I was wondering if any of people out there are using GPS systems on your rides and if so what would you suggest to buy and what to stay away from.Do you find them really usefull or they just a waste of money?

 

I have had a Garmin gps12 for about a year & like it very much. It tracks 12 satellites if they are operating and aquires a fix very fast. It has several screens for tracking your path, going to a predetermined destination, direct route to your camp, truck. or whatever, and much more. I use mine the most for speed readings, miles ridden, and the "go to" screen which give me the most direct route to my camp or vehicle. It can be patched into a PC for mapping. I have brackets for each of my quads allowing the gps to be used while riding which is really the only efficient way to utilize it as opposed to sticking it in a pocket. I had a Magellan prior to the Garmin & did not like it as well..more difficult to navigate the various functions. It also has a 12V input. If you do get a gps & mount it on the bars, I have a solution to a problem which I could relate if & when you need it, of vibration causing it to disconnect.

 

A GPS unit is nothing but a novelty unless you have good reason to know where you are or in which direction to go in order to reach a specific destination. Anyone who knows how to read a map and/or how to read a compass may never need one. Still, once your travels take you off the beaten path they can be an extremely useful tool.

I recently purchased one of the new Garmin etrex units to replace one of the earlier Megellan units that I purchased several years ago. I use it to find my way around a National Forest where I hunt white tailed deer.

A GPS can become even more effective when working with topographic maps and aerial photographs to locate specific points of interest. For example, I will first use the photographs to locate areas in the National Forest and adjacent private land that appear as deer "hotspots". Using my GPS and compass, I am able to locate them quickly and easily.

Probably their biggest advantage to the person who spends a lot of time in the outdoors is the tremendous sense of security. No matter how far back in the woods you may go, you know you can find your way back.

 

Thanks for the response the Garmin 12 is the one in which I have been looking at.It seems to be reasonible price and I like the P.C. feature.I am going to still waite until I learn more about them before I puchase one

 

I myself do alot of hunting,ATVing,and snowmobiling I sort of wonder to if one of these will help with us at our new hunting camp,we are hunting aprox.8500 acres.Thank for your response!

 

Take this weekend for example. I had stopped my ATV at a spot where I had found a heavy crossing just a few weeks ago. After studying the aerial photograph, it appeared to me the deer were probably following a travel route that came from a small pond that we deeper in the forest some distance away. I decided to scout the area between the crossing and pond, an area where I had not been before. Even though the area is quite thick in understory and brush, using the GPS I was able to correct my compass bearing when it appeared I had gotten myself turned around somewhat.

The end result was a new stand location that shows a lot of promise come opening day.