Hoping to draw a deer license in Wyoming this year, planning to hunt the south side of the Big Horns in Unit Y, we are thinking of purchasing this for obvious reasons. I have US Cellular as a phone carrier. Is there much for reception out there or would this be a complete waste of money? Thanks guys. Luke
ON X Maps
- Thread starter mustang8
- Start date
Slugz
Veteran member
Not a waste and if you are hunting edges of BLM, NF and private its very good. Regardless of cell reception you can download maps ahead of time and let the phone GPS work to show position. Another option is a GPS with a chip. Either way you go they both work well IMO
JimP
Administrator
The biggest problem that I have read about using your phone is user err. So if you plan on using your phone learn the proper way to use it in airplane mode when you have no cell service.
SouthForkguy
Member
I do not recommend the phone app, even if you download the area. I however, DO recommend highly the GPS chip. It is an invaluable asset in a state like Wyoming. Other states with better access are not so much to worry about.
Also, if this is your first trip be aware that all the roads you see going into public through private first are off limits unless they are a town road. You will find that many parcels of public are essentially private, great state to hunt if you can play the access game.
Also, if this is your first trip be aware that all the roads you see going into public through private first are off limits unless they are a town road. You will find that many parcels of public are essentially private, great state to hunt if you can play the access game.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Slugz
Veteran member
If im looking at the mapping on the Wyoming g&f site correctly , it does look like there are still quite a few roads that a person can use to get to public land. Yes every piece is not accessable but it seems we wont have problems in Y south of the big horns in the 30 or 33 units.
Horsenhike
Very Active Member
Horsenhike
Very Active Member
jroplanner
Member
Investing in a good GPS unit, and a chip for the state you're hunting, has been extremely helpful for me and well worth the $$. I would rank it right up there with a range finder in importance for your gear list. I hunt with my Dad and his old timer buddies, who's gear list is fairly limited to gun, bullets, binoculars. So I can say that I wasn't raised to covet the latest in hunting technology. But on a trip to Colorado recently as we were scouting for an upcoming hunt I was able to pinpoint public land as we drove along in an area none of us had ever been before or knew. It gave us total confidence in where we were at all times and erased any concerns that we might be wasting our time glassing an area we "think" might be private.
Work2hunt
Veteran member
I've used both the phone and hand held GPS with the chip. I like both, but to me they both serve there purpose. I am not sure I would use my phone if I knew I was going to be away all day or over night. Especially if I am in an area where I have to constantly check to ensure I am on the correct side of the property line. My phone even in airplane mode seems to drain the battery too fast.
To me antelope hunting where there can be a fair amount of truck time is a good place for the phone. When I am in the back country even if it is a before dawn to after dark hunt I want my hand held gps.
To me antelope hunting where there can be a fair amount of truck time is a good place for the phone. When I am in the back country even if it is a before dawn to after dark hunt I want my hand held gps.
Slugz
Veteran member
Slugz
Veteran member
Spot on there and the previous comments on each has its own place is spot on also. We use the phone apps exclusively for spring turkey and late season cow elk hunts when they are at lower elevations and a chipped GPS for archery/1st season rifle.
Horsenhike
Very Active Member
LOL. My skills laugh at your silly plastic box.
I have a Kyocera Duraforce Pro now. They guarantee it not to break, films underwater, and has a screen that won't scratch. We shall see about that.
Slugz
Veteran member
Awesome.....give us a report on it when able. Would love to hear how it holds up.
wy-tex
Veteran member
Remember those chips can and do have mistakes on them. Get a map and cross reference the roads and sections. G&F was pretty good at going out and signing the private lands that were improperly shown as public when they pushed the chips in their online store.
OnX has also been pretty good at correcting mistakes but they can still be wrong.
OnX has also been pretty good at correcting mistakes but they can still be wrong.
JimP
Administrator
Anything that man puts to paper can have errs on it. But I have found very few with the On X maps for the GPS.
But it is still good to pay attention to where you are located at and signage, along with when a person says that you are on private and the maps doesn't, don't argue with them. But get a official out there to find out just what is going on.
I was on a location one time when a person told me that I was on private property where the GPS map said I was not. That night I called the DOW and told him what was going on and he met me in the location the next day. Come to find out the landowner was wrong.
But it is still good to pay attention to where you are located at and signage, along with when a person says that you are on private and the maps doesn't, don't argue with them. But get a official out there to find out just what is going on.
I was on a location one time when a person told me that I was on private property where the GPS map said I was not. That night I called the DOW and told him what was going on and he met me in the location the next day. Come to find out the landowner was wrong.
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wy-tex
Veteran member
Most of the OnX problems come from county GIS maps not being correct. They, OnX, do correct when warranted. I know some state lands that are depicted as private and some private lands that were depicted as public. I had to cross reference between the county GIS, the state lands website, and the OnX chips to find the correct boundary.
The chips are great tools though and I do rely on them for boundary and land ownership info when in the field.
The chips are great tools though and I do rely on them for boundary and land ownership info when in the field.