Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: JackOfAllTrades on May 22, 2009, 08:50:07 AM

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Title: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on May 22, 2009, 08:50:07 AM

• What do you mark?
• Do you track your every step from the truck/hunt camp?
• Do you still carry lensatic compass too?
• Do you use maps uploaded or just waypoint entries?
• Have you ever depended on it only to be let down during bad weather?

-Steve

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: jackelope on May 22, 2009, 08:55:56 AM

the only thing i have ever done with my gps is marked my truck when i leave in an unfamiliar area and i marked a downed deer once because we had to come back to it in the dark to get him out. i have never had to depend on it to get me back to the truck nor have i ever tracked myself. my bud tracked us one day, it was amazing how far we walked.
mine is kind of a p.o.s. gps so the functions are limited.

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: Gobble on May 22, 2009, 09:00:05 AM

I use Rino 120's

My camp location and where I drop off the trail, plus I mark where I shot the animal in case I have to make 2 trips, the rino will take right back to where you downed the animal

Yes, I track my every step

Yes, I still carry a compass (batteries don't last forever)

My Rino has maps loaded

Yes, a couple of times. Occaisionally bad weather and terrain make it difficult to use, but I won't go in the woods without one since I started using it, they are a lifesaver.

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: Crunchy on May 22, 2009, 09:08:55 AM

Rino 530 for me, and the rest of our hunting group.  I mark camp, trails, where I cut in, down game, where Ive seen game etc.  Radio feature of Rino is nice, cause u can chat with hunting partners during day. 

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: bobcat on May 22, 2009, 09:22:22 AM

I use mine more while scouting than while hunting. They are great for getting to know an unfamiliar area in a limited amount of time. I will leave it on sometimes while hiking (or driving) so I can see my "track" on the map, but usually I leave it off and only turn it on to mark a waypoint, or to look at the map to see where I am. Leaving it on especially while actually hunting would be rather inconvenient it seems, plus the batteries would run down quickly. Also they dont work very well when stored in a pocket. I've thought of putting some velcro on the GPS unit and on the top of my hat so I could just stick it up there and walk around with it on the top of my head.  :)

I don't hunting without a compass either. I like to have both. When it is time to find my way back to the truck, I will turn the GPS on, get the bearing back to the truck, and then use the compass from there. No need to use the GPS continuously when the compass will work just as well, with no batteries.

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on May 22, 2009, 09:23:48 AM

I suppose I should have answered my own questions.

I mark camp, the truck and where I left the civilized road or trail. Then I mark certain things in the woods. Critters spotted, dens, Kitty scratching posts, Very fresh signs of big game. Since I don't have the topo features in my Garmin Rhino110, I do mark some danger areas.  Hunting and scouting.

I seldom leave it turned on to track every step. I actually make it a point not to leave it on unless I'm trying to locate a hunt partner that has a Rhino via the Position Reporting feature via GMRS. (or be located)

Yes, I carry a compass too. I have experienced bad weather where the GPS would not get signal and be able to report position. I seldom enter the woods without it, but I don't rely 100% on it. Even though it has a radio feature, I still use GMRS radio with hunt partners and my sons in legal fashion for safety since the Rhino eats batteries.

I remember the years before all these portable electronics. My compass skills were developed well, Now I still challenge my son's -using compass, to get us back to the truck. So, we still take a compas waypoint/sighting when we leave the truck.


-Steve

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: bobcat on May 22, 2009, 09:26:48 AM

Steve,

The weather shouldn't have any affect on your GPS. Trees and being down in the bottom of a canyon will. But I've never heard of the weather having any affect whatsoever.

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on May 22, 2009, 09:29:41 AM

I have been in dense fog and low thunder clouds where the GPS would not latch on to 'any' satelites.

-Steve

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: bobcat on May 22, 2009, 09:38:33 AM

http://www.gpsinformation.net/gpsclouds.htm

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on May 22, 2009, 09:58:55 AM

I have been in the INDIAN HEAVEN area SE of Mout Saint Helen's and SW of Mount Adams during absolutely terrible weather in the wide open meadows where there was no mountainous obstruction to any direction in the very near distance. I have used my Rhino all over this state and have experienced signal loss in heavy terrain and timber, but never have I experienced what I have down in Indian Heaven. There's a spot over by/in the Big or Little Lava bed where the compass will spin, yet the electronic GPS will still sinc up. I have been at the bottom of the canyon north of Slate Peak and Harts pass where there are mountains everywhere turned with only scrub timber below.. Where the horizon is only 30yds and nearly straight up. Rhino would track multiple satelites with only a small virtical window.

Now, I am aware of the magnetic interferance in several areas in Skamania county, That might account for something. But, I have also experienced lack of sat link north of Colville, but only during inclement weather. I've been to the same locations during good weather with expected results.

Its a radio frequency that's transmitted/recieved. EVERY radio frequency sign wave can be affected by weather. Whether that's near to the earth's surface, or sun spots much further away. Maybe some HAM on this forum can explain in detail. That person may attempt to prove me wrong, but this is what I've experienced.

I've seen three different Rhinos not work in Indian Heaven and elsewhere during bad weather. Yet work fine in good weather in Indian Heaven. To add to that, I've seen a Megelan and my Rhino not link up during inclement weather in the Winthrop/Mazama area, yet work fine later that trip in the same area.

-Steve

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: bobcat on May 22, 2009, 10:04:06 AM

Well that's interesting. I guess I just don't get out in the nasty weather that you do!.

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on May 22, 2009, 10:06:28 AM

 :P

Ok, I'm not proud of that part!

-Steve

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: Rowdy on May 22, 2009, 10:19:10 AM

Garmin Astro, to keep track of my pup, mark the truck, and keep track of disatance covered by me and the distance covered by the dog.  It also alerts me when dog is on point if he is out of sight.

Jake

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: Wacenturion on May 22, 2009, 11:06:48 AM

Garmin 520 Hcx's to do the same as already mentioned.  Radio feature is a must.

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: GoldTip on May 22, 2009, 11:15:39 AM

I took one with me when I went to Quebec hunting Caribou.  Figured it was big open country and having never been there wanted to be able to mark camp and animals and what not.  I ended up using my buddies Garmin Legend.  It was very easy to use, but truly never used it.  Marked camp, and it was interesting to pull it out and say, look how far I walked, but never had a problem navigating the area.  I do carry a compass in my pack, but have only dug it out maybe once in 30 years of hunting.

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: dbllunger on May 22, 2009, 11:37:28 AM

Used E-Trex's for quite a while.  Will be using a 60csx this fall.  Absolutely use them every year even for general use.

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: javman on May 22, 2009, 10:37:42 PM

I love my Rino 530HCx... Generally I turn it on at the truck, let it get a decent signal, then stick it in the top pocket of my pack, or coat pocket, and let it track the whole time. If I'm not using the radio, I turn the radio off to save battery juice. If you leave it on the main menu screen, you'll save juice too (as opposed to leaving it on the map screen, where it constantly has to re-draw the map).

I set waypoints every time I find a decent game trail, fresh rub, big buck, etc. If I'm out scouting in the winter and there's snow on the ground, I'll set a waypoint every time there's decent tracks entering or leaving the road. This clues you in on frequently used trails that might not be obvious from the road. Then when I'm bored every once in a while, I'll download all the data from the GPS to the computer, and look at all the tracks and waypoints in both National Geographic TOPO! and Google Earth.

Yup a quality compass is always in the pack. Never *depend* on the GPS, but it hasn't let me down yet.

Title: Re: Who uses a GPS while hunting?
Post by: alecvg on May 25, 2009, 09:53:31 PM

I use mine all the time.  I do track every step just in case, and I mark clearings or areas that look promising if I find them, or anything of intrest I may want to come back too.  I also mark camp, trails, the truck etc.  But I always have a campass and maps with me too.