Recent comparison/reviews of GoHunt vs. HuntinFool vs. Epic Outdoors?

[kselkhunter]

I couldn't find any recent topics on this subject with the search tool, so thought I'd make a post.  I've used HuntinFool in the past prior to them introducing all the recent new features, and am familiar with GoHunt a little.  Have read good things about Epic Outdoors, as they're the original HuntinFool guys that started the new company. 


It appears that all of them now offer similar solutions.  Drawing odds for all western states.  Hunt planner.  Online 3D maps for hunt planning, etc.  Epic specializes more in the access to hunting consultants than GoHunt or HuntinFool does...although HuntinFool also offers that Epic seems to get the best reviews for those consultants from what I can tell.  I always enjoyed the printed magazines with HuntinFool, and both them and Epic still offer that.   GoHunt Insider seems to get good reviews for details on the hunt areas/odds primarily as I think most hunters of multiple states subscribe to GoHunt, but all 3 companies seem to have similar services now and it's no longer unique to GoHunt.


I know alot of guys on here use GoHunt.  Has anybody used the latest revision of HuntinFool with the 3D mapping/etc. or Epic as a comparison in the past year or so? 


I'm definitely going to subscribe to at least one of them, but considering subscribing to multiple of them to see.  Just debating if it's worth the multiple subscriptions (ie if one really has better use than the other)


Just curious if anybody has used all 3 or 2 of them or just 1 of them in the past year or two that could have some inputs.   Please chime in with thoughts on recent perspective of these offerings with the latest features.

[Alan K]

I subscribe to them all, GoHunt is easily the most user friendly and the one I use the most. Still enjoy having hard copies around the house though, and getting different perspectives on the hunt descriptions. GoHunt's descriptions are pretty generic but they have the best platform for filtering hunts.

[Stein]

I have or have had GoHunt, OnX and Basemap.  The GoHunt mapping is ok but you have to really be careful as many of the public/private boundaries are off, some by a pretty good amount.  The 3D is pretty good, rest of the stuff OK.  They don't have a few layers I like, but the layering system is better (easier) than Basemap.

Basemap and OnX are noticeably more accurate with boundaries as well as picking up trails that GoHunt doesn't.  I'll probably have both on my phone this year.

If I only could have one it would be OnX, but it's pricey for just mapping and I needed GoHunt for the research, so I went with Basemap for something like $20 for the year on sale.

[kselkhunter]

Thanks for the inputs guys.

@Stein - I use Basemap with the hunting GMU/stats layer turned on.  Does the GoHunt phone map/app provide anything that isn't already on the Basemap app?

From a odds/research perspective GoHunt seems to be the most popular.  And ability to filter better from what I hear.  HuntinFool didn't have that feature back when I previously subscribed to them so I don't know how theirs stacks up against GoHunt now.  And the Epic data is harder to get a read on without subscribing first.

[Buckjunkie]

I dropped Huntin Fool and went with Epic. I also have Eastman’s, GoHunt and OnX. Eastman’s and GoHunt cover more units than Epic, but I think Epic updates their research more thoroughly each year. OnX is a game changer. Having scouted for years from paper maps and aerial photos, OnX makes it easy to see where you are in relation to various boundaries.

Still, when it’s time to put in, I still make calls to Wardens, Biologists, taxidermists and meat cutters if I can get them to talk. It’s also invaluable to have a network of people willing to share information…but you need info to trade.

[Stein]

Thanks for the inputs guys.

@Stein - I use Basemap with the hunting GMU/stats layer turned on.  Does the GoHunt phone map/app provide anything that isn't already on the Basemap app?

From a odds/research perspective GoHunt seems to be the most popular.  And ability to filter better from what I hear.  HuntinFool didn't have that feature back when I previously subscribed to them so I don't know how theirs stacks up against GoHunt now.  And the Epic data is harder to get a read on without subscribing first.

Not really, you have to pay for Pro with Basemap to get the 3D and a few other things.  I've been pretty happy with the lower level Basemap, I don't see going back to OnX unless the price differential narrows considerably.  I used them for a long time but they are way overpriced compared to the competition.

I hope GoHunt puts the effort into improving their maps and then I'll only have to pay for one service.  Right now, I wouldn't rely on just them unless you don't hunt edges, small pieces or miss having all the trails and most accurate information.  If I was hunting the middle of a national forest, it would be fine but I don't hunt like that for the most part.

[huntnnw]

for draw odds I use Toprut and have for 4 years. All I need

[Alaskan]

I currently use GoHunt for "true" odds and some great articles they offer. Point creep is real and GOHunt shows the real odds of drawing, that is unless Non Resident tags get pulled and sold (UTAH).

I currently use Epic & Hunting fool for unit descriptions, but rely more on the information supplied by Epics consultants, as they have given me some amazing advice over the last 3 years. The same advice I got from Huntin Fool on 2-3 units was a bit more vague. I also feel EPIC has better information with the vast network that they have accumulated over the years. Better advice from more boots on the ground and working with some of the best guides in the West. 

In the end, the snap shot that Epic and Huntin Fool gives you in their yearly State Unit desciptions are pretty accurate. However, you need to make the extra effort and talk to somebody live or on the phone. This is where you truly get that extra information that can be the difference between seeing 300" bulls all day and hunting in an area that a 350+ may be in. Units can change year to year to due to fire and drought. Certain deer Units in Colorado are a prime example of this.

Hope this helps, just my two cents.