Best Dog Tracking Collars for Hunting

A tracking collar is only half a system - it needs a handheld to read it. So the first decision is the handheld, and the collar follows. For backcountry hunting with no cell signal, that means a VHF Garmin Alpha: the simplest current handheld that tracks the number of dogs you run, which for most is the Alpha 300 or the value 200.

Then pick the collar by whether you train with it. The track-and-train TT 25 is the default; the tracking-only T 20 costs less for steady dogs. A full rundown is on the collars page.

Dogtra and SportDog make capable VHF systems, and cellular trackers like the Alpha LTE and Tractive work well where there is coverage. The honest split: VHF for remote country, cellular for cell-covered ground. The head-to-head is on the competitors page.

Do not overbuy. inReach satellite messaging (the i models) and a 10-inch XL screen are worth real money only if you will use them. For many hunters, a 300 and one good collar is the right answer.

Buy the handheld that matches your dog count and terrain, one TT 25 collar, and a spare battery. Add collars as the pack grows - a current handheld tracks up to 20 dogs. Add a longer antenna only if your ground has cover that cuts range.

A spread of Garmin Alpha starting points on Amazon, from one collar to a full handheld:

• Garmin Alpha® TT 25
• Garmin Alpha® T 20
• Garmin Alpha® LTE
• Garmin Alpha 300 Handheld
• Garmin Alpha 10 Handheld