What gps are you using?

What gps are you guys carrying in the field? I have started relying on my I-phone as my gps. I use the GPS kit app mainly. The maps on this app are good but the main feature I like is the ability to email tracks & waypoints. Once I'm done scouting or hunting I email the map to myself & open in google earth to study. If I mark any new waypoints or any trails on google earth I have the option to import them back into GPS kit. The only drawback I have found is battery life on the phone so I always carry a compass as the trusty back up.

I use a trusty old Magellan Explorist 100. It's very simple and has never given me a problem with losing satellite signal in heavy canopy.

I carry two extra batteries for my phone. My phone sucks on battery! I use a Garmin ETrex. It's not the coolest out there but I don't get lost!

Garmin GPSMap 60cs and I have a Garmin 12 XL as a backup. I also use Motion X GPS app on my iPhone.

DeLorme PN30 here. I really like it.

HTC phone. I need a real GPS since the phone get's you close w/Google Earth but not pinpoint close.

I use a Garmin Etrex. I mark a waypoint for the truck and then I turn the GPS off until I start wondering how far I am from the truck...

Have a Lowrance IHunt C , never really used it though .

NanookOdaNorth wrote:I use a Garmin Etrex. I mark a waypoint for the truck and then I turn the GPS off until I start wondering how far I am from the truck...

I use an old Garmin Map 76 and do the same as you Nanook unless I find something I want to find again I'll turn it on and mark it as a waypoint.

Garmin Dakota 20 I'd highly recommend it or the Oregon to anyone in the market.

That is what I am using. I got an Oregon 400t and I really love it.

Garmin GPSMaps 60csx. Couldn't hunt with out it anymore.

x2 on the Garmin 60csx. I use some software called ExpertGPS to file and save everything. It auto loads aerial and topo maps for the waypoints, tracks and routes I have saved. When I get home from scouting, hunting or fishing, I download the tracks and it shows me on the map exactly where I have been. I set up different files for each hunting area and lake to keep the unit uncluttered. I especially like to find a new area on an aerial photo, pick out spots to mark waypoints, download to the unit, then go and check them out.

Whispers Death

im using the Garmin etrex 20 atm, great little unit

I use the E-trex30, and like NanookOdaNorth said I mark waypoint for my Jeep, turn it off, go about my business, when I'm ready to leave, no matter where I am I just turn it back on, take a bearing to my Jeep, turn it back off and walk. Awesome investment.

i use a rino 160 love it i can get help if i need it to get game out and tracking is muck better one person looking and help can get to you

I'm really thinking about getting one this year. I need one that will work in heavy canopy. It needs to be able to record my walking path so I can get to the exact tree I want while avoiding bedding areas and other things. Needs to be able to record several of these.

I'm researching these as possibles:

Garmin Oregon 450T
Magellan Explorist 610
Lowrance endura
Garmin etrex Vista hcx

Any tips or hints would be nice since I've never owned a GPS before.

I am a little bias, but I would go with the Oregon 450T. The garmin units are super easy to use and there are more gadgets and computer programs than you would ever need available for them, far more than any competitor. I personally think that their customer service is second to none also. I have never had trouble picking up satellites with my unit. You might want to spend the little bit extra and get the 550t because it has a camera. My buddy bought one and I thought that he would never use the camera, but he uses it all the time. You can use the photos in many ways too. You can use them as waypoints or upload them to your google earth(if you don't have it download it, it great) and they are compatible with many other mapping programs.

My Magellan 315 GPS is old (I've had it since 1999), just like me and all the rest of my hunting equipment. During a hunt, with two friends, on 1-8-2009 I lost it. I didn't realize it was gone until the next morning after changing areas for another hunt. While getting all my gear together I realized that I didn't have my GPS. I checked through everything but finally accepted the fact that I had lost it somewhere between where I had hunted yesterday evening and my truck. There wasn't but one thing for me to do and that was to go back and look for it. I remembered that I had put it in the left inside vest pocket before climbing down. I figured it was where I had parked and took my vest off or either at the base of the tree I had hunted. I figured it had fallen out, without me noticing, when I bent over to take my climbing hooks off.

I drove back and checked where I had been parked, not there so I drove to the camping area and it wasn't there either. I drove back and parked and walked to the tree the way I had walked out.... it wasn't near the tree. I searched all the way back to the truck and accepted the fact that I wasn't going to find it and drove back to the other area for a three hour hunt.

The three of us got together again for another hunt at the same place, three weeks later, on 1-29-2009. We walked in for a half a mile or so before going separate ways. After the hunt we met back at the tree that I had hunted, when I lost my GPS, to walk out together. Our way to the truck was to walk a compass bearing through a flat, cypress bottom with knee high ground clutter. On the walk out we spread out hoping to find the GPS. We were walking a compass bearing, towards the vehicles but the natural terrain sort of forces you to zigzag while walking around obstacles. At one point about half way out we found ourselves in single file with Lloyd leading. He said "I sure would like to find that GPS" and less than 10 steps later he came to a stop and said "Warren, here's your GPS". It was lying face up and his light had reflected off the glass.

Back at the truck I cleaned it up, put in new batteries and it was good as new. I was relieved to find it because it had taken many years to create the 300 plus way-points recorded in it. I know that it's outdated and not near about as good as a modern day GPS but the only way that I'll replace it with a newer/better one is if I really lose it or it quits working. I guess that's an old man thing. lol

i use gaia gps on my android phone. i can locate my position, record my tracks, save locations and more!!! love it!!

Mr. Womack, it's great to see you on here again. Look forward to your huntin stories this season. All the best of luck & safety.

Im using my car gps lol. It is pretty good and has a walking setting which shows good topo maps. Its a Garmin Nuvi 550. Got it free by taking a class so it'll do. That along with a compass.

Thanks for the tips folks!

What does anyone have as far as advice for Iphone GPS apps? I'm aware of the battery life issue, but for half day hunts or whatnot, it should serve fine I believe. Is there a particular app that seems to be superior to others in this respect?

Iphone apps. what if someone calls?

I carry my phone which has a gps mapping tool, but I prefer my 6yearold Explorist 210, never fails. I bought a spankin' new 310, but returned it, wasn't all that good.

I have Vantage Point software that acknowledges the gps and can transfer back and forth, intuitive to googlemaps etc., etc.. I carry two spare batteries for an all day affair, good part about it I can dwnload the days events and I can see where it overlaps previouse accounts....helps to track deer over a period of days weeks months and yes even years, camera pics help to establish who made it and who went to someone's freezer....

Hope this helps...