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by clc29 on 20 October 2010 - 14:10
Hi Everyone.
Has anyone used the Garmin Astro GPS tracking devise for wilderness SAR missions or training? I am still looking at the specs for the unit but it seems to me that it could be a useful tracking tool. Would love to hear your opinions / experiences.
Has anyone used the Garmin Astro GPS tracking devise for wilderness SAR missions or training? I am still looking at the specs for the unit but it seems to me that it could be a useful tracking tool. Would love to hear your opinions / experiences.
by cphudson on 21 October 2010 - 06:10
Hi clc29, it seems like a interesting device & a blessing for many people with hunting dogs. It's main use for the device is to find lost hunting dogs, or find a hunting dog on point. I think it's way too expensive for SAR, & the constant replacing of parts would drive me crazy.
I would not use this in wilderness SAR. Your dog must be off leashed train to do SAR, so you'll have no need to use this to find your dog. Most SAR dog's have bells / glow sticks attached to their vest so it's pretty easy to tell if where you dog is in a distance, how fast they are moving, & if they stop. I don't see a need to have to follow your dog on a map. I would be more concern of missing my dog's body cues along the grid indicating the various degrees of scent present. If your watching the Astro GPS instead you'll miss these clues.
If your dog is not train to re-find you after they have found the lost person to give an active alert, then this device can help locate your out of sight dog that is giving a passive alert that you can't see from a distance. Also if all the dogs on the team wear antenna's & everyone has their own device then this can help everyone coordinate. You'll know where your other team members are in their grid, easier to keep track the area's that where missed or already throughly searched, etc.. But especially if you / your dog become lost or injured during the search.
This does happen! One search we had to split up into groups to continue to find the lost person & the other our lost team member. LOL
It's more cost effective to use maps, compasses, radio's, & know orienteering. If they made something like this but geared more for SAR instead Of hunting I would like it better. Especially if you could mark on your GPS any signs where is seemed your dog lost the scent, or flag a scent pool, etc..
It will have it's pro's & con's
Take care
I would not use this in wilderness SAR. Your dog must be off leashed train to do SAR, so you'll have no need to use this to find your dog. Most SAR dog's have bells / glow sticks attached to their vest so it's pretty easy to tell if where you dog is in a distance, how fast they are moving, & if they stop. I don't see a need to have to follow your dog on a map. I would be more concern of missing my dog's body cues along the grid indicating the various degrees of scent present. If your watching the Astro GPS instead you'll miss these clues.
If your dog is not train to re-find you after they have found the lost person to give an active alert, then this device can help locate your out of sight dog that is giving a passive alert that you can't see from a distance. Also if all the dogs on the team wear antenna's & everyone has their own device then this can help everyone coordinate. You'll know where your other team members are in their grid, easier to keep track the area's that where missed or already throughly searched, etc.. But especially if you / your dog become lost or injured during the search.
This does happen! One search we had to split up into groups to continue to find the lost person & the other our lost team member. LOL
It's more cost effective to use maps, compasses, radio's, & know orienteering. If they made something like this but geared more for SAR instead Of hunting I would like it better. Especially if you could mark on your GPS any signs where is seemed your dog lost the scent, or flag a scent pool, etc..
It will have it's pro's & con's
Take care
by jamesfountain98 on 31 December 2010 - 02:12
Our Assistant training chief uses this system with her air scent dog (lab) This is an excellent dog and the trainer has excellent off leash control of the dog. Her dog does a bark and hold indication. The dog is very confident and will easily run 300 yards away if it catches scent. In a night time wilderness condition you can lose sight of your dog quickly
But we mostly use the gps units to show ground covered. Her gps unit shows an accurate path of travel the actual dog traveled, but other dog hander teams use the garmin 60 csx (lil cheaper)where the handler carries the gps and it shows the path walked by the handler. (track mode)
But we mostly use the gps units to show ground covered. Her gps unit shows an accurate path of travel the actual dog traveled, but other dog hander teams use the garmin 60 csx (lil cheaper)where the handler carries the gps and it shows the path walked by the handler. (track mode)
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