Cell Phone Gps

[truck driver]

What is better for in the field? A cellphone with GPS app or a regular GPS like a Garmin?

 

[mjcmichigan]

Depends where you are. We have places in Michigan where there is no cell network. I'd think Alaska and the west have that problem too. I carry both, and a compass and map. Don't like the idea of being overnight in the Forrest without shelter...so getting out after a hunt, I want to get there. I use the cellular when I can, GPS next. Compass last...-I have been under thick conifer canopies where GPS won't work, and the Compass is the only viable choice (stars?). My GPS seems to struggle with trees and slow twisty paths, ridges, swamps etc


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[SJB358]

I like a plain old Garmin. A lot of the places I hunt would drain my battery so fast I'd worry about it. The Garmin stays in my pack until I need to mark an animal or need to get a reckoning where camp is at.

 

[salmonchaser]

I remember there was quite a discussion on this last year. I think Wisconsin teacher may have started it.
You might search for that thread.
It was a year ago, that's a long time ago with technology.
We like the Garmin rhino radio/GPS.
Our elk area has limited cell phone coverage at camp/ text is good. Once we get in the canyon no cell service at all.
The radios work well. I might not hear one of the guys but some one else will.
We can also keep track of our group throughout the day. Each time you key the radio a waypoint appears and a line indicating your approximate route is extended. Very handy in locating your partner's kill sight.
The maps are very detailed and accurate. Again very helpful in country that drops 1500 feet in a quarter mile.
Our deer hunting area is at least an hour drive from cell phone coverage.
We use them extensively in Alaska as well.
My guess on responses will be the more remote you are the greater the value of a GPS, gps/radio.


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[truck driver]

Thanks for the info. I'm so use to using my instincts to find my way it will be a novelty to own a GPS. I've been reading maps since I was 10yrs old and the good Uncle Sam taught me to read grid maps. Navigating at night or in the dark has never been a problem either. My Dad would drop me off at 0500 and tell me to meet him back at the car at 1700 and I was never late and hunted areas that I had never been in before. If he trailed me I'll never know since I never saw him while hunting on these trips and he never commented on seeing me. I'm not bragging just reminiscing from days gone by. But do believe I'll need something next fall in Montana. Might have to dig out the old GI issue compass.

 

[Polaris]

Use all your tools. I don't use the cell phone much for navigation afield except for driving. Battery just isn't trustworthy and those things are fragile. Also lacks the built-in mapping and waypoints that are found in even the low-end hand held GPS units. I have a cheap Garmin from about 10 years ago that does whatever mapping and waypoints I need off the road. Same for water navigation and fishing spots. You can get apps and save it in the phone, but touch screens and fish blood, deer tallow and balsam sap do not mix well.

I also go nowhere without a compass.

 

[bdbrown66]

If you are hunting in timber, deep hollows, etc., you need a GPS with a high-gain antenna. I have a couple of the old Etrex H models (yellow), which are real basic. The Etrex Vista HCx is my preferred unit, but still an older model. The "H" in the model name indicates that it has the high-sensitivity antenna. I can get a satellite lock in my basement with these units.

I don't know if all of the newer units have the high-gain antennas or not. I have no reason to upgrade at this point in time, so I haven't bothered to find out. But I'm quite sure that the cell phone GPS will not give you that kind of performance.

 

[salmonchaser]

Good point on the compass. I actually carry two. One in my pocket one in my pack. And even though I have hunted the same area for more than 25 years I have a good map in my pack. Just like building a fire I'll refresh my map and compass skills from time to time.
Interesting comment on the high end antenna. My Garmin definitely will not work in the basement, but always seems to work pretty good in big timber.


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[truck driver]

Which model and brand do most of you use? I looked for a past post on this subject but can't find it any where.

 

[Guy Miner]

GPS absolutely!

Mama treated me to a new one for Christmas, AND I loaded it with a chip that tells me land ownership here in Washington! So, when I'm hunting one of those border-areas, where there is some public and some private land mixed... I can tell where I am, and avoid trespassing easily.

Used it a lot on my recent elk hunt. I had permission to hunt some private land, but not all.

GARMIN Montana, easy to use, has tons of topo maps already loaded. And don't be like me, I first thought it was just for use in Montana. Doh! Nope, that's just the model name. It works everywhere.

Guy

 

[bdbrown66]

Which model and brand do most of you use? I looked for a past post on this subject but can't find it any where.

As stated, I use the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx. It's an older unit, but it does everything I want, and does it well. You can find used ones on eBay for under $100. If you want to spend more for a new unit, the eTrex 20x or 30x would be where I'd start, unless you want to spend a lot of money for more bells and whistles.

 

[salmonchaser]

We use the Garmin rhino. I have the 650. We like being able to keep track of each other. shoot, move communicate.
For us the greatest value is hearing Sierra bravo down. I can look at their location on my screen and respond with; sucks to be you, I'll hunt to your location or I'll hike out, get the truck and packs and come down your ridge.
Better then getting back to camp and finding out I could have packed a load out, going that way any way, and saved a day.
Safety is another feature. Since we are able to track each other, if a search is needed, being able to go to his last known location would help.


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[Dr. Vette]

Depends where you are. We have places in Michigan where there is no cell network.

Like the house I just sold. Cell service ended at the end of my driveway.

 

[lefty315]

I use a Garmin Vista HCX and it has performed great, even in heavy tree canopy.

One thing I recently stumbled across that I'm having fun playing with is an app. It allows you to download any USGS map for free onto your phone or tablet. You can then use the gps, in airplane mode or without cell service, to see where you are on the map. There area few apps that do the same thing but the one I got was free and downloading the maps uses very little storage. The app, in the iTunes Store, is called National Parks Maps. You can also download the same maps they give you at the entrance to National parks when you drive into them.

I see myself really using this system in my truck while out in BLM land where the roads aren't marked well, but the maps tend to show a lot of the numbered 2 tracks.

I saw a guy traveling through Death Valley using this on a YouTube video, so any of you over landers might like this.

 

[Elkman]

Garmin E-trex, I don't believe in trusting, one electronic device to always get the job done. I am currently on my third cell phone. I believe in redundancy, especially where communications are limited.

 

[mjcmichigan]

We use the Garmin rhino. I have the 650. We like being able to keep track of each other. shoot, move communicate.
For us the greatest value is hearing Sierra bravo down. I can look at their location on my screen and respond with; sucks to be you, I'll hunt to your location or I'll hike out, get the truck and packs and come down your ridge.
Better then getting back to camp and finding out I could have packed a load out, going that way any way, and saved a day.
Safety is another feature. Since we are able to track each other, if a search is needed, being able to go to his last known location would help.


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I've been wondering how the Rhinos are...for just the reasons you mentioned. I hunt with my 80 yr old father-in-law in the Michigan UP. You can get in stretches where you can walk 100 miles without crossing a road. Yes, I don't let him talk me into those places, but like Guy...that guy is so directionally impressive...when I was dating my wife, we were with her parents (35 yrs ago), we pulled over on the highway, walked 6 miles to Lake Superiors shore to watch the sun set. Going back, in the dark (no flashlight) when we got back to the highway, 4 hours later round trip...we missed the car the by only 30 yards...he's still at home in the woods.

I'd need the Rhino to find my way....


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[truck driver]

We use the Garmin rhino. I have the 650. We like being able to keep track of each other. shoot, move communicate.
For us the greatest value is hearing Sierra bravo down. I can look at their location on my screen and respond with; sucks to be you, I'll hunt to your location or I'll hike out, get the truck and packs and come down your ridge.
Better then getting back to camp and finding out I could have packed a load out, going that way any way, and saved a day.
Safety is another feature. Since we are able to track each other, if a search is needed, being able to go to his last known location would help.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've been wondering how the Rhinos are...for just the reasons you mentioned. I hunt with my 80 yr old father-in-law in the Michigan UP. You can get in stretches where you can walk 100 miles without crossing a road. Yes, I don't let him talk me into those places, but like Guy...that guy is so directionally impressive...when I was dating my wife, we were with her parents (35 yrs ago), we pulled over on the highway, walked 6 miles to Lake Superiors shore to watch the sun set. Going back, in the dark (no flashlight) when we got back to the highway, 4 hours later round trip...we missed the car the by only 30 yards...he's still at home in the woods.

I'd need the Rhino to find my way....


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You guys are bring back some old memories.
I was doing a tour with the MD National Guard and we were down in VA at Ft AP Hill not too far from Scotty. Someone decided we needed to freshen up our night land navigation skills. They dropped us off with full gear in the middle of no where and gave the 90 day wonder a topo map, a compass and a radio. we had 5 miles to get to the pick up point. We walked around for several hours running into barbed wire fences and everything else in the dark. We stopped for a break so the luey could get his bearings and look at the map and compass. He asked someone how many paces we had gone and they said they had lost count. Yep he was lost with a whole platoon of men. But it gets better, he laid the radio down beside a tree when he was trying to read the map in the dark. Did I say dark, no moon or stars could be seen since we were in a black pine forest with no view of the sky. We walked a good half hour before he realized he didn't have that radio. Now he was more worried about the radio then he was getting us out and going back in the day light to find it. He had no idea where he could have dropped it. No one would go back with him to find it since they were all pi$$ed off and you have to understand the week end warrior attitude they were ready to beat the crap out of this guy. So I volunteered to go back with him to find the radio. I back tracked following the tracks we had left in the pine needle covered ground to a large Burch tree where we had stopped and found the radio propped up against it. When we got back to the platoon I asked for the map and compass, used a red light to read both figured where we were and where we had to go took charge after some words with the 90 day wonder and lead the platoon to the pick up area just before the trucks were going to leave to go back to camp where more words were exchanged with the Capt and the 90 day wonder got chewed out .
Like you father in law I had made the woods my play ground as a child and know how to get around fairly well even in unfamiliar areas.
Not bragging just reminiscing from days gone by.

 

[Thankful Otter]

Rodger, at a very young age we are taught to "read" the mountains, trees, bushes, streams and game trails. I doubt if I could get "turned around" in the mountains, but the ice is a completely different matter, it can be brutal. We dont even try to get back in extreme weather, because that is when "getting lost" is easy to do. We are always prepared to "set it out".

Too your question more directly, our unit off choice is the same as Salmonchaser, we like the Rhino. My husband and I both have one and we both like them, like Dr Mike, Guy, and Gil, the rich people on this forum who never leave home without their American Express card, we never leave home without our Rhino

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o.k. my usual distractors think I am bragging and being arrogant and I am going to respond on the open forum

1. I am not bragging at all, as others, like perhaps Gil will tell you, "learning" about and how to live in the wild is part of our upbringing and I was agreeing with Rodger

2. No, I will not delete my post

3. I swear to god, that you are VERY close to me exposing you on the open forum and at the very least reporting you to Jim.

4. I am sooooooo tired of this s---

 

[truck driver]

Rodger, at a very young age we are taught to "read" the mountains, trees, bushes, streams and game trails. I doubt if I could get "turned around" in the mountains, but the ice is a completely different matter, it can be brutal. We dont even try to get back in extreme weather, because that is when "getting lost" is easy to do. We are always prepared to "set it out".

Too your question more directly, our unit off choice is the same as Salmonchaser, we like the Rhino. My husband and I both have one and we both like them, like Dr Mike, Guy, and Gil, the rich people on this forum who never leave home without their American Express card, we never leave home without our Rhino

----------------------------------

o.k. my usual distractors think I am bragging and being arrogant and I am going to respond on the open forum

1. I am not bragging at all, as others, like perhaps Gil will tell you, "learning" about and how to live in the wild is part of our upbringing and I was agreeing with Rodger

2. No, I will not delete my post

3. I swear to god, that you are VERY close to me exposing you on the open forum and at the very least reporting you to Jim.

4. I am sooooooo tired of this s---

Thanks for your response Cheyenne. My father did teach me some of the skills I have learned along the way but I think most of them are inherited from my Mother's Mother and Grandmother. They called me the little wild Indian Boy for a reason when I was growing up and I'm very proud of my heritage.
My main reason for this post was to learn what was available and what I could use to stay out of trouble when I go to Montana. One just can't roam free and easy like I could back in the day.
So please let us know who this distractor is I'm sure we can have some fun with him.

 

[mjcmichigan]

We use the Garmin rhino. I have the 650. We like being able to keep track of each other. shoot, move communicate.
For us the greatest value is hearing Sierra bravo down. I can look at their location on my screen and respond with; sucks to be you, I'll hunt to your location or I'll hike out, get the truck and packs and come down your ridge.
Better then getting back to camp and finding out I could have packed a load out, going that way any way, and saved a day.
Safety is another feature. Since we are able to track each other, if a search is needed, being able to go to his last known location would help.


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I've been wondering how the Rhinos are...for just the reasons you mentioned. I hunt with my 80 yr old father-in-law in the Michigan UP. You can get in stretches where you can walk 100 miles without crossing a road. Yes, I don't let him talk me into those places, but like Guy...that guy is so directionally impressive...when I was dating my wife, we were with her parents (35 yrs ago), we pulled over on the highway, walked 6 miles to Lake Superiors shore to watch the sun set. Going back, in the dark (no flashlight) when we got back to the highway, 4 hours later round trip...we missed the car the by only 30 yards...he's still at home in the woods.

I'd need the Rhino to find my way....


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

You guys are bring back some old memories.
I was doing a tour with the MD National Guard and we were down in VA at Ft AP Hill not too far from Scotty. Someone decided we needed to freshen up our night land navigation skills. They dropped us off with full gear in the middle of no where and gave the 90 day wonder a topo map, a compass and a radio. we had 5 miles to get to the pick up point. We walked around for several hours running into barbed wire fences and everything else in the dark. We stopped for a break so the luey could get his bearings and look at the map and compass. He asked someone how many paces we had gone and they said they had lost count. Yep he was lost with a whole platoon of men. But it gets better, he laid the radio down beside a tree when he was trying to read the map in the dark. Did I say dark, no moon or stars could be seen since we were in a black pine forest with no view of the sky. We walked a good half hour before he realized he didn't have that radio. Now he was more worried about the radio then he was getting us out and going back in the day light to find it. He had no idea where he could have dropped it. No one would go back with him to find it since they were all pi$$ed off and you have to understand the week end warrior attitude they were ready to beat the crap out of this guy. So I volunteered to go back with him to find the radio. I back tracked following the tracks we had left in the pine needle covered ground to a large Burch tree where we had stopped and found the radio propped up against it. When we got back to the platoon I asked for the map and compass, used a red light to read both figured where we were and where we had to go took charge after some words with the 90 day wonder and lead the platoon to the pick up area just before the trucks were going to leave to go back to camp where more words were exchanged with the Capt and the 90 day wonder got chewed out .
Like you father in law I had made the woods my play ground as a child and know how to get around fairly well even in unfamiliar areas.
Not bragging just reminiscing from days gone by.

It Ain't Braggin if you can do it!


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