GPS while hunting ! What do you use and why?

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kenguitarz

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I use a Garmin etrex Legend HCx ,its a great little gps no issues yet .I have put over a 120 kms walking game trails or bush wacking on it this year.It sure is handy for back tracking or short cuts. I always carry spare batteries in a sealed plastic bag .I also carry the mandatory compass that DNR requires to. My only problem is somebody must have shot some satellites down because it doesn`t register as many as it used !
 
I had the older version of your legend. I fell outta my pocket into the great unknown last month.

Santa? You listening?
 
I don't use a GPS. Always carry a compass, usually carry a good map, and just pay attention. I find doing without a GPS makes me notice more about my surroundings and makes my trips in the bush more of a practised skill instead of another technology exercise. Young guys that I take hunting are always looking at their GPS, or even worse, cell phone. For most hunts, that stuff could stay behind and the hunter would get more "hunting" out of their time outdoors. That said, there was a time on a snowmobile in a blizzard on the ice of a big lake and nearly empty gas tanks and a wrong turn, a buddy's GPS was sure handy then!
 
Bought a brand new 60csx Garmin and upgraded topo and sh!t, last time it ran out of battery in middle of no where. Sitting in drawer since. Ribbons are way cheaper and reliable even in nights.
 
Garmin Rhino: got because it has the radio and has the feature it will tell other folks with the same unit where each other are. Safety precaution as many of now have medical issues. Would not trust it any farther than I could throw it to get me out of the bush however. Theres is nothing more reliable than a good compass and map, and of course knowing how to use it. The same principal would probably apply to the GPS if I took the time to learn all about it, but it is an electronic device that is battery dependant and 'Murphy's" will apply that when you absolutely need to depend on it, it will fail. I do like the feature that draws a little blue line all over the map of where you have been, kind of puts everything in a visual perspective. A nice toy but I would never go out without my compass.
 
I have a compass but Im looking at picking something like the garmin etrex10 or 20 up to check out.

Ken, how many are you picking up? Aint the norm about 6-8?
 
Ribbon, map, compass and MK1 eyeball. Low tech that has worked for a very, very long time. Oh ya, batteries and satellites not required.
 
I use a DeLorme Earthmate PN-60 for navigation. I also use the DeLorme inReach two-way satellite communications system paired to my iPod Touch. Both products are excellent and the inReach is the best thing since sliced bread for solo-hunting for basic and emergency communication.
 
Any hunter who thinks GPS is just a gimmick knows nothing about GPS. I've used GPS of one kind or another for canoe tripping, hiking, and hunting for over 12 years now, and I would never go anywhere seriously wild without one. A spare set of batteries is prudent, and a map and compass are necessities still, but I have saved myself many, many miles of effort by using a GPS, and I have been able to set off into country I did not know at all with complete confidence I could meet my friends at agreed upon spots at will. I currently use a 60csx with the Ibycus topo maps. Great combination.

Learn to use a good Mapping GPS and you will never give it up. Never depend entirely on any electronic device, however, and always have a map and compass, and the skills to use them.
 
TITCH ,the gps l usually tracks 12 satellites .Right now its trackin 10 satellites fairly steady.1 is trying to track and the twelfth one isn't doing nothing.
 
Great posts guys. Along with my gps and compass l also have a detailed photo from google earth that shows brooks ,logging roads and 4 wheeler trails.l also have toposof not only my area but the surrounding maps just incase l feel like venturing further and always carry flagging tape.
 
I have come to love the gps as well. As stated, spare batteries are a must. Even having a set of spares, I only turn it on when I need it as I find they can chew through batteries pretty quick.
I tried the top of the line(?) Energizer Ultimate Lithium which indeed lasted longer, but died off much faster come quitting time.

As for my unit, I bought the basic Oregon 450 and added trakmaps topo which has a better resolution than the Garmin Topo maps. I have not seen the Garmin maps, but found that Trakmaps showed trails that had overgrown ages ago, but I was able to find and follow these trails with the topos.
One word of caution on the Garmin touch screens is that digitizer is fragile. I cracked mine on the handle of a baby stroller just brushing up against it. Thank God for ebay!!
Also, I found a tough case for it on ebay, made by Gizzmovest!. I think it was about 30 bucks with shipping, but they will refund you the shipping if you send them a link to a thread where you are promoting there product or giving it a good review.
 
i just picked myself up a garmin 62s in october and uploaded the ibycus map as well. yes i also carry a compass and have a handful of charged rechargeable batteries with me as well. i'm very pleased with the unit.
 
Delorme PN-60 with a Spotme body locator. Got it as a package deal from Cabellas and allows me to send check-in messages home, it works fine. GPS is ok, but menu is a bit clunky, and the north-american topos it was bundled with are poor; they should have been called "Detailed USA topos, with some trails for that country north of us" I don't really use the GPS that much except to mark interesting waypoints and use the sun/moon rise and set tables.
 
garmin oregon 450T with the backroads chip installed, for two reasons, okay three. 4 of us all use the same unit and can share tracks and waypoints wirelessly so that when we explore new territory we cover way more when we split up rather then all walk togeather, second is because when your in your favorite spot glancing way downhill at some nice deer you can pan out and see if there is a road below you that you could drag a animal out to rather then calling in for a helicopter to retrieve it for you, and third because with the addition of birds eye you can upload images from google earth and have the picture of the landscape on your screen rather then just the topo map.

I still use maps and compasses but with the way Island Timberlands is putting new roads in all the time its opening up more possibilities and areas, now if they would just stop adding more gates............
 
Rino 130 and or my Nuvi 550.

Why?

Good stuff and they work.
Nice to be able to come home after a day of
touring new country and be able to download
the routes and see exactly I went.
Circle routes are a blast.
 
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