GPS usage

[Jimspur]

GAIA and downloaded maps for me with phone on airplane mode.
Compass and topo map for backup.

[Bowguy]

 Guys I'm sorry to be ignorant? What is GAIA?

[joey46]

Have depended on a Garmin 12 since the late 1990s.  I can remember when many worried y2k would make them inoperable.  I have over 125 waypoints stored from four states.  Wouldn't hunt without it.  When scouting will mark waypoints and then when returning home put the coordinates on a mapping site and find alternate routes in and out and aerial views of the surrounding area.  Invaluable!

[mcw3734]

Guys I'm sorry to be ignorant? What is GAIA?

www.gaiagps.com

It's a customizable mapping application where you can download maps and use offline (out of cell service). Much like OnX, but a lot cheaper.

I switched to GAIA a few years ago and pleased with it. Though it did take more practice to be proficient with it compared to OnX.

[Dtrkyman]

GAIA is a good option, however it is missing many layers compared to ONX, one place I hunted it would have been useless, and ONX was vital in identifying open hunting lands with a particular layer!

[Bowguy]

Thank you guys

[Timmer]

I own a Garmin eTrex and use it a fair amount, even on property for which I'm familiar.  I'm a run and gunner and have various points on the properties I hunt where birds have been roosting or are common travel points.  I like to have sitting spots ready in those areas.  I pick a tree tree back in the woods a ways and I cut the brush and branches here and there to make sure I have room to swing my gun, cover angles, have shooting lanes, etc.  I mark these on my GPS.  The spots frequently change from year to year due to man or nature circumstances. 

I am a techy by nature but avoid phone apps for hunting and fishing.  Even though I'm sure may apps have come a long way, my experience is that if you don't have internet, many apps often become flakey.  On the hunt I frequently have poor service and have much more important things to worry about and don't need to be sitting at the edge of a field trying to deal with phone issues.

[Paulmyr]

The gps in your phone doesn't need internet service to work properly as it runs off satellites.

If you download the map of the areas you plan to hunt to your phone before you lose internet service there is no need for an internet connection. I us Onx.

Make sure you are logged into the app before you lose service or you will not be able to access your account. I keep logged in so I don't have to worry about this situation. Problem is don't let your battery die or turn off your phone when out of service or you won't be able to log back into the Onx when you power back up

Your phone gps works the same as your hand held . Hand held already has the software downloaded to perform proper GPS function. You need to download the software in the form of an App to your phone in order for gps function to display properly.

My hand held basically turned into an expensive paper weight once I found Onx. To bad I lost it before I had the chance to download all my waypoints. Not sure but I think they might be in my Google Earth account.

[Bowguy]

Thanks fellas

[WV Flopper]

 I agree on the OnX, lots better than my GPS. It too is just a paper weight, matter of fact, the girl used it for hiking for a couple months and switched over to All Trails for hiking.

That's actually a pretty good app to check out. It has help/security lines to loved ones in the event of missed times and such. Her phone send a me progression of her hikes and way points as she goes along. Her choice, not mine. It shows more hiking trails than OnX.

[albrubacker]

I use Huntstand and download the map for the area I am planning on hunting if service is an issue. I am able to use the tracking option on there with the phone on airplane mode.

[Spurs]

Guys I'm sorry to be ignorant? What is GAIA?

www.gaiagps.com

It's a customizable mapping application where you can download maps and use offline (out of cell service). Much like OnX, but a lot cheaper.

I switched to GAIA a few years ago and pleased with it. Though it did take more practice to be proficient with it compared to OnX.

OnX is way less customizable IMO.  Once you get Google earth as a layer and figure out the multitude of layers available, it has way more details.

The only detail that is not quite as good is the Landowner information...but I rarely attempt to get permission.  I hunt 90% public though.