it doesn�t do justice for how thick the understory was in this little stand of pines. It was nasty thick in places.

The hunter said that the deer had stepped into the roadway walking at an angle toward him. It appeared to be just walking across the lane so he had to either take a shot quartering to him or let him walk off. The shot hit a little farther back than you would have wanted it to and didn�t leave any exit hole. This was a 30-06 with 150 grain core-lokt. It must have hit the back leg I suppose. The only blood to be found was right at the hit site. The deer traveled somewhere in the neighborhood of 250-300 yards I�d say but there was nothing to trail it by�..or if there was it was sparse enough that we never ran across it. After not being able to blood trail the buck, the hunter decided to call in a dog. I don�t blame him either. It would have been like finding a needle in a haystack with all the briars and brushy thickets.

I turned Otis loose and he went right to tracking this morning with no issues. He had really just checked out from me and got to tracking good when I saw him stop on the GPS. A few seconds went by and the GPS alerted that he was on point. It�s not uncommon if he stops to lick the ground or really check out a scent for the GPS to alert �on point� so I didn�t get too excited about it at first. I just stopped to give Otis time to do whatever he was doing and track on. About a minute or more had went by though and Otis was still in the same spot with the GPS alerting me again �on point�. I decided at that point that I better ease in and see what he was doing. I saw Otis before I saw the deer and I knew right away by the look on his face and how fast his tail was wagging that he had it. Sure enough, it was right there by him in the brush.

Every track we go on it seems like Otis progresses a little more in some form or fashion. Today was no different. Usually when we are getting suited up and ready to track, Otis is so excited to be out tracking that I have to wrestle him to get his collar and harness on. He wants to lay on me�.jump around�.start tracking�.etc, etc�.I assumed today was about to be no different as I was getting my boots on and he was whining in his kennel..amped up to get going. To my surprise though, when I opened the kennel he walked to the back of the tailgate and stood there just as still as could be with his head up. With no struggle at all I suited him up and then he was ready to go. Hopefully he�ll continue to do that�.we�ll see. He still gets pretty excited when we find one though. He was thoroughly enjoying himself to say the least.

congrats to both of ya'll....

Congrats CNC

Good job....does he ever bark when he on track or when he goes on point?

Hey cnc you know anyone that tracks around the eutaw/green county area. Got a buddy on here that shot one this morning just started tracking but there's a good hit of water where he is hunting

Great job..Glad to see the bucks found and not wasted..

Coosa valley hunting supply on facebook will save you a bunch of money. I shoukd kick my butt for not having a garmin yet but I haven't found a need for it

Good job!

Great work!

Thanks fellas....I appreciate it.