looking for a gps unit

norcal99 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 11:27 AM

wondering if any of you know of a good unit for hunting

tmoniz · #2 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 11:38 AM

I thought about GPS for awhile and then scraped the idea for some good maps and a good compass.
And a good memory for place names and where those places are.

Tmoney

barel74 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 11:47 AM

"And a good memory for place names and where those places are."

I can barely remember what I had for dinner last night.... so I bought a Magellan Explorist 400. Seems to work prett good, but I haven't figured out all the bells and whistles yet. If your not in a big hurry, you can find this unit for under $100 on e-bay.
I also keep too many maps in my pack, the gps is not a full substitute for maps.

BelchFire · #4 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 12:58 PM

I would strongly recommend the eTrex Vista HCx. It's Garmin's top-of-the-line eTrex, but I LOVE that thing. It has expandable memory (hence the "x" deisignation) and I can load a gajillion maps into it. So many, that I'll never have to load maps again as long as I hunt the eastern 2/3 of the country. it's also got an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter (although it's painfully flat anywhere I hunt). There are other models if you're not interested in all that, but I LOVE the eTrex series, this is my second eTrex.

Brettski · #5 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 02:08 PM

I'll echo Belch...I too would strongly recommend the eTrex Vista HCx. I just received one for a birthday gift from the little lady. I have yet to use it, but this weekend I'll be goign to Cabelas in Dundee MI to attend Michigan's home opener and I'll be picking up the TOPO map package. I have used it a bit around our property and I like the unit very much. I will also be picking up the Ontario map for my planned trip in late October.

hank4elk · #6 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 03:10 PM

After staying out of tech age as long as possible and relying on my ability w/map and compass,I was forced to get GPS for elk hunt this year in NM. Outfitter I contracted as back-up in getting my elk out of wilderness required one for Insurance. Just needs location of kill. I guess he's had to many folk's "good w/ map" lost. I got Magellan500 explorer w/map send. What a pain.I'll load customs on sd card and stick them in for each area. I'd get Belch's recomendation or new Bushnell W/ Goodmaps loaded if I WAS to get another. I will still be using map, compass and dead reconing. I do like the clarity of map send, it's a topo without all the tourist crap.Guess I had to come out of woods into 21st century sooner or later. I've never been lost or didn't know generally where I was. Can I go back to woods now?

One Track · #7 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 04:14 PM

My buddy has this thing. It's incredible!!! Use for navigation while driving. Use as a top map. It does it all. It showed every bladed road at Tejon. It's also a radio. If your buddy has one, you can see his position on your gps display. Incredible. If I had the money to blow right now, I'd buy it. I'm getting one for Christmas for certain.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=146

barel74 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 04:19 PM

QUOTE (One Track @ Aug 26 2008, 04:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Quote:

If your buddy has one, you can see his position on your gps display.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=146[/b]

Key words, IF your buddy has one. I really like the idea, but have heard the radio is garbage. I also can't get any of my buddies to buy one, so it would be useless to me.

fritojay · #9 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 07:31 PM

i have been using the rhino 120 for a few years and love it. my two hunt buddies also have them and i like being able to see therir position on it.

Kit Fox · #10 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 10:17 PM

QUOTE (BelchFire @ Aug 26 2008, 12:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Quote:

I would strongly recommend the eTrex Vista HCx. It's Garmin's top-of-the-line eTrex, but I LOVE that thing. It has expandable memory (hence the "x" deisignation) and I can load a gajillion maps into it. So many, that I'll never have to load maps again as long as I hunt the eastern 2/3 of the country. it's also got an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter (although it's painfully flat anywhere I hunt). There are other models if you're not interested in all that, but I LOVE the eTrex series, this is my second eTrex.[/b]

QUOTE (Brettski @ Aug 26 2008, 02:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Quote:

I'll echo Belch...I too would strongly recommend the eTrex Vista HCx. I just received one for a birthday gift from the little lady. I have yet to use it, but this weekend I'll be goign to Cabelas in Dundee MI to attend Michigan's home opener and I'll be picking up the TOPO map package. I have used it a bit around our property and I like the unit very much. I will also be picking up the Ontario map for my planned trip in late October.[/b]

Wait until you load the Mapsource City Navigator maps along with your topo maps. You'll be spoiled in no time. I have Vista HCX with TOPO and City Navigator, and it does everything I could need or want. Turn by turn auto-routing, as well as decent topo maps.

I was a four year Magellan Meridian Gold user, but will never buy another "Maggie" due to their crappy service, and user-unfriendly models. My Merigold still works, but I wanted newer features.

hank4elk · #11 (**permalink**) 08-29-2008, 02:48 PM

I never thought of using one for anything but hiking/hunting,and marking POIs. I guess some folks get lost going 'round the block. I have forest roads and BLM just about memorized by the time I'd pull this thing out to mark START. But I would make sure of the quality of the maps you get on them. Some are real junk. My map quality is excellent but Magellan sucks as a consumer friendly corp.

One Track · #12 (**permalink**) 08-29-2008, 03:08 PM

Your right. That radio was garbage. However, the new, top shelf model is much improved. I was blown away by it. We glassed up a hog over a mile away, cross two canyons, and one of about five little cuts. My buddy pulled up the topo, marked the cut with the hog in it. We drove around, crept over the top of the ridge and had the hog at 100 yds. Takes a bit of challenge out of the hunt. But, I for te sake of picking out a GPS unit, I was sold.

I've never used one for navigation. But, when we were going the back way to Tejon, it was nice to have a little bell go off when it was time to turn. Not that we were chatting about hunting non-stop.

Kit Fox · #13 (**permalink**) 08-30-2008, 08:04 AM

My only gripe with my current Garmin topo maps is they lack BLM boundaries.

Their was a mapmaker that sells the topo maps complete with BLM boundaries for Colorado. That doesn't work for me in Cali. Using geocoder I can enter an address and have it converted to coordinates. Most of the time, this gets me within a couple hundred feet of my goal.