[glockman19]

Do you use a GPS?

If YES what one do you use?

What one to buy?

[Mantis]

I pick up a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx last spring and I love it. There are less expensive models, but this one has a very sensitive antenna that will keep you locked on to the satellites even in dense forest. Believe it or not, mine even stays locked on when I take it into my basement. It has tons of features and you can even use it in your car if you get the extra street mapping software.

You can also download your tracks onto a computer and overlay it on a map like Google Earth to see where you have been.

[igpoobah]

Garmin GPSMAP 60C, very happy so far, going on about 3 years now..

[Polishrifleman]

Size matters smaller is better in my opinion, make sure it has a locking keypad, nothing like pulling it out and having it turned off sometime during your outing. Make sure it has traditional batteries so you can carry extra. I have an older Magellan Brick that works fine but I would like something smaller and I would also like one that locates my buddies too.

Some of the newer ones have the function that communicate with other units so you can track their locations as well.

I wouldn't waste money on a color screen if you have a choice.

[acousticmood]

I just picked up a Lowrance Iway from Bass pro for $199. It works great.

[glockman19]

Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx

This is the one I looked at. It was priced @ $449 amd the additional software was $116 @ Adventure 16 Stores. I like the color screen and don't mind the slightly larger size.

Just found it @ Amazon.com for $348 with a $50 rebate for a price of $298. Free Shipping

[jrfoxx]

I have an old (odel was first made 1996) Garmin GPS 38 that I got from Ebay about 6 months ago for $30 shipped.Haven't taken it out in the field yet, but I have tested it out at home, and it seems to work fine, and has PLENTY of features.In fact, it can do way more than I will ever need it to do.I plan to take it out this weekend when I go hunting and trying it out for real.I think a gps can be a VERY valuable asset to have for lots of reasons.Also, I dont beleive that one has to spend much money at all to get one that will be good anough to get them from point A to point B and back again, and keep them from getting lost, which is aout all a hunter/hiker really NEEDS, the rest is just convenience,IMHO.Als, I always have a map and compass with me though, just in case.

[Lennyjoe]

I use a Rino 120 from Garmin. It has served myself and my hunting crew well. The 3 of us have the same GPS/Radio and it helps keep track of each other out in the desert. We even use it when we go camping, fishing and hiking. The radio is nice to have in case you get in a pickle. The 120 is the one with 8mb of internal memory and so far I have 15 topo maps in and it still has 5mb free.

The type, quality of GPS all depends on what your willing to spend.

[Mantis]

Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx

This is the one I looked at. It was priced @ $449 amd the additional software was $116 @ Adventure 16 Stores. I like the color screen and don't mind the slightly larger size.

Just found it @ Amazon.com for $348 with a $50 rebate for a price of $298. Free Shipping

Sounds like a good deal.

[ssfeldjager]

1. Yes.
2.a. Garmin GPS 12
2.b. Garmin GPS MAP76S

[kymarkh]

Magellan MAP330. Oldie but a goodie and can be found cheap online. Works well for trips and for Geocaching, etc. If I were in the market today I would get something similar (a mapping model) in color.

[pfrnkln]

I picked up a gps for fishin' on lake Erie some time back - and got to taking it along up on the hill when I go to new areas...
I NEVER go without a map and compass but I generally mark a waypoint for my car or the cabin right off - then a-huntin' I go.
( It wont do you much good if you dont ahave a waypoint to go back too!)
I also used it once when tracking a buddies deer in bow season - it jumped the string and he didnt get a good kill shot (you can only imagine the abuse he took for this) but we did find it and it was good eatin'
What I did there was mark the stand he was at then start tracking - mark a turn here and there if it started to get faint (to have a spot to start circling again to pick up the trail) but we did indeed find the deer (a good size 6pt)after a little hike. The really nice thing was even though we new how to get back - I could sort of shoot cut as it turned out this guy dropped about 400 yards from my stand on the other side of a hedgerow, but we didnt realize that right away from the direction we came from.
I haven't HAD to use it to "get home" yet but its nice to know its there.

Anyway - its just a 100.00 garmin etrex and it does all I need.

just my 2 cents

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

I use a Garmin etrex

[salthouse]

I also use a Garmin etrex. I don't need a map display or anything more than way points and the coordinates of where I am. Less than $100, small, easy to use, reliable.

[HM2PAC]

My Garmin Etrex is the LegendCx and it does have a rather nice map graphic. Really easy to use. I have hunting spots locked in all over the place.

We also use it for Geocaching.

[SoCalShooter]

I have a magellan 600 explorist 2.5in color screen works great I use the delorme software on it. cost about 349 for it.

[Coltdriver]

Garmin Etrex Legend.

I mark the point at which I enter the woods then turn it off. I will turn it on to mark places I want to go to again. Then I turn it off again. If I am going way off the trail I will leave it on and have it create a track of my path.

I use mine in the forest of the Rockies mostly, but I have used it on the Eastern Plains when I am in hill country and references are not as easy to make.

Its always good to mark points along the way so that you could go point to point to get out if you take a complicated way in.

I always test my own skills for getting out and I always carry a map. It may be that one is more careless with a GPS. I have only become thoroughly disoriented once and used the gps to get back on track.

Always carry a spare set of batteries.

Garmin has set the standard for ease of use for years. They dominate the airplane market. They also update your software for free via the web. Mine has worked flawlessly from day one.