iPhone hunting gps app - Trimble GPS Hunt Pro

[Easy-E]

This year I hunted some areas that I had not previously spent a lot of time in, and wanted to try out the GPS functionality on my iPhone 4s. I downloaded trial versions of both the Trimble GPS Hunt Pro app and the Hunting GPS Maps. I ended up going with the Trimble mostly because I found the user interface easier to use, and the price appeared to be better for offline (no wifi, no cell) cached maps. I bought the app for like $4.99 and then signed up for the premium monthly subscription ($2.99/mo) which allowed me to download all of the units topos and aerials for no additional cost and cache them for offline use. So for $8 I ended up with a very functional GPS capability that included detailed topos for the units i would be hunting in.

I didn't use the aerial maps much, and I didn't like how they looked when I did try to use them; however, the topo capability saved my bacon at least twice: once packing out in steep, rugged terrain with darkening, cloudy skies when I needed to hit the road fast; and another while hunting through the timber on a mountain top in the fog. Additionally, when hunting in areas I was less familiar with, the topos and GPS were good indicators in the dark that I was going down the right finger ridge to get to the area I wanted to hunt.

Anyways, I could say a lot more about the Trimble app, but the short story is that it worked well, was affordable, and I was very glad I had it. It made for a better hunt, no doubt about it. Maybe the best $8 I've ever spent.

Cheers!

[David Sharad]

Hi.
This is such a great information. I am also using Iphone hunting app.
Cheers.!

[Easy-E]

One other thing I should mention. The GPS capability on my iPhone only worked when my cell and wifi were active, even though there was no signal where I was at. I had to put the phone in airplane mode when I wasn't using the maps to save the battery, or my phone would periodically search for a cell tower. Maybe there is a way to do it more effectively. I'm not an expert on the program. I didn't find it overly burdensome to switch my iPhone in and out of airplane mode.

[Fletch]

That also shows public/private land? so there is no need to purchase a 200 dollar gps if you have a smart phone? I just returned from wyoming and montana and it would have been helpful to have the gps...I was going to buy one before next year but im liking what im hearing from you!

[jackelope]

One other thing I should mention. The GPS capability on my iPhone only worked when my cell and wifi were active, even though there was no signal where I was at. I had to put the phone in airplane mode when I wasn't using the maps to save the battery, or my phone would periodically search for a cell tower. Maybe there is a way to do it more effectively. I'm not an expert on the program. I didn't find it overly burdensome to switch my iPhone in and out of airplane mode.

You can cache maps on your phone on both apps you mentioned. Use these when there is no cell service. You have to cache maps on a WIFI connection prior to losing service. The hunting GPS maps app has a "Field Mode" function that turns off cell data. The Trimble does not.
The GPS functionality with your phone pales in comparison to an actual GPS. I don't have a GPS and make decent use of the phone but it's nowhere near what an actual GPS can do.

[fair-chase]

Jager, if you find a way to bypass the GPS location services while in airplane mode, I would love to hear about it. While toggling the airplane mode off/on is only mildly inconvenient, every time you toggle airplane mode you automatically send the phone into search mode for a tower. This causes a huge drain on battery life.

I went with Hunting GPS Maps and so far I am fairly satisfied. Only other source of frustration for me is that I do not have wifi, 3g, or 4g service at home. So caching maps before I head out can take a loooong time. I think I hear the faint sound of dial up when trying to download the cache's. 

[Yondering]

I'm using GPS Kit on my iPhone for hunting, dirtbiking, and navigating by car. It works really well, and does not require a cell signal for the gps to work. It also uses offline maps, that you download beforehand from your choice of a big list of maps (I mostly use Google Terrain and Google Hybrid, which is sattelite view and roads). It is $10 but gives way more functionality than my old GPS, and about the same accuracy. It lets me email my GPS track home to my wife (when there's cell service) so she can see where I'm at.

I like that it has the "squawk" function, that lets you and friends track each other (you see your gps track and theirs in different colors), if they are using the same app. You have to turn on this feature of course, and it only works when there's cell service unfortunately, but it's pretty handy when it works.

[jackelope]

I went with Hunting GPS Maps and so far I am fairly satisfied. Only other source of frustration for me is that I do not have wifi, 3g, or 4g service at home. So caching maps before I head out can take a loooong time. I think I hear the faint sound of dial up when trying to download the cache's. 

Doesn't that run your cellular data bill up huge without wifi??

[fair-chase]

I went with Hunting GPS Maps and so far I am fairly satisfied. Only other source of frustration for me is that I do not have wifi, 3g, or 4g service at home. So caching maps before I head out can take a loooong time. I think I hear the faint sound of dial up when trying to download the cache's. 

Doesn't that run your cellular data bill up huge without wifi??

No, I have "unlimited" everything. Though I'm sure it starts to get throttled at some point making it download even slower.

[LongTatLaw]

I found the trimble a little annoying to use mostly do to battery consumption. Then again it probably never got a fair chance because I have a Garmin Oregon and I buy the state specific 105$ chips. Those are awesome and i would not go back to a state like Wyoming without it. That said, in Wyoming this year I got into a heated discussion with a land owner. Both the hard printed state BLM style maps and my 105$ chip showed his track of land as public surrounded by private.

Well..he says he has owned that piece for 15 years and has no idea why its listed as public. The Gamie said they go by the 105$ chips as well...  We paid a "trespass" fee to calm the Land Owner...but they aren't 100% and i dont think the GPS Maps (105$ chips) people compensate such losses as my trespass fee.

Noooooo way Id hunt Wyoming without a very trusted GPS..be it a dedicated model or an App.

[steeliedrew]

The Trimble GPS Hunt App worked really well for me this last weekend. I recommend it for those who don't own a handheld GPS for sure.

[farmin4u_98948]

Is there any new info on the phone apps for my I phone 5s. I have an older garmin and need to update. Research has led me to this post and I was hoping for some more current info....  Thanks.