Anyone use GPS?

[DEERSLAYER]

I am suprised at the lack of views and responces in the GPS, maping , etc. forum. Do many of you use a GPS?

[Eastern Yooper]

I use it all the time on my boat: I have every buoy in the St. Mary's river from the locks down to Lime Island, including around Neebish & Sugar Island. I've got the edge close to shore where the reeds protrude out programmed in. Several small islands marked for duck hunting. The drop-offs marked for walleye fishing. Navigational hazards plotted as well.

Lots of spots marked in Munuscong bay: Underground channels, weed edges, rock piles, and so forth.

Ditto for Little Bay De Noc: Lots of hot spots, reefs, drop-offs etc.

I can navigate my boat in the fog (and have done so several times). I can ice-fish, snowmobile on the bays and safely get to or from the bay if weather conditions are bad (blizzard).

But I don't use a GPS for hunting. I never saw any sense in marking 'Uncle Homers hotspot' and so forth. Plus, I don't feel the map cartridges are all that accurate, at least from the models I've seen. Too generic and not specific enough.

[Robow]

I'm looking to get a GPS soon, I didn't know there was a fourm for this until now.

[Chuck]

I must not be able to read....... I dont see a forum for gps and mapping???? which one is it?

[toots]

I use GPS for boating. Before that I had loran. I use it on Saginaw Bay. It can save your day. I would use it for hunting If I hunted remote areas. Farm country hunting is pretty easy to get around. toots

[DEERSLAYER]

Chuck,

It's in the "out and about" section. You have to scroll way down to see it. The section reads:

"Mountian Biking, Hiking, GEO caching, GPS usage, Maps"

[Michigan Hunter]

I use GPS all the time. Have used them for 6 years. I now have an eTrex Legend mapping and have every blind and buck rub marked on property I hunt in the Thumb. I can walk up to my blinds in the dark or fog within 15 feet. I also hunt out west and CA on thousands of acre ranches and cannot even start to hunt them without GPS. Once you get one and use it you find it is necessary for a safe easy hunt.

[Mainspring]

Funny...I remember in the Army when a guy had to have a "Secret" security clearance to play with a GPS. Does that make me old???

[Big Shooter]

I agree with michigan hunter; I hunt the remote areas of the U.P. and do alot of still hunting and scouting and would'nt be caught in the woods without one. When you can hunt 4 square miles without any roads or 2 tracks with the total security of not getting lost, it somehow makes you a more confidant and capable hunter. Also anyone that fishes the great lakes without a gps or marine radio is tempting fate!

[KEN W.]

I've got a gps and had finally figured out how it worked about the last day of muzzleloading season of 2001 but them I put it away for the summer. I got it back out before bow season and I still have'nt refigured out how it works again yet. Its a garmin 315 and to me the instructions are kind of confusing or I'm just an idiot. I do know that it eats batteries like no tomorrow. 2 AA bateries last about 3-4 hours use max. I should learn how to use it because I'm fishing in Canada this spring and I would like to mark the camp and the fishing spots.

[flyrod4steelhead]

I have been wanting one for a couple of years now, and my wife finally bought me one for christmas. I can't wait to use it. I have the Garmin Etrex, the yellow one. My dad and freind both have the same one, they do not go hunting without them. If it wasn't for my dad's GPS last year, I would not have shot my 8pt. I will use mine for both hunting and fishing.

[sfw1960]

Not usually huntin' 'Slayer , but fishin' it's ALWAYS on.....
Robert

[walleyeman]

I would not leve home without it. I don't use it to much hunting, but in the boat and Ice fishing it is like a old friend when it starts to snow and blow or the fog rolls in.

[WALLDADY]

I use a Garmin 12 . It is basic and very easy to use both on the water and in the woods . I bring it with even if Im hunting /fishing spots that Im familiar with . Conditions change , and it WILL keep you from getting lost .

Good Luck and Safe Trips ............. Walldady

[RJF]

I won a GPS handheld Garman Model at an Albion Elks Club Walleye Dinner. Mark Martin was a guest speaker. I have not used it off the boat. I even took it to Florida, and rented a boat for an afternoon of snorkelinig in the Florida Keys. It performed very well. I found the exact spot on the reef, as well as the way home. It is always turned on, when the boat is in the water. A very good indicator of trolling speed.

I'll watch the forum for tips.