GPS or Rangefinder?

Suther

Suther

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So I have a few bucks to spend on getting some better gear for hunting, and I've decided I want to get either a GPS or Rangefinder next. Currently, I don't have either, although my phone can be used as a GPS if needed (Although I don't like using it due to the lack of being able to run it on replaceable batteries like AAs) and I have nothing for a rangefinder, although as a rifle hunter shooting a 270 I don't need to worry about range until 200+ yds anyways.

The specific models I am looking at are the Garmin GPSMAP 64s, on sale for $269 at Cabelas right now, and the Nikon Prostaff 7i laser rangefinder, on sale for $299 right now.

Given the choice between these two products, which would you pick, and why? (I would also be open to suggestions of other products that do the same task, in the same price range)
 
I have had great luck with handheld GPS receivers in the field. For instance, measuring the distance of a particular shot and navigating to the downed deer in the dark with a vehicle for recovery. If you are any good a range estimating you don't need a rangefinder. Holding on "minute-of-hide" with most modern cartridges will kill the animal, either outright or mortally.

In my examples, I was trudging through the rolling grasslands of western Saskatchewan in a community pasture, AFAIR. I spotted a deer I wanted to shoot. Out with the GPS receiver MARK MARK, then I fired. Down it went. Using the compass feature, I marched on a bearing to within ten feet of the animal. MARK MARK Tagged it and off to get the vehicle. It was dark by the time I unlocked the truck, and darker still as I bumped and bounced along the fence line. When I was 90-deg to the second MARK MARK spot, I turned sideways and drove right up to it. There was absolutely no way I would have found the animal as easily without pinging off those really expensive overhead birds.

(BTW - only the US Air Force, the European Space Agency, and the Russians own "a GPS". Consumers own a GPS navigator or receiver.)
 
Gps. If you only rifle hunt. Range finder if you bow hunt

Bow hunting range finders shine as ive shot over a small deer thinking it was bigger and futher away. Ive also shot under thinking they were closer. Stalking open fields suck for judging distance. In the bush its not so bad as i can base it off trees and work out toward the game

Now that im out with my kayak a gps would give me the exact distances ive paddled

However i dont like carrying much except guns and ammo and binoculars. Perhaps better clothing or boots would be of more use
 
Another thought for you is an Inreach and a portable battery bank. Then you'd have GPS, have power for the phone and a back-up way of getting help or just sending a text home so no one worries.
 
I have both of those exact units, I use my 7i a lot more than my gps but I still use my gps a lot when out exploring new areas in the bush. If you do a lot of driving and hiking I’d go with the gps but I find the 7i sees more use when hunting, especially when I’m sitting in the bunch waiting to range specific markers so I have distance set when deer show up. Both the Garmin 64s and the Nikon 7i are well made pieces of gear, I use rechargeable aa’s in my Garmin and the original battery my 7i came with is still going and I bought it two years ago. It will double as a monocular in good light as it’s a 6x21mm, I just hang it around my neck and put it in a jacket pocket. It weighs nothing compared to my binos.

Honestly though, buy both if you have the spare cash. I use both regularly, there’s a free Garmin app that allows you to Bluetooth your phone with your gps. You can send a live track link to anyone you want to see where you are, it only works if you have cell service but I know my wife like it when she can see where I am in case I get hurt in the bush or the truck breaks down. I have cell service most of the time out where we are so it’s a bonus, the Garmin 64s does so much more than I’ll ever use or know how to use. Oh, I bought the backroads map book sd card for my gps and it’s the best, covers everything I need to get around on.
 
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Handheld GPS units are going extinct unless you can text through them by satellite too like a Garnin Inreach (formerly Delorme). Phones are as good of GPS as a GPS is, often better as the map apps are superior to the GPS manufacturers’. So good in fact the app ForeFlight is approved for aviation navigation. Forget AAs, that’s excess weight and inefficient use of it, just get a charging system for your phone- lithium backup batt, folding solar panel too if you wanna fill an itch for gear.

Rangefinder hands down. It’s a critical piece of kit, you already own an excellent GPS.
 
The Garmin Rino 130 I own one can use it to measure distance.
And not by the way of two way points.
It has a feature that can be activated and there is a sight system on it
to aim and shoot.
I figured it out once and don't care to try it again.
I pack both range finder and this kritter.
 
GPS would be my choice- check out the e trex 20 with topo map combo- one thing overlooked is battery consumption. The etrex 20 is very easy on battery power compared to others, everyone in my hunting party switched to e trex 20 after they seen how long my gps could last on 2 regular duracells. My 2 cents! They r only $250, more cash for a good range finder.
 
Suther said:
So I have a few bucks to spend on getting some better gear for hunting, and I've decided I want to get either a GPS or Rangefinder next. Currently, I don't have either, although my phone can be used as a GPS if needed (Although I don't like using it due to the lack of being able to run it on replaceable batteries like AAs) and I have nothing for a rangefinder, although as a rifle hunter shooting a 270 I don't need to worry about range until 200+ yds anyways.

The specific models I am looking at are the Garmin GPSMAP 64s, on sale for $269 at Cabelas right now, and the Nikon Prostaff 7i laser rangefinder, on sale for $299 right now.

Given the choice between these two products, which would you pick, and why? (I would also be open to suggestions of other products that do the same task, in the same price range)
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Sometimes they do not come with the topo maps, I think they r about $60 for the micro card.
 
A good GPS can save your life in the right circumstances, and will save you time and energy in many circumstances. Rangefinder not so much.
 
I rather have a gps if i had to choose. Rather be able to wander around deep off the trail than be able to range but i personally carry both.

I range a tree around 600yds with the 7i few years back, plenty for where i go.
 
RidgeHunter said:
Another thought for you is an Inreach and a portable battery bank. Then you'd have GPS, have power for the phone and a back-up way of getting help or just sending a text home so no one worries.
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I would like to get one of those, but they're just too darn expensive for me right now.

I just checked my local Walmart, and they actually have the Garmin 78s on sale for only $198. Cabelas has the same one listed at $429. I damn near bought it on the spot, still might get it after work... I'm a sucker for a good deal, and this deal seems very good...

Ardent said:
Handheld GPS units are going extinct unless you can text through them by satellite too like a Garnin Inreach (formerly Delorme). Phones are as good of GPS as a GPS is, often better as the map apps are superior to the GPS manufacturers’. So good in fact the app ForeFlight is approved for aviation navigation. Forget AAs, that’s excess weight and inefficient use of it, just get a charging system for your phone- lithium backup batt, folding solar panel too if you wanna fill an itch for gear.

Rangefinder hands down. It’s a critical piece of kit, you already own an excellent GPS.
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Thats an interesting take on it. I always thought of my phone as a less-than-ideal GPS, as its not waterproof, it can't take AA batteries, and of the APPs I've tried none of them are terribly good. One of the big things my phone does poorly is compass direction. Last time I got "lost" (I could have just followed the river to where it meets the lake, which the road runs beside, then follow the road back to the truck so I wasn't completely lost or anything) I had to pull out my normal compass to figure out which direction I was headed, so now my hands were full with my phone in one hand and the compass in the other...

However, as you point out, my phone IS a GPS, whereas it is NOT a rangefinder. I was going to buy a cheaper rangefinder (CT has a Wildgames Innovation Halo 750 for $180) but I figured this is a good time to adhere to the buy-once-cry-once mentality, as the Nikon Prostaff 7i should get me plenty of use without feeling like I need to upgrade right away, plus its waterproof, ect. whereas the cheaper one is only water resistant.

rral22 said:
A good GPS can save your life in the right circumstances, and will save you time and energy in many circumstances. Rangefinder not so much.
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I carry a map and compass, and hunt in areas where landforms create a relatively easy way to find civilization again (Head towards, or away from the lake/river/whatever and you'll cross a FSR)

sherlockbonez said:
I rather have a gps if i had to choose. Rather be able to wander around deep off the trail than be able to range but i personally carry both.

I range a tree around 600yds with the 7i few years back, plenty for where i go.
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Well thats it, I plan to get both eventually. The question is which to get first....


Oh decisions decisions...
 
If you bow hunt I would go with the range finder. If you don't, go with the gps. I use my handheld gps all the time. It's great for tracking and scouting and you can import points into google Earth. Very useful. I would not bother getting any of the topo map packages for the gps though.
 
Don't buy either, get some decent boots, a few good steaks, and bottle of scotch instead. Getting turned around is part of the excitement, missing your shot due to improper ranging is part of the sport of it.

Just throwing that out to be completely different.

I'd go with the rangefinder. Stories of getting lost are far more interesting than stories of missing the shot.:)
 
I do not have a dedicated GPS or a range finder, but I would not get a gps simply because ihunter contains my scouting info and having all the wmu, lease boundary info is convenient. I agree the compass function is weak on my phone, so like you I carry a compass. I also keep the phone in my pocket unless I am confused or have to mark a waypoint and navigate mostly with the compass.

If I had the cash, I would get either a range finder or satellite locator thingy of some sort.
 
Does the gps on a cellphone work when you are out of a cellphone service area? I have a Garmin GPS with gps maps. I have it with me all the time when I'm in the bush. Don't forget spare batteries and a compass. That said, I also have a Leica range finder. Your personal safety is most important so go with a GPS.
 
pete dobinson said:
Does the gps on a cellphone work when you are out of a cellphone service area? I have a Garmin GPS with gps maps. I have it with me all the time when I'm in the bush. Don't forget spare batteries and a compass. That said, I also have a Leica range finder. Your personal safety is most important so go with a GPS.
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Yes the phone works without cell service. It has a GPS receiver, as do most if not all smart phones these days.

Chixfishing said:
Anyday and anytime i will always go GPS its benefits are enormous.
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But do the benefits of a dedicated GPS outweigh the benefits of a rangefinder, considering I have a cell phone that has GPS functionality...
 
gorby said:
I do not have a dedicated GPS or a range finder, but I would not get a gps simply because ihunter contains my scouting info and having all the wmu, lease boundary info is convenient. I agree the compass function is weak on my phone, so like you I carry a compass. I also keep the phone in my pocket unless I am confused or have to mark a waypoint and navigate mostly with the compass.

If I had the cash, I would get either a range finder or satellite locator thingy of some sort.
Click to expand...

I have all the WMUs on Google Earth on my phone, which includes Satellite imagery and Im pretty sure it has a topo layer too...(can't find the top layer maybe I was mistaken...)
 
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