Help Picking GPS

hoshour

hoshour

Veteran member
May 31, 2012
1,622
2
North Carolina
www.CornerstoneInvestment.com
I have always just carried 24K topo maps and aerial views I have printed on map paper.

Now, I am looking to get a GPS. I want it to have 24K topo maps, aerial views, waypoints, and show land ownership and unit boundaries, if all that is possible.

I looked at the Garmin Oregon 450 at REI but the screen seemed awfully small. The Montana had a nice size screen but was big and heavy.

What do you guys use, especially if you use aerial views?
 
G

goatpoop

Member
Feb 22, 2011
75
0
Did you look at the Garmin 62 series? I use the Oregon 450 T with the Hunt Maps GPS chip. The screen does not seem that small for me, I can still read the names of everything.
 
E

Elk Hunter

New Member
Jan 22, 2012
46
0
Missouri
I use the Oregon 450. Like the touch screen and mine is loaded with free 24K equivalent topo maps downloaded from the internet. I have never used arial views on the GPS. Maps showing land ownership and unit boundaries are available. You may already know about these guys.

http://www.huntinggpsmaps.com

I have never tried them but they look good.

Until I started using the GPS to provide coordinates for photos it was never on except to mark where I parked, my camp, and my elk. It did help get me oriented one night, but I was injured, and at no time was I lost. GPS units with topo maps are nice but, whichever GPS you get, do not leave you map and compass at home. The more complicated things get the more that can go wrong.
 
tttoadman

tttoadman

Very Active Member
Nov 16, 2012
629
1
Oregon
we started using the Rhino 530 combo 2way and GPS a few years back. We aren't "push" hunters really, but it is pretty cool to see where other people are in your party, and we are really happy with these. I know there are downsides like cross traffic picking up your waypoints and such. That wasn't something we were really aware of when we got them. little bulky, but we are really pleased.

My tidbit that may be relevant to backcountry hunts is to watch out for units with big "lithium"? batteries that can't be charged with small solar panels. They don't even make an adapter for ours because the guy said it would take 2 days just to charge the battery if you tried. My choices are carry extra battery packs at $65 each, or an optional battery pack that uses a pile of AA's. I think if you are solo, and not using the transmitter, the battery pack could easily last for days. This fall i will hopefully get a good test for it.

Ditto on Elk Hunter: never leave the good stuff like maps and compass behind. Leave that fancy stuff in your pocket until you need it.

another tidbit for the blind(like me): have your cheater glasses in your pocket. Nothing worse than straining your eyes and missing a shot opportunity because you can't see for 5 minutes after shutting your GPS off.
 
hoshour

hoshour

Veteran member
May 31, 2012
1,622
2
North Carolina
www.CornerstoneInvestment.com
tttoadman - have you seen the Orange JOOS solar charger? Apparently, it works really well, REI.com gives it great reviews. It weighs 24 oz but it will recharge itself in 12 hours, even in the shade, so if you leave it at your tent, you could recharge your GPS every night.
 
tttoadman

tttoadman

Very Active Member
Nov 16, 2012
629
1
Oregon
hoshour said:
tttoadman - have you seen the Orange JOOS solar charger? Apparently, it works really well, REI.com gives it great reviews. It weighs 24 oz but it will recharge itself in 12 hours, even in the shade, so if you leave it at your tent, you could recharge your GPS every night.
Click to expand...
thanks for the tidbit, I must have missed this popup before. I will definitely be looking into anything new. I have even considered picking up a smaller unit if I am not going to be talking with anybody. The "AA" battery pack is an option, but those 530's weigh a ton already.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom