GPS backup / organizing?

[Edcyclopedia]

My old Garmin "etrex legend" (8 years old) was acting weird / inconsistent, so I switched to a new Garmin "etrex legend HCx" last winter. I have basically just used the GPS to mark a spot(s) as needed. However, I have been doing a lot more scouting, in many more areas. After I get back from scouting, I then add the quads to my maps on my computer.

Walking through the woods with a printed topo / aerial map looking for specific land features is getting old and inefficient, considering the full foliage now that it's summer and difficulty of seeing terrain.

1) What do you do to organize your GPS spots, as this seems to be a little cumbersome?

2) How about backing - up your GPS, in case it goes to the big GPS in the sky and you lose all your spots?

3) Should I have bought the "topo" sdcard to go with my area?

[brucelanthier]

I would suggest getting some mapping software, I use DeLorme Topo USA. I save my waypoints and tracksfor different hunting areas separately, with the hunting area name and I also save ALL the waypoints and tracks to just one map. That way I can download just one hunting area to my GPS or I can download all of the hunting areas to my GPS. The mapping software serves as a backup and an organizer. You can get even more detailed if you want and name your waypoints according to what they are. I can load just my stand sites or deer sign or markers or all of them.

Also, for scouting having the mapping software makes it much easier. You can scout the topo and then add waypoints to the map. Then download the waypoints and print the map and go scout those areas.

[RIStrutStopper]

Just for backup, I use easy gps. Its free sw and does a good job. I use USAPhotomaps from jdmcox.com also. Pretty good mapping capabilities as well as backing up your waypoints.

[MichiganWhitetails74]

I bought the Garmin 60 csx for 280 on ebay

It has been the best device in the world...I've never lost a satelite and I drive for miles and miles on my Polaris. I just tell it to take me back to camp and it does the trick

I've found that a GPS is like a good scope...you get what you pay for.

MW