Anyone Tried App from Huntinggpsmaps.com?

[hoshour]

I called WYGF to find out if they have pdf maps for mobile devices other than the Garmin GPS units. They directed me to huntinggpsmaps.com

Apparently huntinggpsmaps.com has had maps for download to iPhones and iPads for awhile that show topo and aerial views and private land with ownership info. The GPS in the mobile device works without cell service to still show your location on the maps.

They recently came out with a Droid version but looking at the reviews it is supposedly slow and buggy and really drains your phone's battery.

It would be great to have an app on your phone work as well as your GPS without having to carry a Garmin in addition to your phone.

Has anyone tried the iPhone version?

 

[WapitiBob]

I tried it, removed it. I didn't care for their choices in maps. Back country navigator is the best for droid phones.
Avenza has geo referenced PDF maps for both droid and iphone.

 

[hoshour]

I saw that but I don't think Avenza has a private land overlay or one for hunt units, do they?

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

I use it on my iphone. Works fine, just remember to download the maps in the area you are going for offline use before you head out.

With this and the excellent Gaia GPS app, I left the Garmin 450 at home all year.

 

[WapitiBob]

I saw that but I don't think Avenza has a private land overlay or one for hunt units, do they?

I don't think so, I have re rely used the avenza stuff. Forest visitor maps, mvum, stuff like that. My phone won't do what my gps does so I haven't switched over to it at this point.

 

[hoshour]

BB, that's my goal - leave the Garmin behind and cut the weight. Do you use the Gaia Pro?

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

BB, that's my goal - leave the Garmin behind and cut the weight. Do you use the Gaia Pro?

It is just called Gaia GPS for iPhone. I don't see a Gaia pro option for iPhone. It is a great app though.

 

[Conrad8899]

I use it for my IPhone. I thought it worked good. Like BB said. Cache Ur area before U go.

 

[Andrew L. Johnson]

Gaia GPS developer

I am Andrew, one of the Gaia GPS developers. Couple of comments:

1) We now have a lot of hunting data that you can overlay on topos/aerials in the iOS version. This includes public land, WMAs, GMUs, and other state-specific data. You need a GaiaPro subscription (available in the app via Settings) to overlay the hunting layers.

2) The Android app can access the hunting layers, but doesn't do layered maps yet, so they aren't that useful not layered on top of a base map.

We recently added this maps page so anyone can browse the maps online: http://www.gaiagps.com/maps/

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

Thanks for clearing that up Andrew.

i will look into the Pro subscription.

Any plans for a land ownership layer?

 

[Andrew L. Johnson]

Any plans for a land ownership layer?

Are you looking for private land ownership, like this: http://svc.mt.gov/msl/mtcadastral/

We only have the public land ownership right now, but we could add this layer too. I will look into it.

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

That is exactly what I am looking for. If you add that layer, I will end my subscription to the app that this thread was started about, and run Gaia only.

BTW, I love how easy it is to export waypoints and tracks from Gaia to Google Earth. Handy feature.

Come to think of it, a satellite layer would be nice too.

 

[Kevin Root]

I am Andrew, one of the Gaia GPS developers. Couple of comments:

1) We now have a lot of hunting data that you can overlay on topos/aerials in the iOS version. This includes public land, WMAs, GMUs, and other state-specific data. You need a GaiaPro subscription (available in the app via Settings) to overlay the hunting layers.

2) The Android app can access the hunting layers, but doesn't do layered maps yet, so they aren't that useful not layered on top of a base map.

We recently added this maps page so anyone can browse the maps online: http://www.gaiagps.com/maps/

Cool update Andrew. I have the Gaia app iOS version, but did not know it offered this in the Pro version subscription. Cool seeing this update and welcome to the forum.

 

[tim]

do you folks run into battery life issues with your smart phones and these apps?

 

[Kevin Root]

Tim, some apps can and do zap a battery depending on how you optimize your settings. Not sure what type phone you have but below helps an iPhone.

http://www.apple.com/batteries/iphone.html

Turn on Auto-Brightness to extend battery life.
Fetch data manually.
Turn off push notifications.
Minimize use of location services.
Use Airplane Mode in low- or no-coverage areas.

 

[Musket Man]

I dont have an iPhone. To much technology for me, still trying to figure out my new GPS lol

 

[Andrew L. Johnson]

Come to think of it, a satellite layer would be nice too.

There are actually a few satellite options in the app - both a US source based on USGS data we get from CalTopo, and a worldwide source we get from MapQuest. Then, we also offer a cloudless worldwide source from MapBox as part of GaiaPro too, which costs us money to license. Any of them can be viewed here: http://www.gaiagps.com/maps/

do you folks run into battery life issues with your smart phones and these apps?

For battery life, there is a good set of ideas at the end of this article for how to conserve battery life. This is from the point of view of a multi-day backpacker, so that's a primary concern: http://adventurealan.com/iphone4gps.htm

 

[hoshour]

Andrew

I would love to see you guys add the layers BB mentioned - private land and satellite. I have a droid and can't go with this until you guys catch the droid app up with IOS.

With the iPhone market share now down in the high 30s and Android almost 60% I would think the most resources would be going to the droid side.

 

[Andrew L. Johnson]

With the iPhone market share now down in the high 30s and Android almost 60% I would think the most resources would be going to the droid side.

It does seem to be tipping, and we have actually been working on Android the most for a while. Our original Android app was mostly outsourced (or rather built by a friend of mine). We brought it in-house for the 5.0 release, and we started rewriting the Android app in May - my wife Anna and our lead developer Jesse have been focused on Android full-time for months now. It's a total rewrite - 10s of thousands of lines of code. We have a big Android release coming before Christmas, and then we'll have complete parity between the apps by spring of next year. The main thing missing after the Christmas release will be the GaiaPro stuff (most importantly layered maps).

While Anna and Jesse are doing the Android app, Savannah has also been getting all of this hunting data we added recently - doing styling using TileMill and generating the maps for Gaia. And more people like me working on the website

 

[hoshour]

Thanks for all your hard work. Please let us know when the droid version has the layers. That's when I'll jump on board.

I would keep Guy updated too. There may be a review in it for you.