To GPS or not to GPS

[Alpine Mojo]

My suspicion is that most people who don't like maps and favor GPS have never mastered the use of a map.

Fixed it for ya.   

[Dhoey07]

My suspicion is that most people who don't like maps and favor GPS have never mastered the use of a map.

Fixed it for ya.   

A handheld GPS is a map.  It is a compass.  It is a pen.  It's a notepad. It is a altimeter.  It has a back light.  You can shoot an azimuth.  You can measure a distance.  It is many tools folded into one. 

[pianoman9701]

GPS is not a replacement for map and compass skills. It's an excellent and easy tool to be used with the understanding that it can fail. Know how to use a map and compass, how to triangulate and account for declination and keep a map in your pack and a compass around your neck. But, as long as it runs, a good quality, strong GPS is hard to beat for hunting hard all day and knowing exactly where your are when it's time to go home. I always have all three on me in the woods. I rarely use the map and compass anymore.

[Bob33]

I can’t think of any function a map can do that a GPS can’t; I can think of plenty of things a GPS can do that a map can’t.

[Fl0und3rz]

I like using UTM coordinates for getting a quick fix on my map, and otherwise, I like using the GPS to find a bearing between waypoints.  But otherwise, a map and compass are indispensable.

For people looking to improve their map and compass skills, I recommend this book.

https://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-Navigation-Finding-Altimeter-Mountaineers/dp/1594859450/

REI offers orienteering courses, and last I checked, they use this book.


Teaching kids maps reading and orienteering is also a fun activity while out camping.

[pianoman9701]

Assuming you have orienteering skills and keep a map and compass on you, why would someone not use a good GPS all the time? I can use an abacus, but I much prefer to do payroll using a computer. 

[Fl0und3rz]

Assuming you have orienteering skills and keep a map and compass on you, why would someone not use a good GPS all the time? I can use an abacus, but I much prefer to do payroll using a computer. 

And you probably wear boots, too. 

Think of a map as a wide screen GPS that you don't have to go through clunky menus to see exactly what you want. 

[boneaddict]

Assuming you have orienteering skills and keep a map and compass on you, why would someone not use a good GPS all the time? I can use an abacus, but I much prefer to do payroll using a computer. 

Weight and loss of "experience"

[Bob33]

Assuming you have orienteering skills and keep a map and compass on you, why would someone not use a good GPS all the time? I can use an abacus, but I much prefer to do payroll using a computer. 

Weight and loss of "experience"

Ah yes - the experience of not being able to find my truck in the dark with just a map. I forget that fun part.

[boneaddict]

Does add flavor to a story

[Fl0und3rz]

Assuming you have orienteering skills and keep a map and compass on you, why would someone not use a good GPS all the time? I can use an abacus, but I much prefer to do payroll using a computer. 

Weight and loss of "experience"

Then there is the loss of signal in the deep and dark areas or areas blocking southerly exposure.

I don't always get a signal, but I can follow along exactly where I am with map in hand, mostly.  That's why it's nice to check UTM coordinates, once I am back in the clear, for a quick fix on the map.

But the GPS is a nice comfort in a white out, even if you are still completely disoriented with the GPS.

[boneaddict]

That's a short version of what happened to me.  The one time I relied on the gps.   Lost signal then was in trouble.  If I had my head in the game or would have had a compass in my pocket, all would have been fine.   Lesson learned. One less gadget I had to buy or carry. 

[Fl0und3rz]

It's amazing how quickly things can go from light and wide open to dark and completely socked in like pea soup.  I had to look at my GPS (with signal) several times in disbelief, because I was so disoriented and in disbelief about where I was, everything looked foreign, and I had no trust in my ability to determine my location.  It was surreal. 

GPS is nice and convenient. Compass and map are convenient and good insurance.  Both are a good complement.

[Bob33]

Something I’ve used a GPS for on multiple occasions is creating a waypoint for an animal I’m hunting, and making a blind stalk. I range the animal, take a bearing on it, and plug the waypoint into my GPS. I can then “go to” the animal’s waypoint staying completely out of sight. The GPS tells me the distance to the animal as I stalk it. When I get to a shootable distance, I can start looking for a good spot to shoot from.  I’ve done that innumerable times with antelope, and a couple times with elk.  The last elk I did it with was 1360 yards away when I started. I blind-stalked within 115 yards before peeking over a ridge to see and shoot it; it never knew I was there.

With mapping programs I know exactly where I am, and where the boundaries are of the property I’m on. I can see landowner information for private land. I can find access to public properties that have just a tiny sliver accessible that I wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.

I know which GMU I’m in, which deer area I’m in, which elk area I’m in.

I can mark my dead animal and easily find it without flagging tape when making multiple retrievals. I can leave a bread crumb track of the path I walked out, so if I need to return in the dark I can follow it.

Sunrise/sunset information is available for my location, and any location I choose. I’ve hunted some special hunts in February and March. When does the regulation pamphlet indicate that legal shooting time ends on February 15?

If I get lost or injured I can give my exact location. With RINO models the information is transmitted automatically.

I do use maps to see the “large picture” sometimes, but just can’t understand why someone wouldn’t want to also take advantage of the many functions a tool that weighs half a pound offers.

To each his own.

[Crunchy]

I carry a GPS because when I am exhausted and in the thick nasty stuff it is nice to look at the GPS and see the shortest route to the trial.  I have never had one fail, but they do allow you to take your head out of the game and not pay attention to your surroundings.