Hunting GPS - Q&A - Which Accessories Should I Have For My Garmin Oregon 400t Hunting GPS?

Q. Which Accessories Should I Have for My Garmin Oregon 400t Hunting GPS?

A. The accessories that you want to have for the Garmin Oregon 400t hunting GPS are a carrying case, 12-volt adapter, and specific Topo maps on MicroSD cards for areas that you hunt.

The most important accessory to have for any hunting GPS is a good carrying case. Even though the Oregon 400t is extremely durable and waterproof, you will want to protect the large touch screen from getting scratched. Garmin has two carrying case options for the Oregon series GPS units. You can choose the slip cover case, which slides over and around the GPS unit and features a clear vinyl area to protect the screen. Or you can choose the hard carrying case which is great for protecting your GPS while traveling.

The second accessory you will want to get for your Oregon GPS is a 12-volt adapter. This will allow you to keep your GPS fully charged while in route to your hunting area. You may even want to opt for the auto navigation kit that is available for the Garmin Oregon series so you can easily use your hunting GPS while driving.

Pre-loaded Topographical MicroSD cards are the final accessory you will want to buy. Even though the Garmin Oregon 400t comes with topo maps pre-loaded, you will probably want to get one of the more detailed pre-loaded topographical MicroSD cards that are compatible with this Garmin GPS for each of your hunting areas.

Best Hunting GPS Q and A - What is the Most Important Feature to Look for in a Hunting GPS Unit?

Q. What is the Most Important Feature to Look for in a Hunting GPS Unit?

A. The most important feature to look for when shopping for a hunting GPS is an electronic compass.

The electronic compass in the GPS unit allows the user to get a bearing while standing still. This is extremely important for the hunter in a ground blind or tree stand or even in a spot and stalk situation. When hunting it is not always convinent to take a few steps in one direction so the GPS can tell where you are heading before it gives you an accurate reading. This is what you will need to do with a GPS without an electronic compass.

Hunting GPS Q & A – What Accessories Should I Use for My Garmin GPSMap 60 CSX When Hunting?

Q. What Accessories Should I Use for My Garmin GPSMap 60 CSX When Hunting?

A. The best accessories to use while hunting for the Garmin GPSMap 60 CSX are a good carrying case, holster or lanyard, 12 volt adapter, and extra MicroSD memory cards.

Carrying Case -A carrying case is especially important when using any GPS for hunting because it will protect the GPS from accidental scratches and scrapes. The Garmin GPSMap 60 CSX has a carrying case available for it which has a clear, vinyl area to cover the screen and has open access to all control buttons.

Holster or Lanyard – When hunting you will want to have a convenient way to carry your GPS with you. You want it accessible yet out of the way when glassing or making a shot on an animal. Check into the various options for the Garmin GPSMap 60 CSX and find one that works best for you.

12 Volt Adapter – A 12 volt adapter for your GPSMap 60 CSX will come in vary handy when you are traveling to your hunting area. You can plug in your GPS unit and charge it on your way to your hunt to save your battery life.

Extra MicroSD Memory Cards – The Garmin GPSMap 60 CSX has a MicroSD memory card slot. This allows you to hold extra maps and hunting areas on separate cards. It is very helpful to have a memory card for each of your hunting areas. For instance, if you have an elk hunt in Arizona and a deer hunt in your home state you can keep the maps for each hunt on separate memory cards.

GPS For Hunting Q&A - How Can I Use My Hunting GPS When Scouting?

Have you ever wondered how you can use your hunting GPS unit while you are scouting for your next hunting trip? Then, read on to find out.

Q. How Can I Use My Hunting GPS When Scouting?

A. When you are scouting for your next hunt you can use your hunting gps to mark waypoints, make routes, or make a track. This is also a great time to make sure the proper topographical maps are loaded into your GPS for the area you plan on hunting.

* You can mark waypoints of your tree stand or blind location, tree rubs, foot tracks, droppings, or water holes. It is good to take the time to develop a little system for naming all your different waypoints.

* You can make routes which could contain varies route waypoints where you would like to glass from along a ridge in a spot and stalk situation.

* You may also want to make a track from your camp or vehicle location as you are surveying a new potential hunting area. Tracks are very easy to make because you don’t have to enter in varies waypoints along your walk. The GPS simply makes a bread crumb trail on the route you took into an area so you can follow the track out.

* You will want to load the correct topo maps in your GPS for your hunting area and look around on it from water tanks, springs, and ridge lines that you want to check for game activity. By getting acquainted with all the landmarks in your hunting area will make for a far more successful hunt come the hunting season. It will give you a chance of exploring other hunting spots during your hunt in case one area is lacking activity.

GPS For Hunting Q&A - Which Garmin GPS Units Are The Best For Hunting?

Do you know which Garmin GPS units are the best for hunting? Well, read on to find out.

Q. Which Garmin GPS Units Are The Best For Hunting?

A. The Garmin eTrex Vista HCX, the Garmin GPSMap 60CSX, and the Garmin Rino 530 HCX are the best GPS units for hunting.

* Garmin eTrex Vista HCX - This unit is great for hunting because it has a MicroSD card slot so you can put different maps of hunting areas on varies memory cards. It also features an electronic compass to take a bearing while you are sitting or standing still like in a tree stand or ground blind. The Garmin eTrex Vista HCX is also very compact and lightweight.

* Garmin GPSMap 60CSX - This Garmin unit also has a MicroSD card slot and electronic compass. Most hunters like that it is easy to use with one hand. It is also popular for it’s ability to pick up a satellite signal quickly. This has been a very popular model for outdoor enthusiasts for years.

* Garmin Rino 530 HCX - This unit is not as compact as the eTrex Vista HCX but it also has a MicroSD card slot and electronic compass. It’s main feature is that it is also a FRS/GMRS radio. So you can communicate with others who have a radio. The Garmin Rino 530 HCX is most popular for it’s ability to use it’s position reporting feature and share your location with other Rino users in your hunting group.

I would recommend just about any Garmin model for hunting but these three are the best hunting GPS units because of their electronic compass and built in MicroSD memory card slot.

Hunting GPS Q&A - What Accessories Would You Recommend For My Garmin Rino 530 HCX Hunting GPS and Why?

Q. What Accessories Would You Recommend For My Garmin Rino 530 HCX Hunting GPS and Why?

A. The best hunting accessories for the Garmin Rino 530 HCX are the carrying case, earbud microphone, 12 volt adapter, MicroSD memory card, and and instructional DVD.

Carrying Case

This carrying case for the Rino is made of flexible neoprene. It will protect the unit from scrapes and scuffs while still allowing you to operate it. It has a clear vinyl lens over the display area and cut-outs for all buttons and antennas.

Earbud Microphone

An earbud with push to talk microphone is essential for communicating with fellow hunters in the field. By having the earbud attached you eliminate the regular noise associated with keying the mic and when receiving a communication. If you are going to use a radio to keep in touch with other hunters in your group then you must have an earbud microphone to reduce the noise while hunting.

12 Volt Adapter

A 12 volt adapter is great to use while in transit to your hunting destination. Then your Rino GPS will be fully charged when you are ready to use it on your hunt.

MicroSD Memory Card

It is great to have a separate memory card pre-loaded with topographical maps of all your different hunting area.

Instructional DVD

An instructional DVD about the Garmin Rino HCX will teach you how to use the many features so you can get the maximum use out of your GPS when you are out hunting.

So, if you are using your Garmin Rino HCX GPS unit for hunting these are the best accessories you will want to use with your Rino.

Hunting GPS Q&A - How Can I Use My GPS For Recovering an Animal After My Shot?

Q. How Can I Use My GPS For Recovering an Animal After My Shot?

A. You can use your GPS to track a blood trail by entering a waypoint for every blood spot you come to until you find your animal.

After you have made a shot on an animal that you are hunting, the first thing you want to do is make a waypoint of the position you shot it from. This is something you can do while you are waiting before you start tracking your animal.

When you are ready to start tracking your animal go to where you believe your animal was standing when you shot it. Make a waypoint of this position as well. It may also be helpful to go to the last spot you saw the animal and make this a waypoint, too.

By now you should have blood that you can start to follow. Depending on the amount of blood will determine how often you want to make a waypoint. If it is a heavy blood trail you will have to make fewer waypoints. However, if the blood trail is light and faint you will want to make far more frequent waypoints.

These waypoints will give you a great reference if in the event the blood trail dries up. If this occurs go back to the last waypoint you recorded and start looking in all directions to pick up the blood trail again.

These waypoints will be extremely helpful in the event you need to spot the search at night and resume it will fellow hunting buddies come morning light.