I know I have seen other threads on this subject (Links would be appreciated), but I could not find them.
So I have been meaning to get one of these apps, but I am completely non-tech savvy. I also have almost no sense of direction (outside of up and down).
How do they work?
Do you need to first download a GPS device to the phone?
Can you use them if you do not have cell service?
Can you use them to find areas, or find your way out of remote areas without cell service?
What are the choices (i.e. Onx verses Gaia, verses others)
Anyone who has tried multiple services, which is the most USER FRIENDLY and easiest to use?
Basically, from anyone in the know, I would love a breakdown of what these apps do, and how they work...
Your phone already has a GPS in it. Just turn it on.
Same as used for driving instructions.
The hunting apps have topo lines, property lines, way points, compass and can tell you the name of the property owner.
And yes, they can keep you from getting lost if you learn to use them.
I used the trail version of On X this year. After what I've seen, I'll buy the full version next year.
I use Gaia...the paid version, and really like it. What you need to do is try each app's freebie version, see what additional features are in their paid versions then make your decision. The reason I went with Gaia is because, in addition to hunting, I also do quite a bit of hiking and they have many built-in trails and such.
I have a Garmin GPS and see myself never using it again. I've already transferred all my waypoints to Gaia.
Quote from: Turkeyman on June 04, 2020, 03:25:08 PM
I use Gaia...the paid version, and really like it. What you need to do is try each app's freebie version, see what additional features are in their paid versions then make your decision. The reason I went with Gaia is because, in addition to hunting, I also do quite a bit of hiking and they have many built-in trails and such.
I have a Garmin GPS and see myself never using it again. I've already transferred all my waypoints to Gaia.
The only down side to using your phone over a true GPS is battery life. My phone is older and the battery doesn't last as long as it once did.
I carry a relatively inexpensive Samsung battery pack in my vest. I never had to use it this spring but if I had, it's there. The size I have is good for 4 full recharges. I have a Samsung Galaxy S8.
Quote from: Turkeyman on June 04, 2020, 04:06:11 PM
I carry a relatively inexpensive Samsung battery pack in my vest. I never had to use it this spring but if I had, it's there. The size I have is good for 4 full recharges. I have a Samsung Galaxy S8.
Agree , i always carry phone charger in my bag..It's good for 2 recharges
Quote from: Turkeyman on June 04, 2020, 03:25:08 PM
I use Gaia...the paid version, and really like it. What you need to do is try each app's freebie version, see what additional features are in their paid versions then make your decision. The reason I went with Gaia is because, in addition to hunting, I also do quite a bit of hiking and they have many built-in trails and such.
I have a Garmin GPS and see myself never using it again. I've already transferred all my waypoints to Gaia.
OnX does not have built in trails and recreation areas?
Gaia, Basecamp, and OnX are the ones I have heard about... Heck, if two of them were really good and had advantages over each other, I might get both, especially since I would only use them in California.
I am looking to fish some lakes off of unmarked logging roads... I would like to use the App to find the correct roads, and get to the trailhead, and then use the APP to follow the correct trail to the lake or area... And then use it to get my butt back home.
I would also love to know if I could use a quad on the trailheads to get to the lakes and such???
Last week looking for an isolate lake off of a logging road, I got lost going up, and took the wrong way coming back... I would really like to avoid this in the future... (This coming from someone who could potentially get lost at my own house)
I found OnX offline mapping easier to create and use. I also found their map tools easier to use for marking trails, etc. But I appreciate the multiple layers HuntStand provides, so I subscribe to both.
So based on my experience, if you are looking to see cuts through the woods for old trails or newer gas well access trails, etc. I think HuntStand with its multiple layers might better suit you.
Install the apps and run both of them through their free trial periods, nothing to lose.
I have both OnX and Gaia. Use Gaia the most and prefer it. It is much 'cleaner' and smoother running on both my phone (Android) and PC than OnX. You can also get Google Earth imagery on Gaia. Most imagery on OnX is pretty subpar. OnX got in the market earliest and they spend the most on marketing, thus that is all most folks know. I have OnX because so many of my buddies use it and we often share pins (which is just as easy to do in Gaia). One benefit to OnX is I have found a couple hunting layers on there that Gaia does not have.
I just carry a bushnell backtrack. Set the location wherever I park my truck and then go hunt. I think it stores three points.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
As others have stated sign up for free trial of OnX & Gaia. See if you'll use it or like it.
Maybe google maps (not goggle earth) will give you what you need.
This may help or make things more confusing.
https://www.smartertravel.com/use-phone-gps-without-data/
I run hunt stand and on x. I gotta see if hunt stand will let me store maps offline. On x you can load maps at home into the offline area. No cell service I just hit offline map I need. I use them a bunch chasing turkeys.
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
I use OnX and like it fine. Don't know much about the others, but storing the maps offline is the way to go. Most of the swamps I hunt have poor service. Ditto to the charger. I keep one in my vest. The maps are often better than Google Earth where I hunt (more recent), but don't know about the others. I would probably want the one that uses the most recent maps if I were starting to look now.
I still have a GPS with downloadable maps kicking around somewhere, but I always have my phone anyway, so it is a lot nice to carry one less thing. If my life depended on it, I would want a real GPS. But for turkey hunting, convenience goes a long way. Saved me a very long hike 2 years ago. I knew where I was and knew where my truck was, but the way straight back was just too thick. Overhead let me find an easier way out.
The pin dropping feature is fantastic if you hunt with family or friends.
100% GAIA. Once I found out that you could upload 'custom layers', it blew OnX out of the water for me. Much cleaner, more tools, easier to upload point/tracks to Google Earth.
There is a way to upload Google Earth imagery to use as a base layer. I did it a couple of years ago and it makes all the difference.
Quote from: West Augusta on June 04, 2020, 03:38:03 PM
Quote from: Turkeyman on June 04, 2020, 03:25:08 PM
I use Gaia...the paid version, and really like it. What you need to do is try each app's freebie version, see what additional features are in their paid versions then make your decision. The reason I went with Gaia is because, in addition to hunting, I also do quite a bit of hiking and they have many built-in trails and such.
I have a Garmin GPS and see myself never using it again. I've already transferred all my waypoints to Gaia.
The only down side to using your phone over a true GPS is battery life. My phone is older and the battery doesn't last as long as it once did.
Get a new phone :)
I've been using OnX for several years now. I don't use it necessarily to find my way around but to stay within property boundaries. I hunt a lot of block management that is cross fenced as well as public land that is cross fenced for range control. A fence doesn't always mean a property boundary. on X has kept me on land that I can hunt and made me aware of available land that I wouldn't have known that I could hunt. OnX is $30 dollars for one state and $99 for all states.
I tried Basemap for the first time this turkey season because it's $30 for the entire US and still has hunting layers. I have MT for OnX and decided to try Basemap for South Dakota instead of $99 for all states in OnX. Basemap is good as well, but maps have been more difficult to save and it doesn't run as smooth as OnX. It takes longer to load and seems a little glitchy. Also, I don't like the"gear drop" feature that tries to get me involved in opportunities to win prizes. It feels too much like advertising. It did keep me within the public land boundaries in the Black Hills. I think most of my problems with it is I'm still learning to use it.
I'll probably keep my subscription for MT through OnX and try to use Basemap alongside it this fall but OnX seemed more reliable during the one weekend that I used both.
Also re: battery life your phone looking for a cell tower uses a lot of battery. I hunted four areas this spring which, I knew, would have no or marginal cell service. Prior to hunting, I downloaded those large areas. Then, while hunting I had my phone in Airplane...battery no problem.
I was undecided between Gaia and OnX but the game changer was price. I got Gaia for $30/yr. OnX same price but for one state...additional states cost more. I hunted two states this spring and, after this Covid year, hope to hunt perhaps three or more each spring.
https://www.outdoorlife.com/tested-best-hunting-apps-for-hunters/
HuntStand shows promise.
Quote from: Hobbes on June 05, 2020, 12:27:18 AM
Quote from: West Augusta on June 04, 2020, 03:38:03 PM
Quote from: Turkeyman on June 04, 2020, 03:25:08 PM
I use Gaia...the paid version, and really like it. What you need to do is try each app's freebie version, see what additional features are in their paid versions then make your decision. The reason I went with Gaia is because, in addition to hunting, I also do quite a bit of hiking and they have many built-in trails and such.
I have a Garmin GPS and see myself never using it again. I've already transferred all my waypoints to Gaia.
The only down side to using your phone over a true GPS is battery life. My phone is older and the battery doesn't last as long as it once did.
Get a new phone :)
I need to. I had a company phone before I was furloughed. It was an Iphone. Hated it but had great battery life.
My phone is an old Samsung S7. Needs upgraded.
Super easy to use, I have tried tons, much prefer Onyx. You would be surprised how many types of public land are out thete but don't show up on apps. Onyx has shown the most.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
Quote from: West Augusta on June 07, 2020, 02:51:45 PM
Quote from: Hobbes on June 05, 2020, 12:27:18 AM
Quote from: West Augusta on June 04, 2020, 03:38:03 PM
Quote from: Turkeyman on June 04, 2020, 03:25:08 PM
I use Gaia...the paid version, and really like it. What you need to do is try each app's freebie version, see what additional features are in their paid versions then make your decision. The reason I went with Gaia is because, in addition to hunting, I also do quite a bit of hiking and they have many built-in trails and such.
I have a Garmin GPS and see myself never using it again. I've already transferred all my waypoints to Gaia.
The only down side to using your phone over a true GPS is battery life. My phone is older and the battery doesn't last as long as it once did.
Get a new phone :)
I need to. I had a company phone before I was furloughed. It was an Iphone. Hated it but had great battery life.
My phone is an old Samsung S7. Needs upgraded.
I have an ancient iPhone at work and I hate it. The battery life sucks also.
I've got a Moto Z3 that's going on 2 yrs old (maybe it's just 1) that has fallen off some in battery life. I usually run the phone in airplane mode and use downloaded maps to help with battery.
I've been down the furlough road before. It sucked. I hope you get back to work soon.
Gaia all the way for reasons already mentioned.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: silvestris on June 05, 2020, 11:10:37 PM
https://www.outdoorlife.com/tested-best-hunting-apps-for-hunters/
HuntStand shows promise.
Only problem with this comparison is they only rated apps which call themselves HUNTING apps. I use Gaia (primarily meant to be a hiking app) and it does absolutely everything I want. Private land, WMA, WMU, state lands, many trails, many loadable overlay maps whereas you adjust the opacity et al.
None of the apps are perfect, but they are getting better.
GAIA just added cell phone coverage maps. One thing I like about em, constantly adding new layers.
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on June 12, 2020, 06:01:06 PM
GAIA just added cell phone coverage maps. One thing I like about em, constantly adding new layers.
Just saw that myself...GAIA is always updating with some pretty cool stuff.