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Hunting GPS?

n6dlh

n6dlh

Active Member
SH Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2020
Messages
168
Location
Smithfield, VA
Wanted to see if anyone uses a dedicated GPS for hunting?
I hunt, fish, camp, and Motorcycle in a lot of places without cell phone coverage so years ago I bought a Garmin Inreach Mini as a backup form of communication. Its has been a great tool and always gets the word out when I need it. I use GPS a lot when hunting and scouting, and tend to use On X Hunt. Its a great app and has a lot of features. I have recently been looking at the Montana 700i so I have a dedicated GPS and Inreach device. Planning on some western hunts, and it has turn x turn nav for the MC. My wife recently upgraded her phone so I have a spare Samsung Galaxy Note 20. Really thinking about using that as a dedicated GPS for the MC and Hunting so I can use On X and whatever else I want. The downfall of the Montana is On X Hunt chips are not compatible.

What do you use and why?
 
I've had a Garmin 64st for about 6 or 7 years now and use it just about every time I go out scouting. I really like it. If it went out tomorrow or I lost it I would buy something similar. I looked at the In Reach. It seems nice. I like the texting feature, but cell service has gotten a lot better where I live and hunt in recent years.

People will debate that dedicated GPS is redundant with a cell phone. I think I like having the dedicated with me too. For one, if you have spare batteries, you can be back in the game. If your phone dies, you either need a recharge pack or a compass. Also. last fall I was using my phone with OnX to navigate, and I kept thinking this seems wrong. For one thing, the sun was where is should not have been. That was an obvious sign. I stopped, took out the Garmin and checked it and the phone had me going 180 degrees the wrong way. It hasn't happened often but that was a bit unnerving.
 
I do a lot of solo hunts out of cell range.

I use OnX on my iPhone and download and save the map I'll need. I also have a garmin inreach. I also carry an Anker batter pack that can charge my iphone and garmin, and carry all the cords I'll need (the battery and cords go in a dedicated dry sack).
 
I have a Garmin Oregon and used it in the past. I have since switched to onx with my phone. The accuracy appears to be the same at +/-3 meters on both devices. The phone is just easier as i always have it. I'm actually looking at switching to Gaia Gps app instead of onx.

Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk
 
I use a dedicated handheld GPS, in addition to HuntStand on my iPhone. It’s a small one with extra long battery life - the Garmin eTrex 22X. I save (and backup) my waypoints in both so I’m not stuck if there’s a glitch or malfunction with either of them. I also prefer to use the Garmin for recording and following “tracks” for tricky entry & exit of hunting stands. I do it instead of putting reflective tacks or flagging in the woods, which would be an indication to other hunters of where their competition is hunting.

Saving tracks is possible on HuntStand, but it clutters up the display too much so I prefer to use the Garmin for that because you can hide all tracks except the one you’re following. I also find that the battery life of the iPhone with a GPS-enabled app running is pretty short in comparison the Garmin.
 
i was planing on getting one when i had my old phone that wasn't that reliable. my new phonehas good service/gps and battery so i don't see as much of a need but if i ever go out west or somewhere else that i'd need some sort of backup i'd get a garmin. toss up between inreach and mini2
 
I carry my good phone, off and in a ziploc bag, always a compass, and a dedicated old iphone just for onx and it doubles as my hunting camera, for emergencies I always carry my ACR PLB.
 
raisins said:
I do a lot of solo hunts out of cell range.

I use OnX on my iPhone and download and save the map I'll need. I also have a garmin inreach. I also carry an Anker batter pack that can charge my iphone and garmin, and carry all the cords I'll need (the battery and cords go in a dedicated dry sack).
Click to expand...
True story:
I went 7 miles into the Great Dismal Swamp. I had my Deer Permit from USFWS but did not buy my bear permit. I had a Virginia bear tag. I watched a 500 pound plus black bear come under me an cross the road. No cell service at all. Tried to get on the USFWS to buy my permit and not able to. Hoping this big boy would come back I was able to get a Sat message out to my wife so she could buy my permit for me. Of course my wife comes through and I get a message back in like 20 minutes saying I am good to go. Of course I did not see but one small bear the rest of the season.
 
This thread brings up a good question. Though I don’t wanna change the direction of the thread cause I know how annoying that can be. But like @LoadedLimbs mentioned, when I run OnX while in the woods it chews through my battery. Even worse when it’s cold out. Is anyone carrying a good battery pack or charger of some sort that really gets the job done while out all day?
 
Yes I usually carry a large lithium pack with me. And as far as the question goes I believe it is very relevant to the thread. I have had scout and hunts that ripped through my phone battery. Also having another phone that is dedicated to on X seems to be the way to go. With the primary phone as a backup.
DFD33E78-ECED-4A62-AB6D-C1EB67ADB144.jpeg
I ordered one of these for scouting. Figured on the way out I can use it to nav out. Some of the places in the swamp are too thick, it is amazing how quickly you can get turned around. I forgot to mark the map with the tree I was in and left my Mathrews bow in the woods. Made the 1/4 mile hike back to my bike to do the 3 mile ride. I was short on time and in a hurry, not a great thing to do, that is when mistakes happen. I realized it and went back in, overcast moonless night. Spent 2 hours looking for it before I found it. When hunting thick woods I I do a track in, and mark the tree I am in, in case I leave anything.
 
VaBruiser said:
This thread brings up a good question. Though I don’t wanna change the direction of the thread cause I know how annoying that can be. But like @LoadedLimbs mentioned, when I run OnX while in the woods it chews through my battery. Even worse when it’s cold out. Is anyone carrying a good battery pack or charger of some sort that really gets the job done while out all day?
Click to expand...

Anker brand stuff is great for the price and they make all different size battery packs. The one I have I believe will charge a typical device 4 times. So, that is twice for my phone and twice for my satellite rescue beacon if needed. I never go far enough to need more than that.
 
Garmin Rhino with OnX chip. I rarely have cell signal where I hunt, so I avoid using my phone for anything that isn't an emergency. My Garmin takes the same batteries as my flashlight(s) so I carry a few 4-packs of AAs distributed among my kill kit, belt, pack, etc.
 
Yea garmin 62 for over 7 years or more. Have a lot of information in there. Rechargeable batteries. One of the best upgrades I did.
 
VaBruiser said:
This thread brings up a good question. Though I don’t wanna change the direction of the thread cause I know how annoying that can be. But like @LoadedLimbs mentioned, when I run OnX while in the woods it chews through my battery. Even worse when it’s cold out. Is anyone carrying a good battery pack or charger of some sort that really gets the job done while out all day?
Click to expand...
If you download your maps for offline use, you can flip the phone to airplane mode while using onx and use the saved offline map. Battery will last a long time that way. I do also have a 10k mah ankor charger that is always in my pack and 21k for extended hunts that stays where ever camp is.
 
I use with no cell coverage

1.) onX on the cell for pinning, tracking and mapping
2.) Compass Galaxy free download for direction of wind at my position, arrow shot direction and last seen deer direction
3.) Spot X satellite messenger to communicate with wife and in case of emergency

The onX and Spot X are supposed to work without cell coverage, but I was surprised the Compass Galaxy app works without cell coverage. I guess it works off the phone GPS.
 
Topdog said:
I carry my good phone, off and in a ziploc bag, always a compass, and a dedicated old iphone just for onx and it doubles as my hunting camera, for emergencies I always carry my ACR PLB.
Click to expand...

Did you happen to look at the rescueME PLB1. It's made by an ACR subsidiary, and also uses COSPAS/SARSAT networks to signal SOS. I'm eyeing it because it is a bit less expensive and smaller.
 
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