Using smartphone for hunting GPS

[mcseal2]

I was wondering if anyone was doing this. I see OnXmaps and others have programs out now that let you save maps and use them with the phone on airplane mode to preserve battery life. I pack my phone anyway on hunts and am thinking of going this route instead of packing both the phone and a GPS.

I have a Garmin Rhino 520HCX I use and a Rhino 120 I loan out now. Both are getting some age on them and go through batteries pretty quick. Rather than upgrading it looks like the cell phone option would cost about $30/state per year. I usually only go on one out of state trip per year so the $30/year for a phone I already have sounds a lot cheaper than buying a high dollar GPS and maybe breaking or needing to replace it within 5yrs or so. I have a Goal Zero Venture 30 that is as small and light as my current GPS that I could pack for re-charging the phone as needed too going this route.

Any thoughts or opinions?

Thanks for your help.

 

[gypsumreaper]

I have used onx on my phone but I prefer to just use google earth now on my phone. I also carry my gps but google earth allows me to see the terrain better until I can afford the chips for my gps. Plus I can pinpoint my location on google earth without cell service which helps a lot. My gps is for marking spots and tracking where I've been. Phone is for checking terrain and scouting at night to try different areas.


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[Slugz]

I've only used it during turkey season and late season cow hunts on the edges of BLM/NF and private land. Its works well. I got a Samsung Note 3 and I like the larger screen. I use my Rhino to drop points when I need to then reference a chart.

 

[NE69]

I'm using it on Iphone 5s. Really prefer it over the chip in the garmin, but depends on location. In Wyoming I use the gps chip. I have Nebraska and Kansas on the phone and it's really quick navigation and battery life isn't an issue due to proximity to the truck. I expect to give it a real workout in the next several months scouting but I sure do see a lot of advantages with it on the phone.

 

[mcseal2]

I live in KS but I grew up where I hunt and know the property lines there, don't really need it at home. I might have to give it a try before I go scouting in Wyoming for my fall muley hunt. $30 it's probably worth a try on the scouting trip and I can decide then if I want to rely on it or not.

 

[missjordan]

I also have the app for the phone and the gps and I still prefer using the gps set up. The phone is great if your messing around with it at home but still doesn't replace a gps in the field when it comes to tracking/tracing your steps. Which is something I really like


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