Dogs have been hunting alongside humans for millennia. Labrador retrievers, English setters, beagles, American foxhounds, English springer spaniels, and Chesapeake Bay retrievers all make fantastic gun and scent dogs. They have the prey drive, athleticism, and trainability to engage in serious work. Most of these dogs were initially bred as hunters, so they instinctively use their sensitive noses and ears to hunt game.

Working dogs need the right equipment to do their jobs effectively, and all hunting dogs need collars to increase their visibility for safety reasons and to identify them if they somehow get lost. To help you find the ideal product for your pet, we have reviews and a buyer’s guide for the five best hunting collars this year.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 5 Best Hunting Dog Collars

1. SportDOG FieldTrainer 425XS Waterproof Stubborn Dog Training Collar — Best Overall

The SportDog Field Trainer 425XS Waterproof Stubborn Dog Training Collar is our selection for the best overall hunting dog collar in 2024. It features technology that allows you to communicate with your pet from as far as 500 feet away. The receiver and transmitter are waterproof up to 25 feet, so you don’t have to worry about the product failing if your pet goes for a swim or part of the system gets dropped while you’re in the field.

You can communicate with your dog using tones or vibrations with just a quick controller adjustment. And best of all, the collar works well for training and hunting, although it doesn’t feature GPS or other ways of tracking and locating your dog. While the collar is designed for the rough and rugged great outdoors, it’s most effective when you’re relatively close to your pet.

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2. SportDOG TEK GPS Dog Tracking System — Best Value

The SportDog Tek Series 1.5 GPS Dog Tracking System offers a solid option for hunters at a great value. It lacks some of the bells and whistles, but it does a great job delivering the basics, making it our choice for the best hunting collar for the money. The collar features GPS functionality that lets you keep track of your dog and quickly locate them if they end up lost.

The product works as a system, allowing you to track up to 12 dogs at once. The waterproof handheld features an easy-to-read LCD screen that provides information about any dog wearing a collar linked to the system. And the collars and GPS units are waterproof up to 25 feet. Under the right conditions, the handheld unit can guide you to within 7 feet of your pet’s GPS transmitter. Unfortunately, the product doesn’t facilitate direct communication with your dog, as it doesn’t have the functionality to deliver tone or vibration signals.

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3. SportDOG TEK GPS Dog Tracking Training System & E-Collar — Premium Option

The SportDog Tek Series 1.5 GPS Dog Tracking & Training System and Collar is a serious all-inclusive product that provides hunting and training tools. The product allows you to communicate with your dog using tones or vibrations over a 7-mile range. The system permits you to track and monitor up to 12 dogs and provides detailed information about each individual’s location and activities.

While the handheld’s charge lasts a few hours less than the collar, both feature rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The system relies on satellites instead of cellular service, making it a great choice if you’re planning to head out to remote locations without cellular connectivity. The entire product is waterproof, and the GPS will keep on ticking even if your dog takes a serious dip! But keep an eye on the handheld as it’s only waterproof up to 5 feet.

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4. Garmin Sport PRO Training Collar Bundle

The Garmin Sport Pro Training Collar Bundle has everything you need for effective training. The product features a simple and easy-to-use handheld device with a rotary dial. The small handheld receiver has an intuitive layout that’s easy to learn. The product shines as a training tool, allowing you to issue remote commands using vibrations and tones.

The Sport Pro is water resistant, so a bit of rain or snow won’t be a problem, and it floats if dropped in water. The product also has a bright light on the collar that you can activate remotely. Not only does this improve your pet’s visibility in low light conditions, but it can also help you quickly locate a dog that’s wandered off. However, the collar is not appropriate for puppies.

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5. Dogtra Pathfinder2 GPS & Dog Training Collar System, Black

The Dogtra Pathfinder2 GPS & Dog Training Collar System features several functions for remotely communicating with your dog, including tone and vibration signals. It also has GPS technology that lets you determine your pet’s location.

Download the app and connect to the system to make changes to pre-sets, such as geofencing options. Use the app’s free offline maps to quickly find your dog or the quickest way back to your transportation. The system allows you to track up to 21 dogs using one linked receiver.

The Dogtra can even let you know what your dog is doing virtually in real time with handy icons that display if your dog is barking, treeing, or pointing. If you’re having trouble locating your dog at night, you can use the handheld device to remotely illuminate the LED light on your pet’s collar.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Hunting Dog Collar

There are several factors to consider when deciding on a hunting collar, including if you intend to use the product mostly for training or hunting, along with things such as range and connectivity. Keep reading to learn more about choosing the right option for you and your dog.

Training or Hunting

Manufacturers broadly market training and tracking products as hunting collars. Training collars often need GPS and other location-pinpointing technology and frequently have shorter ranges than tracking products. They allow you to communicate with your dog at a distance, either by tone or vibration, but the simplest models won’t allow you to keep track of your companion’s whereabouts.

Hunting options typically feature GPS or other technology you can use to locate dogs in the field. Some permit you to follow multiple dogs using one handheld device, and many operate using satellite communication, ensuring you can find your dogs while in the field. The simplest of these products are often relatively affordable, and it’s possible to find high-quality, reliable collars that focus on basic safety with beacons and locating technology.

Be prepared to spend a bit extra for a combination product that has tracking and training features. These high-end choices usually let you communicate with your dog using tone and vibration signals over long distances and locate them using GPS and Bluetooth technology. Many feature handheld receivers that allow you to use one device to track multiple dogs.

Many experienced hunters who’ve spent virtually their entire lives working with dogs caution that e-collars should only be used to reinforce already learned commands and behaviors and communicate those commands to dogs in the field. If your dog won’t sit when you’re practicing in the backyard, it’s probably too soon for a training or hunting collar.

Range

Collars geared towards training tend to have more limited ranges than hunting options, which makes sense as you generally need to see a dog’s behavior to decide whether to intervene. Hunting options usually have a more extensive range, with some working from as far as 7 miles away.

But the increased range often comes with a trade-off, as the most affordable products often don’t allow you to communicate with your dog using tones or vibrations. These options provide a more traditional hunting experience and make it easier to locate your dog.

Choices featuring a wide range and communication functionality tend to be expensive but can make the transition from training to hunting simpler for your dog. If you’re primarily interested in using the collar for training purposes, consider prioritizing functionality over range, as you’ll need to see your pet to determine the most appropriate action to take, if any.

Connectivity and Device Options

Connectivity becomes incredibly important if you’re planning to use the collar primarily for hunting. Great features won’t make a difference if you can’t access your pet due to a lack of connectivity.

Consider selecting a brand with satellite connectivity if you regularly head out to remote areas with sparse cellular coverage. You run the risk of being unable to locate your dog if one of you accidentally ends up in a location without enough cell towers. Systems with apps and handheld receivers can make life easier for serious hunters since they facilitate finding their vehicles and dogs.

Customer Service

If you cannot set up a product or reach anyone to help solve the issue, even the most advanced collar won’t do you or your dog much good. Spend some time looking at what other customers have to say about how easy the products are to set up and whether they could get troubleshooting assistance, including help installing apps.

Final Thoughts

The SportDOG FieldTrainer 425XS Waterproof Stubborn Dog Training Collar gets the nod for best overall hunting dog collar thanks to its excellent range of functions. And the SportDOG TEK GPS Dog Tracking System does a great job tracking and doesn’t cost a fortune. The SportDOG TEK GPS Dog Tracking Training System & E-Collar combines training and hunting tools in one well-designed product.

The Garmin Sport PRO Training Collar Bundle comes loaded with several ways to communicate remotely with your dog, and the Dogtra Pathfinder2 GPS & Dog Training Collar System comes with a handy app that provides access to free offline maps you can use to find your pet and set geofences.

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Featured Image Credit: PaigeWhite, Shutterstock