thanks for the advice guys!

[Gobble]

I've got the Rino 120 and hunt with a LOT of guys that have Rinos. I think that they are great. They absolutely go through some batteries, but with a car charger you can charge batteries every night.

I have seen the new 530 hcx (a hunting buddy of mine has three of them) track through very thick timber in deep ravines. Huge improvement over my 120. I also like the ability to send/receive positions, which you can't do with other handheld gps. It's really handy when your buddy has an animal down and wants help. All he has to do is mash a button and I have his position and can walk right to him.

I like to keep waypoints and tracks over a few days so that I can see what ground I've covered and where I am seeing consistent signs. Combined with the topo I can identify funnels and escape routes. I just think that they are way more than just a way out of the woods or something to keep you from getting lost.

Biggest drawbacks are cost and batteries, but I haven't personally met anybody that was unhappy with one.

Rick

 

I have had 2 of the Rino 120's and love them. Its great to be able to see where your hunting partners are on the screen and go to them at any given moment (or avoid them) . It's esp great for anyone with health problems or older folks that may have health problem because of the ability to walk directly to the others carrying the Rino, They track all rinos in the area and with so many folks using them you can look at the screen and know if someone may be in the draw you are planning to hunt.

I love mine

[bucklucky]

I never used a GPS till last year, man they are awesome. I could mark all and every wallow, elk rub, big bull I wsaw and go right exactly back to where it was if I wanted. I always used a compas to double check and get my heading though, I just found that easier pluss I trust a compas more   It made my life much easier getting back to the truck, kept me from taking the wrong ridges back in the dark. I only have the Rhino 120 and so does the wife. I bought mine brand new for $60.00. It is a nice tool especially when you are on a wilderness hunt and get fogged in.......absolutely no point of referance as far as sight goes. If my wife wouldnt have had here gps, we would have had to spend the night in the woods .

  ANother thinf it has really helped in doing is short cuts through the thick stuff  

[boneaddict]

I got lost because I was an idiot, that and my USGS map was incorrect which didn't help any.   I was using one of the first Garmins and it wouldn't aquire a signal down in th emoose bottom I was in with the dog hair crap and overhead canopy.  By the time I got to where I could aquire a signal, I was where I needed to be to get out.  That was probably the last time I didn't carry a compass.  I can imagine it being a useful tool for marking things.  Thankfully I have a photographic memory so don't rely on that much either.

[Intruder]

IMO GPS is a nice to have but I will often not carry it due to the added weight.  Since mine is a Rhino I do like the radio feature but again... luxary.  Apart from the radio aspect I generally will use the GPS for 2 things... marking the truck/camp(just in case) and marking a kill spot or honey hole.  Because of the battery aspect I also rarely have mine on... just occasionally through out the day. 

I would never ever rely on one however. Compass is the only way to go there.

Buy middle of the road to low end GPS/Rhino and use the money saved to upgrade optics, boots, weapon, etc.  No need having a deal where a guy has a 500$ GPS and a 75$ pair of boots and a 50$ pair of binos.  Not saying you do.... just making a point.   

[BK Dave]

IMO GPS is a nice to have but I will often not carry it due to the added weight.  Since mine is a Rhino I do like the radio feature but again... luxary.  Apart from the radio aspect I generally will use the GPS for 2 things... marking the truck/camp(just in case) and marking a kill spot or honey hole.  Because of the battery aspect I also rarely have mine on... just occasionally through out the day.  

I would never ever rely on one however. Compass is the only way to go there.

Buy middle of the road to low end GPS/Rhino and use the money saved to upgrade optics, boots, weapon, etc.  No need having a deal where a guy has a 500$ GPS and a 75$ pair of boots and a 50$ pair of binos.  Not saying you do.... just making a point.  

What about a $500 GPS and a $400 pair of boots and $1500 pair of Binos?? would that make it better???

[runamuk]

IMO GPS is a nice to have but I will often not carry it due to the added weight.  Since mine is a Rhino I do like the radio feature but again... luxary.  Apart from the radio aspect I generally will use the GPS for 2 things... marking the truck/camp(just in case) and marking a kill spot or honey hole.  Because of the battery aspect I also rarely have mine on... just occasionally through out the day.  

I would never ever rely on one however. Compass is the only way to go there.

Buy middle of the road to low end GPS/Rhino and use the money saved to upgrade optics, boots, weapon, etc.  No need having a deal where a guy has a 500$ GPS and a 75$ pair of boots and a 50$ pair of binos.  Not saying you do.... just making a point.  

What about a $500 GPS and a $400 pair of boots and $1500 pair of Binos?? would that make it better???

thats just braggin or showing off