GPS use for hunting

[SilverSurfer]

I agree. I never could figure out how to use a compass.

GPS's are a great tool for many things but I would never depend on one to get me home.

Pilots use them to get home every day.

Yeah, that's true. But you and I don't get those GPS's. And near as I can recall, pilots were getting home every day just fine long before the advent of GPS technology.

Sure we do they are the same ones you can buy off the shelf.

You are right but about them getting home before GPS but the infrastructure and support they required was far greater.

Well, I'm not familiar with the FAA so could be that's true, I just figured they had the same one's we used in the military, which are not what we can buy off the shelf.

But I ain't a pilot and I don't need any infrastructure. A compass, topo, military protractor, and my pace count have got me pretty damn close on many, many occasions.

Too many times GPS's failed my team in the field for me to rely soley on them. I like 'em, but I like a back-up plan too.

The ones off the shelf and the ones the military use today are the same accuracy.

[mogwai]

REmember backup batteries.

[Halwg]

GPS's are a great tool for many things but I would never depend on one to get me home.


Pilots use them to get home every day.


Yeah, that's true. But you and I don't get those GPS's. And near as I can recall, pilots were getting home every day just fine long before the advent of GPS technology.


Sure we do they are the same ones you can buy off the shelf.

You are right but about them getting home before GPS but the infrastructure and support they required was far greater.


Well, I'm not familiar with the FAA so could be that's true, I just figured they had the same one's we used in the military, which are not what we can buy off the shelf.

But I ain't a pilot and I don't need any infrastructure. A compass, topo, military protractor, and my pace count have got me pretty damn close on many, many occasions.

Too many times GPS's failed my team in the field for me to rely soley on them. I like 'em, but I like a back-up plan too.





The ones off the shelf and the ones the military use today are the same accuracy.

They are if you are willing to spend $25,000 - $30,000 for sub-centimeter accuracy. You aren't getting that with a Garmin or Magellan you buy from Wal-Mart.

[Sweetwater]

Halwg - can't count how many times I've had that same arguement with my bosses about GPA accuracy. They want to stake out a wetland with a handheld or they want to topo a stream and chase it for a mile. I can do with a set of Trimble's or Leica's, even Ashtech's have proven very capable. The Trimble and Leica spoiled me and I had to retrain myself to use the Topcon's. They just didn't have the multi-path handling capability of the Trimble or the Leica. Therefore, results were not as consistent.

No way do we do this with a $300 handheld! All you have to do is set the handheld in a parking lot or other expansive area with few obstructions and let it set for a few minutes. Have it set on the screen that displays the coordinate and elevation. Don't move it and just watch the coordinate change as you observe. If that doesn't convince you, set a waypoint, walk away, and try to come back. Normally 25ft or more. Sometimes as close as 7 or 8ft. Not pinpoint, but surely close enough for what they were designed to do. Locate your truck at the end of a hard day of hiking! I use them to locate section corners while surveying. I figure if I can get within 50ft of the corner, I can find it if it's there. Then, IF there is enough opening without obstruction, I'll use the high dollar units to data collect it's location and expect within a couple inches or less for repeatability. Depending on sky, satelite geometry and ground network.

Alas, again I preach to the choir.

Jeff
NRA Life

[Nodrama43]

GPS .... don't leave home without it.

What sold me on the concept was a hunting trip years ago. I had no "problem" finding the truck again, but I walked an extra 3 steep uphill miles doing it. Went out and bought one as soon as I got home. Not that I don't need the exercise, but I don't need that sort of frustration.

Cheers,

Carl

This is why I want one. If I park my quad off the trail somewhere, hike 2 hours into a hunting spot through rough terain etc, I want to be able to find my way back... I always carry e-gear to spend a night or two if I 'have" to but with the GPS I will have a little more security. I carry an ELB for the bad stuff.....

[ptgarcia]

Halwg - can't count how many times I've had that same arguement with my bosses about GPA accuracy. They want to stake out a wetland with a handheld or they want to topo a stream and chase it for a mile. I can do with a set of Trimble's or Leica's, even Ashtech's have proven very capable. The Trimble and Leica spoiled me and I had to retrain myself to use the Topcon's. They just didn't have the multi-path handling capability of the Trimble or the Leica. Therefore, results were not as consistent.

No way do we do this with a $300 handheld! All you have to do is set the handheld in a parking lot or other expansive area with few obstructions and let it set for a few minutes. Have it set on the screen that displays the coordinate and elevation. Don't move it and just watch the coordinate change as you observe. If that doesn't convince you, set a waypoint, walk away, and try to come back. Normally 25ft or more. Sometimes as close as 7 or 8ft. Not pinpoint, but surely close enough for what they were designed to do. Locate your truck at the end of a hard day of hiking! I use them to locate section corners while surveying. I figure if I can get within 50ft of the corner, I can find it if it's there. Then, IF there is enough opening without obstruction, I'll use the high dollar units to data collect it's location and expect within a couple inches or less for repeatability. Depending on sky, satelite geometry and ground network.

Alas, again I preach to the choir.

Jeff
NRA Life

Survey grade GPS and a quality consumer grade handheld really aren't that much different in terms of accuracy. The survey grade GPS will have a much better antenna which helps but without post-processing or running a differential setup neither will get you centimeter accuracy. But if you setup a base station or post process in the office a survey grade GPS can be very accurate.

[Midnight Rider]

I use a handheld GPS when I hunt and fish streams.It is a great tool. I also carry a map or two and a compass (or two).
A GPS is a tool, nothing more. "A man's got to know his limitations." I would not take a 300 yard shot at a buck with my 336 35rem. 200 yards, yes, but that's because I have done it more than once at the range.
I have my blind marked as well as others from our camp and from the neighbors camp. Last Nov I was walking west from my stand, was slowly drifting north and could see I was getting too close to anothers stand. I turned south so not to disterb his hunting.
I like 'em but they are just a tool. A hand held GPS does not make you a surveyor. I know some of you will agree. My hunting partner is a surveyor and he carries a compass.

[exfarm2003]

My experience with GPS did not leave me with a good impression. While hunting with a friend who was using a GPS unit we got into very thick cover. He was trying to find a spot he had found before. I didn't think anything of it as he would stop and look at his GPS. We walked around in a big sweeping arc for about an hour and a half. He finally looked at me and asked me where we were. Fourtunately I knew and we were able to come back out where we went in. In more open country they are probably fine, not in thick timber.

[tedtf]

Garmin rinos are awesome for hunting. Radio and gps in one unit.

[T-Bone]

I'm sort with Eli on this one. It is a very good idea to learn how to navigate in the woods without a GPS and then always take a compass. If your batteries fail or if you have a software glitch or forget to set something or load your maps, etc., you will get lost unless you have some way of finding your way home. I have both, but I confess my nav skills are rusty, because my GPS is a good one (Garmin 60CSX with topo maps) and I am very comfortable with it. I have often found it useful to try to NOT use the GPS and see how well I do without it - remembering landmarks and getting the direction from the compass, and then only check the GPS as a confirmation. My memory is pretty good and so far I haven't needed it unless I am enjoying using it to find interesting locations, but it is nice to know it is there.