Do hunters need GPS units or no? We’ll try to answer this question as best as possible and provide you with some essential tips and tricks that you can use to make sure that you’re spending your money wisely. Check all of this info below.
How should a good model look like?
The ideal GPS made specifically for hunting purposes should be handheld and as such, lightweight and small enough to be held conveniently and comfortably. Ease of use is paramount because the last thing you might want to do is handle a series of technical mishaps when you’re out in the wild.
The design of the navigator also matters quite a bit, and we’re not necessarily referring to the way it looks or its color or whatever else you might tend to think is important. The product has to be ruggedly developed and come with a non-slip holding surface so that it doesn’t fall from your hands that easily.
Satellites and speeds
US-based GPS units rely on the twenty-four satellites owned and operated by the United States Department of Defense. So then why are some navigational devices better than others? Well, not all are capable of locking onto the closest satellite very fast. The larger the antenna on the model, the faster will it be capable of locking your position.
As for the speed of the interface, if you’re going to buy your chosen model online, you have no way of testing it. That’s why it might be a better idea to go to a store and put two units one next to the other and use the same functions simultaneously. This practice will allow you to compare how speedily the two GPSes respond in comparison to one another.
Displays
Any geeky hunting GPS should come with a rugged display, and that’s because there are a lot of things that can happen when hunters are out and about. For one, the screen of the device needs to be waterproof, or you need to get a case or cover that allows you to look at the display, yet at the same time keeps it protected.
You might not realize it, but there are some circumstances where you can accidentally damage the display or get it dirty. Plastic is used for most handheld models, and even those that come with touchscreen made of plastic are typically durable enough to be used for several seasons on end.
Accessories
Because this is an electronic device we are talking about, you’ll need rechargeable batteries, portable power banks, and a good old USB cable that’s compatible with the device you have chosen. Add all of that to a carrying case and a mounting system, if you don’t want to hold your unit all of the time, and you’re all set.
The batteries are by far the most important extra you need to take with you, and that’s because unexpected situations can happen in the wild and you need to know for sure that you can continue using your gadgets and communication devices.
