First western hunt 2019

[cking13]

I recently bought a Garmin Montana. I really like the ease of use (it?s like a smart phone). Haven?t used it in the field yet but think it?s gonna come in real handy as a backup if something happens to my onx that I have for the phone.


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[JimP]

You can actually uses your phone if the GPS would be a one time thing.

To use the phone you need to download everything before you leave your home and then turn on airplane mode on the phone to use it and save the battery.

Other than that on the GPS's you want one that you can install the OnX chip for Wyoming in, then go from there. The chip will add another $100+ to the cost of the GPS

 

[NEWHunter]

You don?t need cell service to use your phone as your primary GPS. As JimP said, get the OnX app for $30 (less when it?s on sale) and download the maps of your area via the app at home. I bought a GPS (64s maybe) a few years ago for a future WY lope hunt and used it this fall and paid $100 for the OnX chip to use with it. I ended up going solo so a family member gave me an inReach for some peace of mind for all of us. Along with my phone and the OnX app, that gave me three GPS options.

Based on my experience, I would use my smart phone with OnX, take a good portable charger, and a Garmin inReach. The inReach would be excessive for a lope hunt with buddies. However, the wife liked the inReach because she knew I was OK, my Dad who couldn?t go due to disability liked it because he could follow along on my hunt from WI, and I liked it because if it hit the fan I could get help. I used my phone almost the entire time to navigate due to better detail and resolution vs the 64s.

You can definitely do a lope hunt with just the OnX app for your phone and a portable charger (which u probably already have or could borrow). Save the money on the GPS for now and decide after your lope hunt if you want one for your deer hunt.

 

[mallardsx2]

Just touching on what NE69 said:

Take notice to the advice of having a backup battery....the app burns it up.

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Portable-Protective-Charging-Extended/dp/B07G34JHSF/ref=zg_bs_7073958011_1/142-5076490-4755263?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0CD6ZB1P77CFV7P0C29M

Personally I use one of the above. I have had one for years and it lasts me all day. I dont mess around on my phone much unless I know I am coming up on a property line though.

I charge it nightly from a charging pack or a wall plug is available.

 

[Prerylyon]

I'm of the opposite mindset on the GPS-Phone/nav when it comes to hunting.

I do have a fancy GPS app on my phone that I love, but I have way too much other junk on my phone that makes me worry about using it alot afield and killing it.

It gives me greater peace of mind using a stand alone, ruggedized GPS unit; while leaving the phone less exposed to handling mishaps.

Its all good. Different persepctives. Both ways work. [emoji6]

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[Mnbogboy]

Nothing wrong having both (one as a spare). I have 2 GPS units and this fall happened to have an extra phone (I did use both). Wouldn't make a hunting trip without a spare rifle either (I brought two spares and my grandson ended up using one).
My big downfall is always bringing too many clothes..lol.

 

[raspy]

Something that’s been essential on my trips is a small battery charger to plug usb cords in to charge my electronics. Amazon sells them for around 20 bucks and they don’t take up much space in the pack.

 

[mosquito]

I'm not much of a electronics geek so I'm not real sure how global position systems (gps) work. However I know last summer I had to stop in worland wy and bye an atlas. I know I didn't turn my phone on airplane mode but other than that it was dead. It wouldn't even pull the map up let alone tell me where I was. I stopped at the napa store like a typical lost tourist( very friendly by the way) and they helped us. Anyway the amount of money that's going to be spent even though were both on a family mans budget it seems smart to invest in a handheld that we know will work. I really want to enjoy the scenery as much as the hunt and don't want to worry about making a landowner upset. It's a good suggestion to have both .

 

[JimP]

One big plus that a handheld GPS unit has over a smart phone is that if something did happen to the batteries you can pop in some spares and get it to fire back up.

 

[Timr245]

One big plus that a handheld GPS unit has over a smart phone is that if something did happen to the batteries you can pop in some spares and get it to fire back up.

What he said! I also carry my phone and gps but as Prerylyon mentioned even in airplane mode, the cold has a tendency to kill phones, atleast all of mine. I have a Garmin Gpsmap64st and its wonderful. It has topos and the ability to download birseye imagery without a major cost ($20) which is priceless to me hunting new areas.

 

[NEWHunter]

I'm not much of a electronics geek so I'm not real sure how global position systems (gps) work. However I know last summer I had to stop in worland wy and bye an atlas. I know I didn't turn my phone on airplane mode but other than that it was dead. It wouldn't even pull the map up let alone tell me where I was. I stopped at the napa store like a typical lost tourist( very friendly by the way) and they helped us. Anyway the amount of money that's going to be spent even though were both on a family mans budget it seems smart to invest in a handheld that we know will work. I really want to enjoy the scenery as much as the hunt and don't want to worry about making a landowner upset. It's a good suggestion to have both .

Having used a Garmin with an OnX chip and Birdseye vs an iPhone with the OnX app, my experience was that the phone and app were easier to use. In airplane mode i was able to navigate with my phone from about 5 am until early afternoon before needing to charge. I then plugged in to a portable charger which was supposed to get me about five charges. Got through to 7 pm without putting a full charge on my phone. I would get the app right away as it’s cheap insurance for under $30 and if you’re on a tight budget, it’s all you “NEED” to spend. You can use the next 9 months to figure out the app, battery life while using the app, and if you personally think you’ll need a gps.

I had my phone up nearly my whole hunt because I was in a limited access unit. Based on my WY hunting experience, trespassing will get the landowner mad and the trespasser a ticket. I based my hunt around a very narrow and hard to find access point. As I was heading in to scout, the sheriff pulled up and warned me of the consequences of trespassing and suggested I be careful navigating where I was heading. I took his advice, as I got the impression that that conversation was the closest thing I would get to a warning. Granted mine is only one experience.

With a 6 and a 4 year old at home and one income, I know how challenging hunting out west on a budget can be. Especially coming from back east with only limited whitetail and small game hunting gear. Good luck with all the planning and decisions. All the work will make the hunt that much more rewarding.

 

[Yell Co AR Hunter]

I spent 6 years planning a antelope hunt to Wyoming. The last three really researching the draw. I had a choice of building more points and waiting a few more years for the blue chip units and hunting by myself or sharing my points with a buddy and hunting a less than average unit. I chose the second option as we had a unit where we could draw buck and two doe tags. Last year I tried a unit you did not need points to draw. Let me tell you if no points are needed there is a reason. Very little public land and antelope would run from you at 2,000 yards to private. What I am saying is a unit that takes 3 or more points should offer great antelope hunting for most non-residence hunters. A unit with 2 to 1 point should offer decent hunting if you are willing to walk and work for it. Also remember you can draw a random tag as well. My advice would be to find a area you would like to hunt and enter the draw. Be careful about listing second choice unit with no point required unless you plan to pay for guided hunt. The other option is to list second choice with a type 2 tag with later hunting opening date.
I will never hunt a max point unit as I have tasted Wyoming and do not plan on waiting that long to get back. I have plans to return for fall of 2020.

 

[Big Chief J]

One big plus that a handheld GPS unit has over a smart phone is that if something did happen to the batteries you can pop in some spares and get it to fire back up.

Two AA batteries and my GPS is back in business. How long does it take to recharge a phone? I carry my phone with maps, GPS with maps, and paper maps. I like redundancy when I'm spending hundreds of dollars on the nonresident license before I spend hundreds more to actually go on the hunt.

 

[RICMIC]

I use Lithium AA batteries in my Oregon 450t, and they were good all week. I carry a spare pair of Lithiums, and also could use the spares that I carry for my headlamp. I generally keep the power off on the GPS unless I am using the tracking mode. I just got my first smart phone last week, and I can see how those things can suck you right in with all the features.

 

[JimP]

Yep, I too sadly retired my flip phone after 10 years and went to the smart phone just last week.

I spent a whole day getting it set up the way that I want it and learning just what it can and can not do.

But it still won't replace my GPS when I go out into the back country.