Best Handheld GPS Hunting

Hunting is one of the most interesting sports for men. Being a good hunter requires a lot of skill and good equipment to make it easier to get game. Today’s hunters always depend on a reliable handheld GPS device for hunting. The market is however filled with a lot of brands which means that game hunters need to put some effort into making sure that they are buying the best handheld GPS for hunting. You can also check out the best crossbow for deer.

Hunting GPS devices help to save you from awkward situations that will deprive you of time and energy trying to find your bearings on the hunt. A trusted GPS device will ensure that you can always enjoy your animal chases without wondering about how to get back to your base. Another benefit of using a handheld GPS unit is that they mostly have geocaching feature which makes it easy for you to navigate even where there is no GPS lock on your device. It is also another feature that you should look out for when you are considering buying the best handheld GPS hunting device for you. Check out the Best Spotting Scope For Hunting.

When you have the best handheld GPS for hunting, your hunting trip is more exciting and interesting, and chances are you will get more value from the experience. Buying a GPS device for hunting also depends on your specific needs and budget. Here are some of the best-rated handheld GPS hunting devices that you can buy today. You can also read this for Scent Killer.

Picture Name My Verdict
Garmin Oregon 600 Highly sensitive Check Price
Hunting GPS by Garmin GPSMAP 64s Worldwide A wide range of sensors Check Price
Garmin Approach G6 Battery is rechargeable and long lasting Check Price
Garmin Foretrex 401 Waterproof Hiking GPS The device is easy to navigate and use Check Price
Garmin inReach Explorer+ Excellent weather maps and information Check Price
Garmin eTrex 20x Light, durable and easy to use device Check Price

1 - Garmin Oregon 600

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Pros

  • The device is highly sensitive and has a wide range of sensors for accurate tracking such as an electronic compass equipped with an accelerometer that can tell if the user is in transit or moving.
  • Touchscreen is easy to use and provides a lot of details at a glance
  • Strong, shock and drop proof so it can be used on rough terrains and last for a long time.
  • Bluetooth-enabled to share big files such as pictures, Garmin Adventures and Custom Maps

Cons

  • Pre-loaded maps are quite limited, and you may be required to spend another hundred dollars for better, updated maps
  • The device is not water resistant and could see some moisture penetrate if it falls into water.
  • It uses a lot of battery power so be prepared to have extra batteries on hand if you are using the device for more than 16 hours straight

The Garmin Oregon 600 is one of the highest rated hunting GPS devices. The modern touchscreen display gives the user 3 inches of visual information about the satellite positioning, time and other route details. The Bluetooth enabled device also makes it easy to share route plans, waypoints and markets through a fast, wireless connection. The Garmin Oregon 600 comes with a global base map, a USB wireless charging cord, strong carabiner-type hook and a user manual. This model is easy to use with regular batteries and is quite flexible. You can also buy an additional battery pack to charge the device or do so while it is connected to your computer. The Garmin Oregon 600 has a really easy learning curve and does everything that you would ever need from your handheld hunting GPS.

2 - Hunting GPS by Garmin GPSMAP 64s Worldwide

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Pros

  • Easy to read in the sun which makes it a great device to have in the outdoors.
  • It comes with maps already installed so you can use it right out of the box.
  • It allows live uploads of your adventures to the Garmin app on your laptop or mobile phone
  • A wide range of sensors that help to provide all the data that you will need on your hunt.

Cons

  • The battery gets drained pretty fast when you’re using all the features during you hunt.
  • It could be quite difficult to use and take a bit of time getting used to especially for first time users.
  • Its geochaching capabilities are quite limited and unreliable
  • Signals can get lost at times when out on the trail which could make it difficult to follow a trail or hunt effectively.

The Garmin GPSMAP series is very popular and one of the favorite hunting devices for game hunters. The 2.6-inch color screen is easy to read even when the daylight is full. It is light and works with AA batteries which can also be recharged to save you money. Its sensors include a 3-axis compass which has a barometric altimeter. The GPS/GLONASS receiver is extremely sensitive and accurate to a 3-meter range. The device also comes additional sensors for detecting heat, heart rate and other useful data metrics. You can also connect it to a mobile phone to transfer pictures and data. It comes pre-loaded with basemaps and also has an 8-GB internal memory that can be expanded via a MicroSD card. 

3 - Garmin Approach G6

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Pros

  • The battery is rechargeable and long lasting
  • The device loads maps and locations pretty fast and responds quickly during use
  • GPS Lock is very fast, and it maintains connection reliably
  • It is light and slim which makes it easily to carry around during use

Cons

  • The graphics of the device is poor, the image resolution poor and can be confusing at times.
  • The instructions aren’t clear and could be confusing for some new users.
  • The size can be too small which makes the screen hard to read

If you are looking for a cheap handheld GPS device that is suitable for a beginner, this is one of the most highly recommended. In most cases where a cheap price translates to inadequate performance, the Garmin Approach G6 actually does everything well with a nice waterproof and portable design. This is one of the easiest hunting GPS devices to use and provides a capable support on hunting trips. It comes pre-loaded with a lot of maps and can be used for a wide range of activities from hunting to golf course movement. The handy design is strong, rugged and comes with a 2.6-inch touchscreen display that is well-backlit.

4 - Garmin Foretrex 401 Waterproof Hiking GPS

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Pros

  • The device is easy to navigate and use, the interface is intuitive and has a low learning curve so you can master it within a few days.
  • The metric system is highly suitable for military use
  • The features of the Garmin Foretrex can be easily customized to what you want to make you have the best hunting trip.
  • The satellite locking is quick, and you can easily add a USB connection to download new maps or transfer details.

Cons

  • The screen is quite small and can be difficult to read despite good back lighting
  • The internal memory size is small and so you can’t store all your favorite maps on the Foretrex all at once
  • The image quality of the user interface and screen is decent but not particularly excellent.
  • The battery life is also suspect and can only give around 8 hours of performance on a pair of batteries.

The Garmin Foretrex is one of the best hunting GPS devices that you can buy for less than $150. It is perfect for use in conditions that require water as it is waterproof and can still tell an accurate location. The display is clear and shows sharp pictures when in use. The Garmin Foretrex does a great job of showing present location, distance and other features like speed and elevation. The Garmin Foretrex also stores data and details about your trips just like the way that your car GPS unit saves your route history. It also shows the beginning of your trip, the route and all the statistics about it. The language settings can be conveniently changed. You can also check heart rate and bicycle cadence with the device, so it is very suitable for off-road tracking and trips.

5 - Garmin inReach Explorer+

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Pros

  • Access to an emergency search and rescue center to help if you ever get lost
  • Instant pairing with smartphones for file transfer and other handy functions
  • Excellent weather maps and information that help you stay ahead of inclement conditions.
  • It provides real-time navigation guide including road waypoints and routes that make it easier to find your way around unfamiliar terrain.

Cons

  • There is no barometric altimeter or compass included in the inReach Explorer+
  • The software feels dated and laggy. This could be improved marginally by installing the latest update, but it still feels old compared to other newer models.
  • The screen is prone to damage and so it is recommended that you buy a pouch or a screen protector
  • The battery life could be disappointing so you should have a backup..

There are many handheld hunting GPS devices that are many features but the inReach Explorer+ distinguishes itself by providing a full range of functions that stretch beyond the usual GPS services that most hunters use. You can use the device to set a breadcrumb trail of way markets to find your way back to familiar surroundings. Compared to other Garmin handheld GPS devices, the inReach offers lots of weather information, built-in topology maps, an altimeter and digital compass. The screen of the device is also large enough for most people and is well backlit. This makes it easy to read the information on the screen at all times of the day. The inReach is also an excellent communication device with a capable Iridium satellite coverage that helps you get dual-way SMS messages from anywhere. This means that you can always reach for help no matter how dire your circumstances are. The Inreach Explorer+ is also served by a 24/7 Search and Rescue Unit that can ensure that you can get out of the trickiest of circumstances.

6 - Garmin eTrex 20x

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Pros

  • Provides both GPS and GLONASS satellite tracking for effective and quick location pinging.
  • Basecamp is quite capable for most hiking and hunting adventures. The large internal memory also makes it easy to install more maps onto the device
  • Excellent screen that offers backlighting and sharp resolutions for easy use all day long whether night or day.
  • Light, durable and easy to use device.
  • Geocaching feature is a welcome addition that makes it easy to use without a GPS lock

Cons

  • The menu is very difficult to master with a tough learning curve. It is tedious, not user friendly and takes some time to remember the steps required to activate simple features
  • The battery life leaves a lot to be desired. If you are going to use it all day long, you must have an extra pack of batteries as the device burns through batteries within 8 – 10 hours.
  • The better maps from Garmin are quite expensive and can be tedious to install and configure so that they can work without issues.
  • There is no way to lock the screen so a lot of times, the buttons get mistakenly pressed which also leads to the power draining quickly.

The eTrex 20x is a simple navigating GPS device that is ideal for experienced hunters. The display is updated and fills out the 2.2-inch screen nicely with all the information you would need like stop time, moving time, elevation and other information. The backlit screen and excellent display resolution make it highly reliable in the daytime or at night. With 3.7GB of internal memory, you can install a lot of custom maps according to what you need and where you’re going. The preloaded basemap is also capable enough to handle most of your travelling needs. The Garmin eTrex 20x comes with a highly sensitive GPS receiver, satellite prediction and support for GLONASS. You can be sure of finding your position easily and accurately no matter where your adventures carry you. You can also purchase a carrying pouch and screen protector to improve the durability of the handheld GPS device.

Conclusion

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on a fancy GPS device if you do not need one. Garmin is one of the most recognized manufacturers of GPS devices. You can also consider those that are manufactured by either Magellan or Bushnell if these are more within your budget. Purchase your new UTV Hunting Accessories.

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