Anyone Ever Use GPS When Hunting?

KCinKC · 09-10-2006, 05:16 PM

I'm looking for some recommendations from anyone who uses hand-held GPS while hunting. Does anyone here ever use these tools? If so, what is your favorite GPS and what are the pluses and minuses of the tool you use?

Thanks!

killer · 09-10-2006, 06:11 PM

I got a Garmin V as a gift worth about $400.00 I guess. The manual was too hard so I got the CD also through Cabela's to figure out how to use it. My buddy also got some other model about the same time as a gift. We have deduced the same conclusion with the handheld GPS:

They are not user friendly and way too complicated to use. We have both been unable to use it for simple basic navigation from the cabin. I would recommend the cheapest model out there without any download capabilities. No bells and no whistles. Tell the saleman, "All I want is for it to tell me where the truck is parked."

My brother also brought one up to the cabin trying to show it off. All I heard all week was, "I don't know what's wrong with this thing." It worked half the time.

I'm sure others will have great things to say about the GPS handheld, that I just don't know how to use it, etcetera.

I STAND BY THIS STATEMENT....THEY ARE NOT USER FRIENDLY!!!!

N2914J · 09-10-2006, 07:09 PM

I've got a Garmin eVista or something like that that I recieved as a present. If I have to buy a GPS though, I'd get one with topographic capabilities and a very high zoom. I like mine in the sense that I can set waypoints.

Full MeTal Jack · 09-10-2006, 07:40 PM

Worked with 3 different ones on boy scout outings. Yeah! Not user friendly.
Buy a couple quandrant USGS maps from Gaylord Sticke. Houston, Tx. Learn how to triangulte your postion. No Problem!
However, if hunting deep dark flat forest, the GPS showing you which direction to your truck could be a life saver.

Pumpkinheaver · 09-10-2006, 07:46 PM

I have the magellan meridian gold. The better half bought if for me for my birthday. It is much more accurate than the garmin I had before it. The thing is awsome. I use it while scouting to mark rub and scrape lines etc... Very easy to find your stand before daylight with one of these, no need to turn a flashlight on and maybe scare game off.

KCinKC · 09-10-2006, 09:40 PM

I failed to ask one additional question about having any problems in mountainous areas. I'm sure I need to stay out from under cliffs but has anyone had too many problems in the Rocky Mountains or Sierra's?

Again, Thanks!!!

Dale · 09-10-2006, 09:49 PM

I have the Garmin Vista and I have not encoutered a place where I couldn't pick up satelites.

My gripe with Garmin is the MapSource maping software...it sucks. Nothing like Topo, etc.

MapSource looks like something a second grade could design.

I like some resemblance of true topography.

Pumpkinheaver · 09-10-2006, 10:02 PM

The magellan I have will pick up the sats sitting in my recliner in the living room. With my old garmin I had a hard time picking up sats in thick forest. The newer magellan is awsome I have never lost GPS coverage with it. I also use it to go geocaching with the old lady and kids. I have taken through some very thick woods and brush and never had a problem.

Sav .250 · 09-11-2006, 09:57 AM

I`ve had for for about 3 years now and for me it`s been a battle.
I use it in my boat to check the speed but haven`t got it figured out yet
as far as going and coming. I can do somethings but.......
I guess you could say it`s a work in progress. Maybe i should get the CD
as some have stated................maybe a little "show and tell" is what i
need.

littlejoe872 · 09-11-2006, 03:11 PM

I have the Magellan Meridian Gold. It is awesome. I use it while riding my quad, but I have used it on road trips. The only thing is, now it is considered obsolete, but I have uploaded the new firmware recently. The new magellans out now are called Explorists, and they are just as good from what I've seen. Even better because they have USB ports, where the meridian uses a special cable, and I had to buy a USB converter to download the firmware, and maps from my computer.

Dale · 09-12-2006, 10:10 AM

Does anyone using Garmin MapSource mapping software think MapSource sux like I do?

Or is it just me?

I forgot to initially post, also, that TOPO works, partially, with the Garmin but I have trouble interfacing completely with TOPO and am unable to download routes from my Garmin to the TOPO map itself for file storing and printing later.

skikir · 09-29-2006, 11:58 PM

I have an old Magellan 315. has a small lcd display. pretty old tech. It works. I normally mark the position of the truck when I go into the bush just in case. It's nice to mark positions and then to down load them to a computer with a map system to see where you've been. BUT, I hook it up to an old HP 233MHZ lap top I keep in the truck with Delorme topo zone and whala! Istant nav system. Know exactly where you are real time. Gives speed direction distance, scroles the map and rotates it to direction of travel if you want (but that makes me dizzy on crooked roads!) Man it's great. My Delorme software is about 5 years old so it's way out of date and I hope to get updated for Christmas but you can see where you are on the map within yards (actually, after 911 its like a 100 yards). I've looked for roads and drove past them. When I back up I can tell the road has grown over! Of course it's not for out in the field but if your in the car navigating to a place you've never been to at O'dark thirty in poor weather it's great. I just throw the reciever on the dash board and navigate by the computer. Sometimes you get out on some old logging and mountain roads here in Oregon and one corner looks like another until you get disorentated and that is when the system really comes in handy.

09-10-2006, 05:16 PM	#1
KCinKC Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Midwest Posts: 7 Trader Rating: (0)	Anyone Ever Use GPS When Hunting? I'm looking for some recommendations from anyone who uses hand-held GPS while hunting. Does anyone here ever use these tools? If so, what is your favorite GPS and what are the pluses and minuses of the tool you use? Thanks!

09-10-2006, 06:11 PM	#2
killer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In the rat race Posts: 907 Trader Rating: (0)	I got a Garmin V as a gift worth about $400.00 I guess. The manual was too hard so I got the CD also through Cabela's to figure out how to use it. My buddy also got some other model about the same time as a gift. We have deduced the same conclusion with the handheld GPS: They are not user friendly and way too complicated to use. We have both been unable to use it for simple basic navigation from the cabin. I would recommend the cheapest model out there without any download capabilities. No bells and no whistles. Tell the saleman, "All I want is for it to tell me where the truck is parked." My brother also brought one up to the cabin trying to show it off. All I heard all week was, "I don't know what's wrong with this thing." It worked half the time. I'm sure others will have great things to say about the GPS handheld, that I just don't know how to use it, etcetera. I STAND BY THIS STATEMENT....THEY ARE NOT USER FRIENDLY!!!! __________________ "Yeee Hawww...I'm a cowboy on an iron horse." Killer's cabin: http://buckmountainchateau.com/

09-10-2006, 07:09 PM	#3
N2914J Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 391 Trader Rating: (0)	I've got a Garmin eVista or something like that that I recieved as a present. If I have to buy a GPS though, I'd get one with topographic capabilities and a very high zoom. I like mine in the sense that I can set waypoints. __________________ God Bless America

09-10-2006, 07:40 PM	#4
Full MeTal Jack Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 1,416 Trader Rating: (0)	Worked with 3 different ones on boy scout outings. Yeah! Not user friendly. Buy a couple quandrant USGS maps from Gaylord Sticke. Houston, Tx. Learn how to triangulte your postion. No Problem! However, if hunting deep dark flat forest, the GPS showing you which direction to your truck could be a life saver. __________________ [IMG]http://img287.echo.cx/img287/63/9130110x100a4vb.jpg

09-10-2006, 07:46 PM	#5
Pumpkinheaver Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,311 Trader Rating: (0)	I have the magellan meridian gold. The better half bought if for me for my birthday. It is much more accurate than the garmin I had before it. The thing is awsome. I use it while scouting to mark rub and scrape lines etc... Very easy to find your stand before daylight with one of these, no need to turn a flashlight on and maybe scare game off. __________________ Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!

09-10-2006, 09:40 PM	#6
KCinKC Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Midwest Posts: 7 Trader Rating: (0)	I failed to ask one additional question about having any problems in mountainous areas. I'm sure I need to stay out from under cliffs but has anyone had too many problems in the Rocky Mountains or Sierra's? Again, Thanks!!!

09-10-2006, 09:49 PM	#7
Dale Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Too Dang Hot, Arizona Posts: 4,284 Trader Rating: (0)	I have the Garmin Vista and I have not encoutered a place where I couldn't pick up satelites. My gripe with Garmin is the MapSource maping software...it sucks. Nothing like Topo, etc. MapSource looks like something a second grade could design. I like some resemblance of true topography. __________________ "It confuses me how some people can vigorously go against the 2nd. Amendment and still call themselves patriotic"-me Last edited by Dale; 09-10-2006 at 09:51 PM.

09-10-2006, 10:02 PM	#8
Pumpkinheaver Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,311 Trader Rating: (0)	The magellan I have will pick up the sats sitting in my recliner in the living room. With my old garmin I had a hard time picking up sats in thick forest. The newer magellan is awsome I have never lost GPS coverage with it. I also use it to go geocaching with the old lady and kids. I have taken through some very thick woods and brush and never had a problem. __________________ Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!

09-11-2006, 09:57 AM	#9
Sav .250 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Central Fla. Posts: 174 Trader Rating: (0)	I`ve had for for about 3 years now and for me it`s been a battle. I use it in my boat to check the speed but haven`t got it figured out yet as far as going and coming. I can do somethings but....... I guess you could say it`s a work in progress. Maybe i should get the CD as some have stated................maybe a little "show and tell" is what i need.

09-11-2006, 03:11 PM	#10
littlejoe872 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Rockland County, NY Posts: 343 Trader Rating: (0)	I have the Magellan Meridian Gold. It is awesome. I use it while riding my quad, but I have used it on road trips. The only thing is, now it is considered obsolete, but I have uploaded the new firmware recently. The new magellans out now are called Explorists, and they are just as good from what I've seen. Even better because they have USB ports, where the meridian uses a special cable, and I had to buy a USB converter to download the firmware, and maps from my computer.

09-12-2006, 10:10 AM	#11
Dale Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Too Dang Hot, Arizona Posts: 4,284 Trader Rating: (0)	Does anyone using Garmin MapSource mapping software think MapSource sux like I do? Or is it just me? I forgot to initially post, also, that TOPO works, partially, with the Garmin but I have trouble interfacing *completely* with TOPO and am unable to download routes from my Garmin to the TOPO map itself for file storing and printing later. __________________ "It confuses me how some people can vigorously go against the 2nd. Amendment and still call themselves patriotic"-me Last edited by Dale; 09-12-2006 at 10:12 AM.

09-29-2006, 11:58 PM	#12
skikir Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 15 Trader Rating: (0)	I have an old Magellan 315. has a small lcd display. pretty old tech. It works. I normally mark the position of the truck when I go into the bush just in case. It's nice to mark positions and then to down load them to a computer with a map system to see where you've been. BUT, I hook it up to an old HP 233MHZ lap top I keep in the truck with Delorme topo zone and whala! Istant nav system. Know exactly where you are real time. Gives speed direction distance, scroles the map and rotates it to direction of travel if you want (but that makes me dizzy on crooked roads!) Man it's great. My Delorme software is about 5 years old so it's way out of date and I hope to get updated for Christmas but you can see where you are on the map within yards (actually, after 911 its like a 100 yards). I've looked for roads and drove past them. When I back up I can tell the road has grown over! Of course it's not for out in the field but if your in the car navigating to a place you've never been to at O'dark thirty in poor weather it's great. I just throw the reciever on the dash board and navigate by the computer. Sometimes you get out on some old logging and mountain roads here in Oregon and one corner looks like another until you get disorentated and that is when the system really comes in handy.