What is the best hunting GPS? You will definitely benefit from having a GPS when you are out hunting. In order to select the best one, you should take into consideration the following features. The first one is the number of satellites that the device can connect to, something that has a direct impact on the speed and accuracy. A minimum requirement for a good-quality GPS for hunting is 12 satellites, however, some more advanced models offer as many as 24 satellites.

Devices with fewer satellites take longer to calculate the location — up to one minute. Also, keep in mind that a larger antenna and efficient mapping software contribute to a higher speed. The second factor to look for is functionality, which includes versatility and ease of use. For example, a good GPS unit should have the ability to mark a location not only for a route but also as a place of interest. The device should not be complicated to use, so make sure that it has a convenient button configuration or a touchscreen.

Make sure that your GPS unit has a sturdy, waterproof design and a large backlit screen. And the fourth factor you need to be aware of is that the unit’s battery life is crucial in hunting. Many models come with rechargeable batteries, however, some are designed to be powered by disposable ones. The latter option is more susceptible to power loss and entails additional costs on the battery replacement.

Best Hunting GPS Compared

An excellent example of a high-performance GPS for hunting is the Garmin GPS Navigator that is created for the most challenging outdoor activities. Not only does this unit use a GPS system but it also has access to the Glonass satellite — a satellite alternative to GPS. As a reference, the GLONASS constellation consists of 28 satellites: 25 spacecraft of the previous generation, two spacecraft of the new generation, and one spacecraft of the advanced version.

The GPS system is made up of at least 24 satellites that circle the Earth twice a day. In addition to the dual satellite support, it features a screen with improved readability. The color display is 2.2 inches in size, has a resolution of 240 by 320 pixels, and is suitable for reading in direct sunlight.

Garmin GPS runs on 2 AA batteries for as many as 25 hours, which is sufficient for at least two days of intensive hunting. The product includes preloaded road-routable TopoActive maps featuring trails and streets. No matter where you are, you will be aware of all-natural features, buildings, waterways, and international boundaries around you. It can also upload GPX files straight to your device. On top of that, it allows for downloading additional maps thanks to an expanded 8 GB and a microSD card slot. With a weight of 5 ounces, this GPS unit has an IPX7 waterproof rating.

If you are on a budget, go with the Garmin eTrex 10 Worldwide Handheld GPS Navigator that is two times cheaper. While this model also uses GPS and Glonass for faster location, it has less functionality than the eTrex 22x option. The latter has preload maps, automatic routing for outdoor activities, and allows you to add maps, whereas the eTrex 10 doesn’t have these features. The cheaper option offers only 1,000 waypoints, 100 tracks, and 50 routes, whereas the eTrex 22x has twice as much. In addition, the eTrex 10 features only 6GB of memory compared to 8 GB of memory in the more expensive option. Both models have point-to-point navigation, area calculation, hunt, and fish calendar. Although they are similar in terms of dimensions and screen size, the eTrex 10 has a lower resolution of 128 x 160 pixels and a monochrome display type.

10 Best-Selling Hunting GPS | Comparative Table

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Products with a 5-star rating

 

Product5 Stars Votes
Garmin eTrex 10 Best Budget under $1002609(54.3%)
Garmin GPSMAP 64sx Best GPS+GLONASS+Galileo Navigator with Altimeter, Compass, and Preloaded TopoActive Maps608(12.7%)
Garmin eTrex 22x Best GPS with the Glonass satellite587(12.2%)
Garmin GPSMAP 78182(3.8%)
Garmin Oregon 700121(2.5%)
Garmin Montana 610 Camo74(1.5%)

 

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A hunting GPS device is a global positioning satellite system designed around people who aren’t navigating by roads and traditional infrastructure landmarks. These are designed with a higher frequency and often use a direct satellite uplink due to the absence of cellular towers and other modern conveniences out in the wilderness. Their database of navigation is often based on cartography information, natural landmarks, and Parks and Recreation survey data.

Hunting GPS devices generally display much more than simply a direction and nearby landmark, with map-based coordinates, elevation information and much more. While they were designed with hunters in mind, hunting GPS devices can also be advantageous to people who go camping, hiking or any other sort of off-road activity where you are deep inside the wilderness. As a matter of fact, anybody venturing off the beaten path should probably have one of these, as they can be invaluable in helping you locate the nearest ranger station for help, and prevent you from becoming lost out there in the abyss.

Many of these hunting GPS devices also have transponders which can signal for help if you are lost, allowing rangers and other aid to come and rescue you if need be, and some of them even have uplinks to obtain recent data on animal attacks and nature activity, allowing you to avoid areas with, for example, recent bear or cougar activity. Nobody wants to run into a bear or cougar out there.

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