Tracker Maxima System

[Bryant]

I'm looking into a Tracker Maxima tracking system and looking for opinions.  I've owned and used Quick Track, Innotek and Wildlife (the latter being my personal preference) but never had experience with the Tracker systems.  Being able to carry the unit on my belt is the attraction.  It seems everytime I get off in the woods chasing a bay and end up needing my unit it's back on the wheeler.  I would also be able to use all my current collars.

Pros...Cons??

 

[Circle C]

I use a Tracker Maxima, and just about every person I hunt with uses a Quick Track, or Wildlife.
I was on the fence when I was shopping, as I really think the quick track is easier to use, but I went with the Tracker for how convenient it is. I either put it on my belt, or in a pocket on the four wheeler.  To date, I have never had a dog that I was not able to track to. With the exception being Tuesday night, we were near a military base and a chemical plant, and high tension power lines, and something was giving off some crazy signals. Seems like all three systems we had out there tracker, quick track, and wildlife were all having issues.   There were times that I was getting about the same signal 360 degrees.

One mistake I made, was buying a 1000, spend the extra money and get the 5000 so that you can track any frequency. I will be sending mine back in and having it upgraded to the 5000/25 for an additional 200 bucks or so.



Circle C

[jamie mathis]

I had a tracker when I first started out in eary 1995. I loved it! It was light and convenant to pack around, however like circle c I found places and situations that would cause interference in the signal. i.e. high lines, pipe lines, and believe it or not other collars. If i had a dog near me i would have to catch him and turn his collar off. We hunt in alot of suburb nieghborhoods that have these kinds of places and situations which made hunting with the tracker max 5000 frusturating at times, but ive never lost a dog either. I hunt alot with mike bolen, he uses the quicktrac. I have personally seen him track a dog with the quicktrac in one direction while we track the same dog in another direction. mike 's quicktrac was correct on more than one occassion. I guess it depends on the places you hunt and how much money you want to spend. I recently sold my tracker to buy a quicktrac....... good luck!

[Mike]

I have used quick-track for several years now and wouldn't think of changing. I can recall dozens of times side by side in the woods where it has out performed any other system... and i've hunted with all brands.

The tracker is good for it's convenience and when the dogs aren't too far out. But you get them out over a mile the quick-track will shine. My longest "track job" was 3 miles by gps one night to a bay in clear cut... through thick east texas woods. I was able to pin point them the whole time while my buddies tracker was out of range.

Chris mentioned our hunt near the military base the other night. That was the worst static i've ever had... but i was still able to go to the dogs which were a mile or two away. The wildlife and tracker couldn't line them out.

[clint]

I know a guy that has one and we hunt together. It tracks ok but when you do track it dont pinpoint the direction very good. It gives u a wide range of where the dog could be. But the good thing about them is that there so small and you can wear them on your hip. But it's all about what you like and what fits your hunting style.

[NThoghunter]

Been using one for several months and just upgraded to a 5000.  Never had an issue with it not finding my dogs.  With that said I dont think my dogs are "long" range as some others.  I keep mine  strapped on the outside of my pack for easy access.  And if I get in water(which is a lot!) I can just dump my pack and not worry about getting my system wet.  My buddy Tye uses a tracker also and hunts with it in New Mexico doggin bear also.  He is the one who turned me to it.  It just boils down to what you are comfortable with and trust by hands on experience.  I have several friends that use other systems and are more than satisfied with em.  Just remember most tracker models now have the jack that you can plug a yaga antenna in case youre not picking them up.  Havent had to use that accessory yet