Beeper collar or GPS collar?

[JLS]

I need a collar for a GWP.  Trying to decide between these, and obviously price is a factor.  Any recommendations, advice, or thoughts? 

Right now I'm leaning towards a beeper collar with 1 mile range.

[10Key]

GPS...Bite the bullet. It is an extra couple hundred compared to a high-end beeper set up...Looking back this is what I should have done, but there weren't many option 3 years ago when I was I was looking. Tri-Tronics/Garmin collar appears to be the best option

[Happy Gilmore]

Garmin bought Tri-Tronics a while ago.

New Garmin GPS / E-collar is only a little more expensive than the stand alone GPS model.

[BIGINNER]

I honestly don't see why you anyone would ever need a gps collar for a bird dog.   

[Happy Gilmore]

I honestly don't see why you anyone would ever need a gps collar for a bird dog.   

good pointers should be trusted to range out of sight. If you're not on horseback, tough to keep up with the good ones.



The grass is waist to shoulder high. Where is your dog?

[BIGINNER]

I honestly don't see why you anyone would ever need a gps collar for a bird dog.   

good pointers should be trusted to range out of sight. If you're not on horseback, tough to keep up with the good ones.



The grass is waist to shoulder high. Where is your dog?

  good point.  I guess I just would never need it.     

[bracer40]

If I remember correctly, the new Garmin GPS/e-collar is a combined unit which would be inegible if you ever wished to use it in hunt tests and field trials.
I hope they improved the battery life in the receivers. My Astro 320 from a couple of years sucks power (and I'm pretty sure I've maximized my settings). Thank goodness for Costco battery prices!

[Sportfury]

Here is a thread on the garmin alpha http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,133247.0.html.

I personally have the Dogtra 2500 train and beep collar for my GWP. I think it works great. My GWP loves to range within a hundred yards or so and a lot of times I lose her. I can set the collar to beep when she goes on point or I can beep it myself to locate her. She covers so much ground a lot of times she surprises me as to where she is. I like being able to beep her because it gives me an instant idea of where she is and what she is doing. If she is up to no good like chasing a cat I can instantly correct her. If she was a far ranging dog (i.e. way past 100 yards) I think I would look at the something like the garmin alpha, but for now I see no need for it.

On range remember the collars are usually on as good as the line of sight, so if the dog goes over a hill or behind a bunch of crap it might not work for you. This weekend she got above us in a side canyon and we were below a hummock of rock and I couldn't beep her. Luckily she wants to know where we are as much as I want to know where she is, so she checks in regularly.

[netcoyote]

I use a beeper collar (Dogtra) on my long ranging setter. I got him to head back my direction on a single beep and quarter on double beeps. When the GPS collars came out, I thought about them but just couldn't see the need unless you needed to recover a carcass. If a dog is going to run, you could run yourself ragged trying to locate by a GPS signal once he is out of voice or whistle range. If he's trained to respond to the beep, he can hear the beep at the same volume no matter how far he is and respond accordingly (as long as he's within signal range). 

I also like to use a bell on his collar to locate him in tall grass and brush.
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[JLS]

Hmmm.  I think I need to hunt through the fall and see how far this pup is going to range.  I expect he will range 2-300 yards in open country.  The breeder I bought from uses beeper collars on all of his dogs.

I'm on the fence here.  If a GPS collar is really the way to go, I can suck it up and buy one.  However, right now I'm trying to justify the $400 dollar price difference between the Garmin Alpha and a e-collar/beeper combo.

The only test I plan on doing is the NAVHDA natural ability test.  Beyond that, he's just a hunting buddy

[Skyvalhunter]

I myself wouldn't want my dog to range out of sight if the bird flushes there is no way you are going to get a shot at it. I have used a beeper on mine and can control him without a problem. But each has their reason for GPS vs Beeper

[Stilly bay]

Buy the GPS you won't regret it! and your dog won't sound like a garbage truck backing up when he is on point.

Last time I went grouse hunting here in the westside jungle my setter went on point 236 yards off the trail. I never got a shot off but I Knew the dog was on point, I found the dog while he was on point, and I at least got to hear the grouse flush as I approached.

GPS collars are a game changer for long range dogs in heavy cover and only seem expensive until you get to use one.

I use a beeper collar (Dogtra) on my long ranging setter. I got him to head back my direction on a single beep and quarter on double beeps. When the GPS collars came out, I thought about them but just couldn't see the need unless you needed to recover a carcass. If a dog is going to run, you could run yourself ragged trying to locate by a GPS signal once he is out of voice or whistle range. If he's trained to respond to the beep, he can hear the beep at the same volume no matter how far he is and respond accordingly (as long as he's within signal range). 

Necoyote, are you talking about the page feature on your dog's Ecollar or an actual beeper that tells you when the dog is on point?

[netcoyote]

Necoyote, are you talking about the page feature on your dog's Ecollar or an actual beeper that tells you when the dog is on point?

The Dogtra collar that we have has three beep modes. One is a "on demand" beep that only works if you press the button. That's the one I almost exclusively use. The second mode is silent until the dog goes on point and then it beeps. The third mode is more of a "tracker" mode that beeps continuously while the dog is in the field until you change modes. That mode drives me crazy. I once hunted with a buddy that used that mode on his dog and I swear I will never be in the field again with someone who thinks they need that obnoxious noise.

[jetjockey]

Get the Garmin and don't look back.  I will not put my dog on the ground without one.  I can't tell you how many times I've been in heavy cover with my GPS showing my dog "near" and couldn't find her until I nearly stepped on her.  I believe "near" is within 3 yards.  I have a picture if my dog buried in cover with a snow canopy ontop of her pointing a covey of bob whites.   Some of the snow had fallen on her back and she was all but impossible to see.  The covey was buried in to keep warm and she wasn't moving.  I have a feeling we would have only found her weeks later when the snow melted, still on point.  What happens with a beeper collar if you can't hear your dog?  You don't have to worry about that with a GPS.

[canyonduck]

Ditto to all the pro GPS comments.   I've tried bells, beepers, and a Garmin GPS.  Once you go GPS, you'll never go back.  I carry a bell in my vest for back-up, but it is seldom used.   The hunt is sooooo much more relaxed knowing you aren't going to lose your dog or whistle or shock a dog on point that it out of sight.  Spend the money.  It is worth it.