Hand held GPS unit suggestions..
 

The search function turned up nada so I'll make a new post.

I would like to get my hands on a nice little hand held GPS unit to carry out into the brush with me. It doesn't need to be fancy, just functional. What do I need it to do? Well, I'd like to be able to say :

This is camp. This is my stand, how far is it?

This is a nice buck rub, can I mark it so I can find it later in the year?

This little draw funnels the deer through this pasture, how close am I to Earl's stand? Could I set up a tree stand here?

How close to the property line am I?

I saw a big buck here....how close to where I saw him last week?

Optionally...I'd like to be able to stand on a hill and see how high it is and compare that to other points on the property.

Etc, etc. I would just like to be able to plot out points of interest to come back to them and notice things/be able to mark them and measure distances frmo point A to point B, etc. The brush on my property is nasty thick (so long as Earl's dozer stays down for the count, I guess) just the way I like it. I'm a fair woodsman and am not afraid to get lost a while but I'd like to know where I am so I can place my hunting spots a little more strategically next season to avoid the other hunters and the like.

LMK if you have any ideas. I'm going to hit the outdoors big box store this weekend and poke around but I'll be better served to hold off until deer season is done and gone.

Take a look at the Garmin Etrex series. I have a Garmin Venture and a Magellan 100 and both work very well.

I've used an etrex legend and an etrex vista and i also have a garmin rino 120. all these garmin units are good units. depends on how much you want to spend. for around 150 bucks the legend and vista are very good and easy to use. a more expensive one is the rino but it is easy to use and also has a radio on it.
i hope this helps.

Okay understand this - the more you can afford the more the GPS can do. Memory is critical.

Now for a simple GPS you have great references listed above. I use GARMIN and have for quite a few years. Even the Garmin units I use which are no longer sold are still supported and work just fine.

My suggestion based on what you can spend.

I go for one that allows me to use the Micro cards and they are cheap. That way I can load cards for the many areas I hunt. All units will lay the track of where you have been and can be downloaded onto a computer. Garmin Waypoints program helps you do that. I load topo maps in all my Garmin devices. I hae one for my boat, pick-up, dogs, and me. I have one I give to my partner.

For the money I like the Garmin Rino 530 chx, is a color screen, micor chips can be added, is rechargeable via car or home (battery life is excellent), gives you a 5 Watt radio, Weather forecast for the exact area you are in is instant. Has lots of other features such as back trak, go to, and solunar phases,


I also suggest the Garmin 100K Topo program. You said you wanted to keep track of ridges where you have been and where you would like to go in the future.
Well the Topo program will allow you to download area maps into any Garmin unit you buy.
The beauty of this program is - once back home and uploading where you have been from your Gps TO your computer - You can add Google Earth and see exactly where you have been. Using the Topo and then seeing a real picture of the terrain and where you have walked is to me very useful.

I have an example picture and will upload it soon.....

JW

Awesome! Thanks for the advice!

I'm going to get out thise weekend and see if I can take a look at some of these Garmin devices yall have mentioned.

When an if you choose I have bought relibly from e-bay.

I buy only new that has a guarantee and have not been disapointed.

I saved a bunch.

Accesories are sometimes cheaper direct from the Garmin store. One can ot buy the GPS unit from them but you can buy accesories.

JW

Reviewers say that the Garmin eTrex Venture HC offers the most bang for the buck for those looking for a low-cost handheld GPS receiver. Unlike other inexpensive handheld GPS receivers, the eTrex Venture HC comes with a color screen and a high-sensitivity signal processor. The memory, though limited to just 24 MB, can save up to 10 tracks, 50 routes and 500 waypoints. You won't find features such as a barometric altimeter or a compass at this price point, of course, though some higher-end -- and equally liked -- members of the eTrex series, such as eTrex Summit HC (*Est. $175) add those and are equally competent. The included maps aren't the most detailed, reports say, but you can add other maps (at a price, of course) if you find it insufficient for your needs. If you have a bigger budget, the DeLorme PN-40 (*Est. $340) has unbeatable accuracy, tons of high-end features, and access to terrific maps, but mastering all of its power takes more of a commitment from its user.
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I agree the DeLorme Earthmate has a lot of features that I use up here. You can use different SD cards to keep track of other projects with as well. Some of the features if you enjoy fishing can give you some of the depths you are planning on fishing in. There is a lot of options with the Earthmate line of GPS systems.. You can mount it to a boat, atv, or what have you and it can give you the speed your traveling as well.

I use a Garmin Summit HC and a program called Terrain Navigator. I can download my tracks and waypoints and study the terrain of the areas I hunt on.

I also order maps from MyTopo.com. they are laminated foldable maps and you can order photos also. You can transfer the data from the program on to the maps for field reference, or studying them at home.

Another thing I utilize is he UTM grid instead of the Latitude Longitude system. It is easier and much more accurate.

I use the Garmin E-Trex Venture HC. It has performed very well.

Before I purchased one I searched online and was able to find one for about $110.
Something to consider...according to Garmin the color screened models have longer battery life than the black and white screened models. On a personal note the color screened models are easier to view.

I also have a Garmin, don't know the type exactly but I'm very happy with it.

I'm from the Northeast and I have 2 Garmin etrex legends. They work great when they want. Any heavy cover or really bad weather they lose the satelite signal often and you look like the statue of liberty in the woods. The newer Hcx models are supposed to have a much better antenna and work better with heavy cover. The original works well when moving quickly through the woods on atv but at a walking/hunting pace it would lose reception if under trees for too long. I would recommend it if you already have a basic idea of where you are going or hunt open areas. it is a good reference guide because it is very accurate. You can buy them cheap(under $100) if you froogle.com search it. If you hunt thick large areas look at the hcx.

its scary when you go under a tree with leaves and it goes off on signal.i hate that.i have garmin legend for 90 dollars on e-bay used.bid on used one .sometimes price is lot cheaper than new.

We should start getting better reception in forested areas now that they are starting to launch the Block III space vehicles.

I use a Garmin 60Csx. Havent had a problem with it even in heavy cover or in my jeep. Really easy to use after a little playing with. Also very durable, it survived a fall from the roof of my Jeep at 40mph (I forgot I had put it up there). Went back to find it was only minorly scratched. The etrex are very good too for the money. I have a couple buddy's who have them and are glad they purchased them.

I have a vista hcx and venture hc. The venture has limited memory and no electronic compass but was and is still useful. I like the electronic compass on my vista, mostly for the fact that I can show the gps to my hunting/hiking partner and the screen won't jump around.

You don't have to pay for maps, gpsdepot has free ones you can download and put on your gps. I even have the local maps on my venture, since it doesn't hold as much I can't put the whole SEusa map on it but I can put the hunt club and area I live.

Be aware that some of the information you get may not be correct, like the odometer. The slower you walk the more error there will be. It's not really a big deal as long as you are aware, some people get all bent out of shape though. A gps is just a tool with some limitations, just like any other tool. If you practice with it when you are hiking and walking, you will become familier with it, and it will be more useful to you when you need it.

I save my tracks and use a website called gpsvisualiser to project those tracks on satillite maps. I save and print them too. I save a "waypoint" whenever I find some kind of interesting feature, like tracks and bedding areas. Next year it will be even easier to put my stands in good spots! Plus it helps me stay out of the way of others.

Also, take the time to experiment and learn all the features. I know people that only look at the map page because they don't know how to do anything else. You should be able to save a waypoint, find a waypoint, save and follow tracks, at a bare minimum. If I am in "uncharted" territory I will clear my tracklog, then let it save the track while I walk. I then save the track, keeping in mind that it will save everywhere I have walked. If I save it before I track back, it will make a nice uncluttered path on the map that I make, and on the gps.


One of the really nice things is being able to bushwhack to get to my stand, or back to the truck, without wandering around too much.

Always bring spare batteries. I have a lot of rechargables because I use them in my headlamps, gps's and cameras. I always have spares. The vista has much better battery life than my venture, something to keep in mind.

Also be aware that they can fail so don't get too dependant on them. The area I hunt is not that large so the risk of getting lost is slim to none. I use my gps for uses other than gettng lost, it can pinpoint something, which a compass can't do, and I like it for that. Also, an area will look a lot differant in the winter than it does in the summer. The gps will let me know where a good spot, or a stand is, when the landmarks change.

make sure whatever you buy it has a electrical compass

best way to learn a gps is in winter with snow.this way if it does fail, you can follow your tracks back to truck. carry compass also.

in fall here in pa archery hunting or grouse they are disaster.
the leaves on trees will cause you almost to go in your pants when signal goes out.
if going to a strange area in fall, ONLY DO IT IN MORNING AS IT GIVES YOU REST OF DAY TO FIND YOUR WAY OUT.....
always carrying your compass and check where your truck is before going in and a MAP of area, always carry that because it will help a lot on hollows you are in etc.

here in pa. its almost impossible to get lost with hollows and trails now.you will hit something.where people get in trouble is going into area near dark without flashlight or compass.having flashlight/compass,no way you are going to get lost in dark .

Im a big fan of garmin gps units. Ive had real good luck with the garmin oregon it has tons of memory and its real easy to use.

I have extensive experience with the Garmin etrex Vista in the Canadian bush where the nearest town is several hundred miles away. The Vista is very simple to use, gets a consistent signal in harsh conditions, and is very reliable. The only problem I ever had was the time/date function which I understand there is a fix for but haven't been able to find it.

There are many fine handheld GPS units out there. Check out their functions, and especially how easy they are to use before you buy one.

Wildbill51

i have same one as you and it does not work all time here in pa.
i hunt a lot and get to test it all time.
when MAPLE leaves here in sproul forest are full bloom around june/oct the signal cant get thru canopy.then be down in hollow with this, oh my get ready to go in your pants...

secret is not to panic,carry a map and compass that you checked before leaving vehicle.also what most dont carry is flashlight.i carry one and it has saved day finding a worn trail or path.
any other time of year, the garmin works fine.dam maple leaves...........

I've heard that the Magelland, Triton 500 is very good.