Anyone carry a PLB while hunting?

After my heart surgery my wife and sister insisted I carry one when I go out in the desert. Don't know why unless they just want to find the body before the coyotes start feeding.

27hand said:

A little piece of mind.
It's a one use tool for a couple hundred bucks.
If you use it for an emergency, they will replace it.

I'm 70 now, thankful i can still drag a deer out but worry a bit about dragging my.own butt out if i get hurt.

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Currently I don't go that far away from civilized folks to need one, but recently I've been scouting some ground in the Appalachians, and if alone, yes I'd probably get one.

Another consideration.
You don't have to be the one that's hurt. All you have to do is come across somebody like me who hasn't bought one yet that is in trouble. I don't think by yourself on foot, you'd be getting me out of the mountains, or desert, or whatever the situation (I'm built like Santa Claus).

So you're likely to end up using it, if at all, to save somebody else's life.

LD

I always take SPOT with me into the wilds.

https://www.findmespot.com/en-us/

Not yet. But I've thought about buying a SPOT. I'm 61 and usually hunt alone. And at times get way off the road with no cell service.

I completely agree in your situation. You should have one.

Personally, I have 3 boys that know where my stands are, and where I will be. If I have to spend the night in our woods, they better hope I'm dead.
(I'm joking [a little])

DocRock said:

I always take SPOT with me into the wilds.

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I used a couple of different Spot devices for quite a few years when I was doing a lot of solo back country backpacking and solo canoe trips in the BWCA. The more recent versions of the spot devices can allow 2 way txt communication, but the ones I used did not have that feature. However, they did have a non-emergency "check-in" mode which is actually quite handy as well.

The check-in will send your GPS coordinates to the Spot servers which will then forward your location overlaid onto a map to your contact person via txt or email. In my case, I would check-in every night so my concerned person would know where I was and could see my location on a map. This gives them peace of mind, but also something more important.

Obviously, none of these devices will work in an emergency if you are unable to actuate it. However if you have been checking in with your concerned person on a regular basis and then fail to check in, (for whatever time you have designated) they can initiate rescue with the proper authorities and the search can start at your last location. This can save a significant amount of rescue time in the event that the nature of your incapacitation prevents you from actuating the device.

If I don't hunt far enough out to warrant a canteen anymore, (as I mentioned in a concurrent thread) a strobe would definitely be unwarranted. I have several flashlights that have such a function, however, and one of those goes with. (Nebo)

climbnjump said:

The check-in will send your GPS coordinates to the Spot servers which will then forward your location overlaid onto a map to your contact person via txt or email. In my case, I would check-in every night so my concerned person would know where I was and could see my location on a map. This gives them peace of mind, but also something more important.

Obviously, none of these devices will work in an emergency if you are unable to actuate it. However if you have been checking in with your concerned person on a regular basis and then fail to check in, (for whatever time you have designated) they can initiate rescue with the proper authorities and the search can start at your last location. This can save a significant amount of rescue time in the event that the nature of your incapacitation prevents you from actuating the device.

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I too have the pre-existing version and you have described the best use of the device perfectly. With check-in and tracking, if you fail to check in, your concerned party can initiate search and rescue, but you can also set it so that if you remain immobile for a predetermined amount of time, it sends an alarm. This latter feature is not hugely helpful for hunting though.

I used to carry a PLB but I gave it away when I bought an iridium sat Phone, which is equipped with a PLB, because cell service is very limited (to 3 miles from most villages) out in the country. My borough/hunting unit is larger than Illinois, with 11 villages with lless than 9,000 people in total, so distances in-between are far and wide.

We also carry Marine VHF radios, and since the Sat Phone has both call and emergency location, Its best for my situation.

I'm a younger man and this may sway my opinion, but I'd rather lay out there for a few days and have the chance to give back to what has been so giving to me. No sense in having a well preserved corpse.

TikkaShooter said:

As we lived in the mountains of western NC and now in the mountains of NE GA. I've noticed cell phones and GPS lose the satellite signal in the V between mountains. Do the PLBs or satellite phones do the same?

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no.once theSPOT can see open sky, it has coverage.

I can't go far anyhow. At 67 and with a form of blood cancer, I'm very anemic. I don't last long and have to ride my ATV to the box blind in the woods I used to just walk to on problem. So, I won't waste my money on an electronic locator. I don't do public land in Texas and I know my way on my own land. I do turn my cell phone off and carry it with me for safety reasons. Never know what could happen.

DocRock said:

no.once theSPOT can see open sky, it has coverage.

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Thanks.. Here the terrain is mountainous in spots close to a V shape..

I am generally with friends and hunting on private land. You come in through a fence so if you walk long enough without crossing a fence sooner or later you will be back to that point.

We always have a machine around to keep from having to drag stuff very far by hand.

MCgunner said:

I can't go far anyhow. At 67 and with a form of blood cancer, I'm very anemic. I don't last long and have to ride my ATV to the box blind in the woods I used to just walk to on problem. So, I won't waste my money on an electronic locator. I don't do public land in Texas and I know my way on my own land. I do turn my cell phone off and carry it with me for safety reasons. Never know what could happen.

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When the phone is off it is not tracking location, so if something were to happen no one will be able to use it to find you unless you happen to have the facilty to turn it on and are in a place the phone can connect to the network. Better to simply have a full charge and phone turned on. Even if signal is lost, people can start looking for you at the last known pings. If ringing while hunting is a concern, put it on silent.

Well, they shouldn't have a hard time finding an old man on 5 acres. LOL