GPS for hunting

[Montana Slim]

I have just purchased a Garmin Etrex Legend and plan on using it for hunting.  Does anyone have a special way that they use this device for hunting?  I also have access to Garmin's topo maps.

[MI VHNTR]

I use my GPS to mark rubs, scrapes, trails, etc. When I get back home, I  hook it up to my computer and a mapping program. You can see things much better when they are displayed on a map and it might allow you to see places to set stands, etc. If you save them year after year, you can then see patterns develop as far as movement and breeding. I also carry it during hunting season, since I might find certain spots that I'd like to visit later on. MI VHNTR

[Siskiyou]

Montana Slim:  I just returned from a multi-day hunting trip and will be downloading "Tracks and Waypoints" that I created on the trip.  I have hunted the area for years, but the topo maps for the area have not been updated for thirty years.  Logging roads were put into part of the area back in the 70's.  Most of them are about gone.  On a pre-season trip I created a track for the road system so that I could print it out on both a Garmin Map Source Topo and a USGS State Series Topo Map.  I will then provide copies to my hunting partners.  We have hunted the area for years but updated maps will help us.  

Last May I scouted another area.  At that time I created waypoints for springs, deer trails, and stand locations.  I did not draw a tag for that zone, but I will keep the map I created in my files.

I also create waypoints for hazards such as cliffs and mine shafts.    

I have a part time hunting partner who covers a lot of ground in the woods.  Now that we have gps units we can exchange more accurate location information.  It is nice that he can provide me lat/longs on buck sightings.  That way I can plug them into my gps.

I also have my Legend in the track mode while hunting.  It allows me to create an accurate back track if needed.

I load a set of maps into the gps that more then covers the area I plan on hunting.  Before the start of the season I encountered a couple of fishermen who were looking for a high mountain lake.  I went to the points of interests funtion under Find.  I then found the lake they were hunting for on my gps.  They were only two miles off with a bunch of cliffs inbetween.

[Montana Slim]

Thanks guys for the replys.  I have got a lot to learn on the use of the GPS and I already see the advantages of it.  I believe that if you are going to hunt unfamiliar areas that the unit can be worth its weight in gold.  I can see where it can vastly shorten the time that it takes to really learn and area.

Montana Slim :grin:

[Dave in WV]

Don't leave your compass at home. A good back up is the way to go and a compass is hard to beat for a back up.

[Siskiyou]

Dave in WV is correct.  Do not leave your compass at home.  While hunting last week I working a ridge with almost park like big tree cover.  I had no problem getting an adequate signal 90% of the time and created a good track.  The next morning I was hunting a series of small parks with timber cover.  No gps signal.  Before entering the area from an old clearcut I checked my gps Which showed my position at that time in relationship to camp(waypoint).  If needed I could have used my compass.  None of the nice gps functions did me any good because I did not have a signal.  Besides the timber blocking the sun, low clouds and snow showers moved in, blocking the sun.

Most of the time I am carrying the gps unit in a shirt or coat pocket.  I am pleased that it normal keeps working.

[Val]

When hunting unfamiliar areas we scout the day before. We often stay at a camp ground or even a motel. When we scout and find a good area for say dove, we mark the turn off points and the hunting spots on the GPS so we can find them in the morning darkness.