What GPS do you use for hunting and why?

I've always used a compass and haven't gotten lost but early this year I got a Garmin etrex Legend HCx because it was very on sale at C.Tire and I thought it would be good to have a track of what I have been doing and exactly where. I put it in the cupboard and this thread reminds me I had better get on with figuring out how to use it fully.
 
1duckslayer said:
I have been wanting to upgrade again to a rino 520/530 for the colour screen, more features and hopefully a better radio. If anyone has one of these models or been around one feedback would be greatly appreciated (before I go and dump $500).
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Whatever you do DO NOT BUY A CANADIAN UNIT. The Canadian units are limited to 2w of transmission in GMRS mode, so they suck just as much as the 120's. The US models transmit at 5w for more than double the range.

Buy a US model 530 hcx (hcx = high sensitivity receiver for faster sat lock). Some Canadian Dealers will order you the US model, but otherwise shop on Ebay. You should be able to save at least $100 bucks anyway on a NIB 530hcx on Ebay. I see several under $400 each week.
 
Panman said:
Whatever you do DO NOT BUY A CANADIAN UNIT. The Canadian units are limited to 2w of transmission in GMRS mode, so they suck just as much as the 120's. The US models transmit at 5w for more than double the range.

Buy a US model 530 hcx (hcx = high sensitivity receiver for faster sat lock). Some Canadian Dealers will order you the US model, but otherwise shop on Ebay. You should be able to save at least $100 bucks anyway on a NIB 530hcx on Ebay. I see several under $400 each week.
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This info is greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
Panman said:
Whatever you do DO NOT BUY A CANADIAN UNIT. The Canadian units are limited to 2w of transmission in GMRS mode, so they suck just as much as the 120's. The US models transmit at 5w for more than double the range.

Buy a US model 530 hcx (hcx = high sensitivity receiver for faster sat lock). Some Canadian Dealers will order you the US model, but otherwise shop on Ebay. You should be able to save at least $100 bucks anyway on a NIB 530hcx on Ebay. I see several under $400 each week.
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Got one for xmas last year, (the american one) and I love it.
 
I run a Garmin 520 that I got on e-bay when the Canadian dollar was at par. Delivered was around $300.00 so couldn't go too wrong. Two of my fishing buddies immediately bought off the same seller as soon as they saw/used my unit. Not the latest model out there, but good power and battery life. Here's who I bought from:


htt_p://electronics.shop.ebay.ca/GPS-Navigation-/139835/i.html?_catref=1&_fln=1&_ipg=25&_ssn=geekdeal&_trksid=p3911.c0.m282
 
Panman said:
Whatever you do DO NOT BUY A CANADIAN UNIT. The Canadian units are limited to 2w of transmission in GMRS mode, so they suck just as much as the 120's. The US models transmit at 5w for more than double the range.

Buy a US model 530 hcx (hcx = high sensitivity receiver for faster sat lock). Some Canadian Dealers will order you the US model, but otherwise shop on Ebay. You should be able to save at least $100 bucks anyway on a NIB 530hcx on Ebay. I see several under $400 each week.
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I have a US 530 - predecessor of the 530 hcx and the nav was great but was discappointed in the GMRS portion - it would talk fine to a 130, but when communicating with other straight GMRS units (4 different models, and not cheapies either) it would receive fine but all they heard was static when I transmitted. Tried changing channels same thing.

BTW if buying Garmin keep a copy of your receipt. For warranty work they use a Quebec company that will charge for warranty work if you don't have your receipt ( which can happen if you buy on line, print no receipt and later lose your data) . Even if you register your unit with Garmin on purchase it won't help since this Quebec company has no access to Garmin's database - at least that's their story.


Anyway I bought an Oregon 300 when thay came out along with a pair of GMRS units and really love it. Very sensitive and I can upload all the maps ( already had topo canada) I need on chips.
 
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Just bought a Bushnell Backtrack. Not really a true GPS but easy as pie to operate. Played around with it a bit and seems quite accurate for getting you back to your starting point. Very economical as well.
 
I used to stritly use compass...
a few years ago I got an etrex yellow jobby, 129.99 I believe.
I hunt a lot, fish a lot and hike a lot..This unit provides me everything I need
though I have friends with higher end units
 
Found this about the Colorado( similar to Oregon)

I imagine they do suffer in cold weather and I read they dont work with gloves.

The manual provided by Garmin cite the operating range as..

From -4°F to 158°F (from -20 to 70°C)
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cdngunner said:
Found this about the Colorado( similar to Oregon)

I imagine they do suffer in cold weather and I read they dont work with gloves.
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Most GPS suffer from cold weather once you get down to the -20c.
I dont believe my 300 will cause that much trouble, my Etrex legend also suffered below the -20c mark, I think they all will have trouble exposed on a quads handlebars.
 
retepnosflow said:
Most GPS suffer from cold weather once you get down to the -20c.
I dont believe my 300 will cause that much trouble, my Etrex legend also suffered below the -20c mark, I think they all will have trouble exposed on a quads handlebars.
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Most electronics will suffer at cold temps.

It seems that the touch screen begins to suffer before the electronics, from what I have been reading so far
 
having far too much $ to spend on toys, I bought a magellan first , garmin second, and finally my ifinder hunt c. Got rid of all of them , except for my ifinder huntc ! The ifinder has the best topo map out there for detail etc... icon specific for hunting , almost all the features of most garmins, accurate to within a meter. can't say anything bad about it, waterproof , floats , comes in camo, clear good sized screen. Only thing I don't like is that you can't use the topo canada 6-6.5 with the new windows 7 or vista OS , for that you must buy version 7 and it's still far and between finding it (around here at least) The pro's definitely outweigh the cons, and you can use your previous versions custom map on it. Most of all, they are all good, buy and use what works for you. I happen to like the ifinder over the others :)
 
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