Getting lost in the woods is one of the top fears of even an experienced hunter. This fear won’t let you go too far in the hunting field if you are a beginner. According to the Stacker, there are about 15.2 million hunters in the United States. The incidents of hunters lost in the woods are increasing every year. When you are out of water, or shelter, go in the wrong direction, or lose contact with your partner hunters, you probably need help to save your life.
So, should you stop dreaming about hunting?… Not at all; you must get a hunting GPS. A hunting GPS can guide you through directions, tell your location to your friends or family, and inform you about nearby water resources, connected roads, and weather conditions. Moreover, modern hunting GPS allows you to send an SOS (Save Your Souls) message to a rescue service that may save your life.
Overview Of 5 Best Hunting GPS
1. Garmin Handheld Hunting GPS
Best Overall
2. Garmin InReach Mini Hunting GPS
Compact
3. Garmin inReach Explorer+ Hunting GPS
Premium Quality
4. Magellan eXplorist Hunting GPS
Best Budget
5. Walfront A6 Handheld Hunting GPS
Large Display
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1. Garmin Handheld Hunting GPS
Best Overall
★Why You Choose This Hunting GPS
- Display:- It has a 2.2-inch HD screen which shows fonts and directions pretty much clear. The monochrome display reduces the light emitted by this GPS (including blue light) to see even in sunlight with a painless experience.
- Interface:-. A small analog joystick allows you to move up, down, left, right, and enter. On the right side, it has a back and a power on/off button. The menu button on the left side allows you to open functions and sub-manus. The last two buttons at the top left are for page up/down and zoom in/out the map.
- Battery Life:- It has an average battery life of 25 hours which is best for most outdoor conditions. However, it is not rechargeable, you require 2 AA batteries. It is suggested to use polaroid AA batteries for hours of use.
- Portability:- The hunting GPS is 2.13 x 1.3 x 4.06 inches to fit in your sleeves easily. It weighs only 5 ounces which is extremely lightweight to carry. However, there is no belt clip to carry it with the belt; you need to buy that separately.
- Durability:- It has a hard outer body that seems unbreakable in its walls. The GPS is waterproof to IPX7 standards which gives protection against water splashes and rain. Also, the device is covered with a one-year consumer-limited warranty.
⚙ Functions
- Satellite function to show your coordinates and satellite location in the sky above your head.
- The WAAS/EGNOS Improves the accuracy of the GPS.
- Waypoint Marking to save location or coordinate a place where you want to come back.
- Trackback function to retrace the steps you’ve taken to reach a point.
- Trip computer to display information about your outdoor activity.
- Worldwide base map to see country roads and borders.
- Compass to check and see the direction.
- Geocaching to take part in outdoor treasure-hunting games.
✔ Pros
- It displays critical information like location & topography difficulty
- Its HotFix satellite prediction provides a fast and precise location track
- Provides effortless navigation at night time
- It is hypersensitive, faster, and less memory-consuming
- It is an affordable, compact, accurate, and durable hunting GPS
❌ Cons
- No built-in maps feature
- It does not have alarms or beeper for indications
First, we have eTrex 10 handheld hunting GPS which stands top among budget handheld navigation devices. It is equipped with a high-sensitivity GPS receiver that allows you to navigate in adverse situations.
The GPS comes with 2000 points and 200 saved tracks which is very helpful if you are a beginner in hunting or tracking. Also, Bluetooth connectivity allows you to analyze, categorize, and share data. However, the installed map is very basic and you can’t install any additional map into this hunting GPS.
Overall, this best handheld GPS for hunting is budget-friendly and costs you $90 only. I will highly recommend it to hunters who move to different locations during their hunting trips. Also, this GPS is best for trekking, campaigning, and other outdoor activities at unknown locations.
2. Garmin InReach Mini Hunting GPS
Compact
★Why You Choose This Hunting GPS
- Interface: The power button at the top allows you to turn it on/off. The up and down button on the left side lets, you go through the menu. On the right side, you have the OK button to select and a back button to go back.
- Display:- The 1.27-inch screen looks small but shows you all the details you need. It has a monochrome transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display that allows you to read the screen in sunlight without harming your eyes.
- Battery Life:- This GPS runs on a rechargeable lithium battery which comes along. The battery lasts for 40 to 50 hours in 10 minutes in default tracking mode. However, if you use it in the power-saving mode it may last for even 20 days. You can recharge the batteries using a micro-USB power cable or a 12-V optional in-vehicle charger.
- Portability:- The palm-sized hunting GPS measures 4 inches tall and 2 inches wide to adjust in your pocket Also, it has a loop fastener to attach to your belt so your hands remain free for other activities. The overall weight of this device is just 3.52 ounces.
- Durability:- It is built using the MIL-STD-810F technique that makes it completely impact-resistant and durable. Also, the IPX7 water protection rating keeps you up and running during rainy climates. This GPS device is covered with a one-year warranty from Garmin.
⚙ Functions
- Global Iridium Network to send and receive text messages.
- Option to send SOS to GEOS for emergency response and monitoring.
- Check weather reports to prepare in advance accordingly.
- Waypoint marking to remember and save your location.
- Satellite-type map view and unlimited access to downloadable maps.
- Free Earthmate app sync to pair with your mobile device.
- Electronic compass for basic navigation.
✔ Pros
- This hunting GPS comes with an SOS feature
- Its two-way messaging option keeps the users connected
- It is very compact and lightweight yet robust
- It supports Bluetooth connectivity
❌ Cons
- It has a slow GPS
- It gets even slower in bad weather and steep terrain
- This device is only for satellite messages
The inReach Mini is the best compact handheld GPS for hunting available on the market. You can send SOS messages to your most recent contacts or loved ones to let them know that you are safe at a particular location.
However, to send and receive text messages, you have to go for the online subscriptions and select a plan for you. Also, the device comes with unlimited cloud storage where you can create routes, save maps, plan your trip, send/receive quick messages, download maps, and sync it with your mobile to manage settings.
It costs you $350 which is worth paying for ensuring your safety during your hunting or backpacking trip. Overall, it is a feature-rich hunting GPS which I will also recommend for long hunting trips, short or long hikes, tracking, and backpacking.
3. Garmin inReach Explorer+ Hunting GPS
Premium Quality
★Why You Choose This Hunting GPS
- Display:- The size of the screen is 2.3 Inches which gives a fair view of the screen elements for navigation. It has a 200 x 265 pixels colorful display to see instructions and menus in direct sunlight. You can read even the finest detail on the screen so easily.
- Interface:- It has a power button at the top to switch on/off the device. The SOS key is on the right side hidden under a section so you don’t press it accidentally. Other operative keys are situated in the front so your fingers access them quickly.
- Battery Life:- This GPS has an average battery life of 30 hours which is enough for even 20 days of a hunting trip. Moreover, you can use it for up to 30 days in power-saving mode. It runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery which is included.
- Portability:- The dimensions of this device are 1.5 x 2.7 x 6.5 inches which are bigger than other GPS on our list but fit well in your hand. There is a loop to attach to the carabiner of your backpack or your belt for safe carrying.
- Durability:- It is a heavily built GPS device that lasts longer and performs well in all climates. It is rated IPX7 for water-resistant qualities which means it is waterproof 1 meter deep in the water for 30 minutes.
⚙ Functions
- Global Iridium satellite coverage for 2-way text messaging.
- Option to send an SOS 24/7 to the search and rescue monitoring center.
- Tracking and location sharing option.
- Preloaded topographic maps and digital compass for easy navigation.
- Free Earthmap app to access downloadable maps, U.S. NOAA charts, and more.
- A barometric altimeter to measure altitude, and an accelerometer to know walking speed.
- Weather application to know weather details.
✔ Pros
- Allowing users to connect to family and friends
- It has an SOS trigger function
- It’s an inbuilt digital compass
- It is easy to use, inexpensive, and comes with several functions
❌ Cons
- Its maximum preloaded maps are United States-based
- It is a significant and heavy navigator
The Garmin inReach Explorer+ is an all-in-one GPS solution that offers you the best navigation services in any part of the world. It has an SOS-triggering option to rescue you from a situation where you are helpless. Sending and receiving text messages is very easy, thanks to the user-friendly interface of this hunting GPS.
However, you must go for an online subscription and plan for receiving and sending text messages. Moreover, Bluetooth connectivity allows you to connect it to your Android or iOS device and access unlimited maps.
You can take it along for your hunting trip to keep track of weather, and direction, and make sure you are safe miles away from your residence. It costs you $450 which is a bit expensive for many hunters out there. However, if you are looking for a lifelong hunting GPS, this is the one you must go for.
4. Magellan eXplorist Hunting GPS
Best Budget
★Why You Choose This Hunting GPS
- Display:- It has a 2.2-inch vibrant and color transflective screen to provide you with clear instructions in direct sunlight. You can change the display theme and customize it with the things you need on the screen.
- Interface:- The control buttons given in front make it easy to operate. There is a back button, menu button, and buttons for zooming in and out. You can go up, down, right, and left using an analog joystick in the center.
- Battery Life:- This hunting GPS is powered by two AA lithium batteries that keep on running for 18 hours if you use it continuously. You can turn on the power-saving mode to save more power. Also, the suspend mode turns off the other programs but keeps the GPS on.
- Portability:- The 6.6 x 5.8 x 2.4 inches GPS device is very comfortable to hold in your palm. You can attach a lanyard and put it around your neck. Also, it can be attached to a backpack with the help of a built-in carabiner hook.
- Durability:- The outer body is very rugged and made with quality polymer to make it durable. It is tested to IPX-7 standards, which means it can stay 1 meter deep in the water for 30 minutes without any damage. Also, it is covered with a one-year warranty from Magellan from the date of purchase.
⚙ Functions
- Track summary to check statistics like traveled distance, speed, and time.
- Satellite-based augmentation systems (WAAS, EGNOS, and MSAS) for precise GPS signals.
- World edition Pre-loaded map to know details about roads and lands.
- Option to hold up to 500 Geocaches.
- Waypoint marking to assign a name or mark up to 1000 waypoints to remember in the future.
- Save up to 25 routes with names and descriptions.
- Topographical map with a compass overlay for easy navigation.
✔ Pros
- It has a sophisticated yet easy-to-use user interface
- It comes with free DigitalGlobe satellite imagery for one year
- Outstanding battery dependency
- water-resistant surface
❌ Cons
- No rear camera
- The screen quality is poor
The eXplorist 110 Handheld Hunting GPS comes with all the applications you need to explore any part of the earth. It has a preloaded world edition map that guides you through the road networks in Canada, Western Europe, the USA, and major roads in other parts of the world.
This device has a 500MB memory space to store additional maps, waypoints, tracks, and geocaches. Moreover, the USB connectivity allows you to connect it to your computer and then the web browser directly.
Overall, this handy hunting GPS will cost you $110 which is budget-friendly. Additionally, you get 2 AA lithium batteries, a quick start guide, and a 30-day free trial flyer from Geocaching.com, which makes it a great deal. I will highly recommend it for hunting expeditions, geocaching activities, mountaineering, and remote area-type outdoor activities.
5. Walfront A6 Handheld Hunting GPS
Large Display
★Why You Choose This Hunting GPS
- Display:- It has a 2.4-inch screen and color LCD display to deliver a quality screen reading experience. You get clear navigation and path instructions even in direct sunlight. Also, the color display makes the applications look interesting.
- Interface: The power key is on the right side and the brightness key is on the left. The rest of the buttons (OK, Return, Position, BackTrack, Setting, Record, and Home) are in front and easy to access with a thumb. In the center, there are 4 keys to go up, down, left, and right in the menu and submenu.
- Battery Life:- You need a 2500mAh rechargeable lithium battery (not included) to operate this hunting GPS. The battery lasts for 20 to 25 hours depending on settings and usage. Also, you get a USB and charger to recharge the battery when required.
- Portability:- The GPS is measured at 6.1 x 2.36 x 1.1 inches which fits into the pockets very well. It weighs 0.86 lbs is lightweight and features a nice grip that lets you hold it in your hand for hours. However, there is no belt loop to attach it to your belt but a hanging rope to hang with your backpack.
- Durability:- It is made with IP65 standards that make it dustproof, and waterproof from low-pressure jets from any direction. The outer body is built strong to resist shock and work in all weather conditions.
⚙ Functions
- GPS + Beidou satellite system for strong signal and precise positioning.
- An area calculation tool to measure the length of the land, mountain, slope, and flat field lands.
- 1000 records for coordinate point storage.
- Track navigation to make sure you are walking on the right path.
- Compass for easy navigation and direction information.
- Straight-line navigation to define routes.
✔ Pros
- It is a multifunctional hunting GPS
- The advanced navigation system makes trekking easier
- It is compact and waterproof
- Have lasting battery life, and is an easy-to-carry device
- Useful in outdoor hiking & mountaineering
❌ Cons
- It is somewhat expensive
- Its satellite mapping only features significant routes
The Walfront A6 is a multi-functional GPS device that makes your outdoor journey easier. The navigation system allows you to use its inbuilt advanced applications for agriculture, fishing, forestry, geology, communication, and shop inspection. Moreover, you can measure and calculate an area, land, or mountain to make a trekking plan in advance.
It has a satellite-type map that features earth maps and major routes of the countries. You can track your steps and mark waypoints as any name to remember the location. For hunters, it is very compact to carry with baggage or accessories. Also, you can use it for outdoor hiking, rescue operations, finding a water source, and mountaineering.
The cost of this hunting GPS is $150, which is worth paying for the application and life-saving features. The package also includes a hanging rope, a CD, a USB cable, a plug, and a user manual with clear instructions. Overall, it is the best handheld GPS for hunting in any location on the globe.
Conclusion:-
Above we read a detailed review of the best handheld GPS for hunting. Always make your safety a priority while hunting or going for any other outdoor activity. Buy a hunting GPS that allows your family and friends to know about your safety and accurate location. Let us know what you think about the importance of having a hunting GPS and which one you bought. Also, share your experience of hunting with us.
