9 Best Hunting GPS in 2023 (Reviewed & Rated)
Are you looking for the best hunting GPS? This is the article for you! We have collected a list of the best performing GPSs at good prices, making it easy for
Are you looking for the best hunting GPS? This is the article for you! We have collected a list of the best performing GPSs at good prices, making it easy for you to choose one that suits you.
One of the worst things that can ever happen to a hunter is getting lost in the woods while chasing game. Hunting can be very intense at times.
Being lost in the woods without having a GPS on you is a serious issue because, especially if you don’t have a team to help you out.
For starters, a handheld GPS is a great multi-purpose tool (compass, map, record keeper) that hikers and hunters use to remain on track.
Buying a hunting GPS that fits your needs and budget can be confusing with so many products on the market nowadays. There are many things to consider, which is why you need a guide to help you choose one without wasting time and money.
9 Best Hunting GPS Reviewed and Rated
We researched many hunting GPS devices to evaluate their quality. We considered their weight, size, reception, battery life, and mapping quality. From those, we picked the nine best, and here we will explain why these devices are worth having.
We are not being sponsored by any of the manufacturers to promote their products, so we are not being biased in this review.
1. GARMIN OREGON 600/600t/650/650t
- 3-Inch sunlight-readable, touchscreen display with...
- Dual-band GPS/GLONASS satellite positioning
- Sensors (3-axis compass, accelerometer, barometric...
The Garmin Oregon is a powerful handheld GPS device, packed with all the essential features.
It comes in four different variants, the 600 basic model, the 650 model equipped with an 8MP digital camera, and the 600t and 650t, which are equipped with a complete topographical map of the USA. All of these models are super cool, efficient, rugged, and worth buying.
The screen size is three inches with a resolution of 240×400 pixels. It is bright enough and responsive to touch in a vast range of weather conditions. The screen has also been mineralized for durability.
There are two buttons on the right side of the GPS. The top button is to power on the device, while the down button is used for choosing options.
This GPS device gives the user the option of buying standard AA batteries or using a NiMH Garmin battery (packed with 650/650t, optional for 600/600t) as the power source. The advantage of this battery pack is that that the user will be able to charge the battery without having to remove it.
MODEL STORAGE TOPO MAP CAMERA PRICE
600 1.5 gigabytes NO NO $299
600t 300 megabytes YES NO $399
650 3.5 gigabytes NO YES $545
650t 4.0 gigabytes YES YES $340
FEATURES:
⦁ 3-inch readable touch screen
⦁ A worldwide base map
⦁ USB Charging cable
⦁ NiMH Battery pack for th3 650/650t
PROS:
⦁ Bluetooth technology for sharing tracks and routes
⦁ Can auto-switch between landscape and portrait orientation
⦁ 8 megapixel camera in 650/650t model
⦁ Good durability for such a low price
CONS:
⦁ Not water resistant and can be unsafe to use in wet conditions
2. GARMIN FORETREX 401 WATERPROOF GPS
- Features high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix for...
- Keeps track of routes, tracks and waypoints, and heart rate...
- TracBack feature retraces user's path on the easy-to-read...
The Garmin Foretrex 401 is a compact hands-free GPS device that offers hunters the pleasure of navigating the world on their wrist. With the Foretrex 401, you will never get lost in the woods. We applaud its durability, high sensitivity, water resistance, and low weight.
The device is equipped with the TracBack navigation feature for retracing your steps back to the starting point by marking dotted lines on the screen.
The device is also equipped with an electronic compass and barometric altimeter that allows you to keep track of your altitude and your bearings.
You can also create and store the routes to all of your favorite places and keep track of your trip by storing your waypoints, tracks, and routes.
To get a detailed analysis of your hunting and fishing activities, you can connect the GPS to your computer and the internet using Garmin Connect. This allows you to view your activities on Google Earth map.
The device requires two standard AAA batteries and it lasts up to 17 hours of steady use depending on the state of the battery.
FEATURES:
⦁ High-sensitivity GPS receiver
⦁ TracBack Feature to keep track of routes and tracks
⦁ Screen resolution of 100 x 64 pixels
⦁ Features an electronic compass and barometric altimeter
⦁ Features trip computer, sunrise/sunset times, and hunting/fishing information
⦁ Costs about $137.
PROS:
⦁ Customizable screen to show up to four different categories of data
⦁ An easy-to-read screen in light or dark
⦁ Very nice quality for a mid-range price
CONS:
⦁ Uses non-rechargeable batteries
⦁ Manual may not be enough to explain for beginners
3. GARMIN GPSMAP 64/64S/64SC/64ST
- Sunlight Readable 2.6 inches color display. Display size :...
- Expanded Internal Memory 8GB.Display resolution 160 x 240...
- DUAL BATTERY SYSTEM Use with 2 traditional AA batteries...
The Garmin GPSMAP series is a sleek, rugged, and high-performance handheld GPS. It features 2.6-inch readable color screen and 250000 preloaded caches for paperless geocaching with hints and descriptions.
The Garmin GPSMAP is available in four different versions. The 64 is the baseband model, the 64s is Bluetooth enabled, the 64sc has both Bluetooth and camera, and the 64st has either a USA or Canada topographical map.
The device boasts a dual battery system; it uses 2 standard AA batteries or the rechargeable NiMH battery that can be charged without removing it from the device. And it lasts up to 16 hours of use in GPS mode.
Apart from the base model, the other models have a Bluetooth functionality which allows to pair with other ANT+ devices like heart rate monitor, temperature sensor to share notifications with Smart Notifications or to use it to control your VIRB action camera.
The 64ST version is available in 2 different types, one for the US topography map and the other for Canada topography map.
NAME STORAGE CAMERA BLUETOOTH TOPO MAP PRICE
64 4GB NO NO NO $180
64S 4GB NO YES NO $253
64SC 4GB YES YES NO $296
64ST 8GB NO YES YES $245
PROS:
⦁ High-quality and high-sensitivity receiver
⦁ Good accuracy from its ability to connect to many satellites
⦁ Various models to choose from
⦁ Very low price for such quality
CONS:
⦁ Not waterproof
4. GARMIN APPROACH G6 TOUCHSCREEN GPS
- Preloaded with over 25,000 worldwide courses - no...
- Physical dimensions 2.1" x 3.7" x 0.8" (5.4 x 9.3 x 1.9 cm)
The Garmin G6 is one of the best GPS devices for hunting and hiking. Its slim, rugged, and compact construction makes it very portable. It is better designed than its predecessor the G5 and looks like a more evolved smartphone.
The screen measures 2.6 inches and delivers a bright and colored display even in sunlight. Most importantly, the touchscreen is glove-friendly.
The internal battery lasts up to 15 hours for all day tracking. As for physical dimensions, it is 5.4cm x 9.3cm x 1.9cm, making it very sleek and portable.
The Garmin G6 has over 25000 preloaded courses, and you will need to download their software to update and install the latest course maps.
The colored maps have a high level of course image details with added colored layup arcs that display layout context for even better visualization. It can also make a scoreboard with multiple scoring options and club distance averages.
There are two buttons on the device for accessing the green view, the digital scoreboard, and the shot measuring function.
All of these amazing features make this GPS device a very good choice for hunting. You have a lot to work with without ever getting lost or missing your tracks.
FEATURES:
⦁ 250000+ preloaded courses
⦁ 2.6-inch touchscreen display
⦁ Can tell the distance between user and target
⦁ Up to 15 hours of battery life and it is rechargeable.
⦁ Costs about $160
PROS:
⦁ Small, sleek, and rugged design
⦁ You can download more courses to the existing 25000 on this device
⦁ Very easy to navigate and golf-friendly touchscreen
⦁ No fee or subscription to access the preloaded courses
CONS:
⦁ Determining a target distance might be difficult as your finger covers the screen
⦁ Users have experienced minor bugs when they use the digital scoreboard.
5. GARMIN inReach
- 100 percent global Iridium satellite coverage enables two...
- Trigger an interactive SOS to the 24/7 search and rescue...
- Track and share your location with family and friends. Water...
The Garmin inREACH series is a must-have in your pack if you want to remain on track while hunting.
Apart from GPS functions, you can also use this device to have two-way communication with friends and family. It can also be used for SOS calls outside of cell service areas.
The Garmin inReach comes in four different models: the Explorer+, the SE+, the Explorer+ with powered mount, and the SE+ with powered mount.
All four versions have many helpful functions and they are all worth buying. The difference between the SE+ and the Explorer+ is that the the latter has topographic maps, a built-in compass, 2gb extra memory, a barometric altimeter, and an accelerometer.
With this device, you don’t need to be near a cell phone signal. It uses global Iridium satellites to communicate, send, and receive messages. However, you will need to subscribe to this service before you can use it.
It has an easy to understand menu and can be easily navigated. The power button is on top of the device while the SOS button is the biggest button and is located on the right side.
FEATURES:
⦁ Iridium satellite network for communication
⦁ Can send preset messages with location
⦁ Earthmate app for access to topographic maps, color aerial imagery, and more
⦁ Rugged and cool design
⦁ IPX7 water resistance rating
⦁ Costs about $480
PROS:
⦁ Communication without cellular network
⦁ Lots of features that make hunting easier
⦁ Can be used as a USB backup battery
CONS:
⦁ Big and bulky body
⦁ Screen scratches easily
6. GARMIN eTrex 20x
- UPGRADED DISPLAY - Features a 2.2” 65K color sunglight...
- LOAD MORE MAPS - Large 3.7 GB of internal memory and microSD...
- PRELOADED BASEMAP - Includes a worldwide basemap with shaded...
For hunters looking for the best outdoor-ready hunting and cheap GPS device, the Garmin eTrex 20x is a very good choice in the market today. Forget about Bluetooth or other cool stuff that runs the battery down—the eTrex 20x is only meant for showing you a map, tracks, and navigating waypoints.
This device comes with a base map that tells you the city you are in and nearby interstate; you can’t do a lot on this device without downloading some topographic maps, which is very easy.
The device picks up signals very quickly. It has a WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) which helps to improve its location accuracy. It supports GLONASS too, which improves location accuracy by 20%. The device requires two standard AA batteries to power it, so you may want to carry extra batteries in your pack before you set for the woods.
It has an upgraded display which features 2.2-inch 65k color sunlight-readable display. It has 3.7gb of internal memory and a memory card slot, which allows you to load more maps, including HuntView, TOPO 24K, BlueChart g2, Birdseye satellite imagery (requires subscription), and City Navigator NT.
FEATURES:
⦁ 2.2-inch colored and rugged display screen
⦁ WAAS installed and GLONASS support
⦁ 10000 points, 200 saved tracks
⦁ Easy-to-use navigational buttons
⦁ Costs about $150
PROS:
⦁ High quality at a cheap price
⦁ Lightweight for light packing
⦁ Simple, easy to use, and very fast.
CONS:
⦁ A very small screen
⦁ No extra fancy features like Bluetooth
⦁ The user manual is not detailed
7. GARMIN MONTANA 680
- See Your Surroundings - Includes a 1-year Birdseye Satellite...
- GPS and GLONASS - With its high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled...
- Track Manager - Ability to organize and navigate through...
The Montana 680 is a very good handheld GPS for ease of use and high performance. It is a predecessor to the Montana 680t.
This handheld device comes with an internal memory of 4GB. It is a touchscreen device that boasts a 4-inch dual-orientation glove-friendly touchscreen display. The only drawback to its screen is that you may have trouble operating it if your glove is too thick.
It weighs 10.3 ounces, so you may want to keep it in your backpack and take it out only when you need it. It has an eight Megapixel camera, which can be used to take shots of waypoints and the device geotags the photos automatically.
The device is very fast in locating positions in deep canyons and heavy covers with its WAAS enabled GPS Receiver, GLONASS support, and Hotfix satellite prediction. The interface is user-friendly—it is easy to enter the waypoints and to switch the device orientation.
The device can use the NiMH or Lithium battery, or three standard AA batteries as the power source. It lasts about 16 hours on a Lithium battery and 22 hours on the AA batteries.
FEATURES:
⦁ 4-inch dual-orientation screen
⦁ 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter
⦁ 8 MegaPixel camera
⦁ 1-year BirdsEye Satellite Imagery Subscription
⦁ Supports both GPS and GLONASS
⦁ Costs about $440
PROS:
⦁ Free 1 year BirdsEye Satellite Imagery
⦁ Auto geotagging camera
⦁ Long-lasting battery with an alternative option
CONS:
⦁ Too big for pockets
⦁ Weighs too much to be held for long
8. GARMIN eTrex 10 OUTDOOR GPS
- Rugged handheld navigator with preloaded worldwide basemap...
- WAAS enabled GPS receiver with HotFix and GLONASS support...
- Waterproof to IPX7 standards for protection against...
Right here is a basic and the easiest GPS device you can use for hunting. The device is known for its ability to offer quick GPS functionality, its compact and small body design, and for being a great companion for outdoor hiking and hunting.
The eTrex 10 has a two-inch monochrome display. It is very accurate and fast in positioning with its WAAS enabled GPS receiver with Hotfix, and also its support for GLONASS satellites. The device supports paperless geocaching and you can store waypoints along the track. It also comes with a world-wide base map and is compatible with Garmin’s spine-mounting accessories.
This GPS comes with six buttons for operating it, three on the left side, two on the right side, and one toggle button on the front panel. With just two standard AA batteries, you can get up to 25 hours of use and you can also carry extra batteries if you are going on a long excursion.
This device qualifies as a basic GPS device for beginners, but it will satisfy pro hunters as well.
FEATURES:
⦁ 2-inch enhanced monochrome display
⦁ IPX7 Waterproof rating
⦁ Rugged and strong body design
⦁ 25 hours of battery life
⦁ Supports both GPS and GLONASS
⦁ Costs about $86
PROS:
⦁ Full paperless geocaching support
⦁ Excellent battery life
⦁ Support for both GPS and GLONASS increases positioning speed and accuracy
CONS:
⦁ Doesn’t display maps
⦁ Monochrome screen display
⦁ Unpublicized amount of internal memory and no memory expansion slot
9. GARMIN 750T TOUCHSCREEN GPS
- Touchscreen - 3-inch sunlight-readable touchscreen display...
- ABC sensors - 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic Compass...
- Ruggedized for the outdoors - ergonomic, rugged design that...
The Garmin 750T is our final selection for top-notch hunting GPS units. This device is a must-have for hunters and is a good companion in the dark woods. It has a three-inch glove-friendly touchscreen that boasts 240 x 400 resolution.
The screen provides enough brightness for readability under the sun.
The Garmin 750t has an eight Megapixel camera with a flashlight for taking pictures, which can be saved as waypoints.
The device is available in two versions, the difference being that one is preloaded with US topographic map while the other is preloaded with Canada topo maps.
The unit is equipped with GPS and GLONASS Antenna receiver for high speed and accuracy in positioning.
The device’s ability to switch orientation is very helpful for more information on the map. The device uses two standard AA batteries as its power source and it is said to last 16 hours, so you can remain on track throughout the weekend.
FEATURES:
⦁ 3-inch colored touchscreen
⦁ 3-axis compass with barometric altimeter sensors
⦁ 8MP Autofocus camera with flashlight
⦁ Expanded wireless connectivity
⦁ Garmin Connect compatible
⦁ GPS and GLONASS satellite reception
⦁ IPX7 Waterproof rating
⦁ Costs about $500
PROS:
⦁ GPS/ GLONASS/ WASS/ EGNOS satellite systems help for better accuracy
⦁ A very sharp camera for waypoint shots
⦁ Very durable and of high quality for its mid-range price.
CONS:
⦁ Limited internal memory
CONCLUSIONS
We hope you enjoyed reading this article and we are sure that by now you know your top choice of GPS companion for the next hunting trip. Combine this with a great crossbow scope and some deer attractant and you will be more than ready for a great hunt!
The truth is that there are other more expensive and more quality units on the market today, but you don’t have to break the bank buying expensive units while there are pocket-friendly units out there.
We hope you enjoy your next hunting experience after buying one of these products.
We have come to the end of the review for the best hunting GPS units; now let’s quickly answer some of the most asked questions about buying the best hunting GPS.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who makes the best GPS?
There is no doubt that the best GPS maker on the market today is GARMIN. They have taken over the market ever since they were founded in 1989. From car GPS to hiking GPS, to special GPS units for the military, Garmin is known to be the best-selling manufacturer in this industry.
A threat to this company is their software instability, but even so, people still prefer to buy Garmin products. Although there are good makers out there, like TomTom, Garmin continues to be the top seller of GPS devices.
How accurate is a GPS location?
GPS unit accuracy is not the same in all products. The most basic thing that can affect GPS accuracy is if lacks an antenna. The antenna is meant to help the unit find its satellite easily and connect better to it without losing signal.
The number of receivers installed in the GPS units is the number of satellites can connect to, and the number of satellites it can lock onto at a time is also a measure of how accurate and powerful a GPS unit is.
What is the easiest GPS to use for hunting?
The easiest GPS to use for hunting is among the 9 listed products in this guide, and if you read the descriptions you should already know what we are talking about: the Garmin eTrex 10 outdoor GPS. With a two-inch monochrome display, it offers the simplest menu to use.
This unit doesn’t have time for other fancy features like Bluetooth and wifi; all it does is save waypoints, save tracks, and show directions. It supports full paperless geocaching and receives signals from both GPS and GLONASS satellites.
What is the best GPS for hunting?
The best GPS for hunting is the Garmin GPSMAP series. We chose this device as the best unit for hunting is because it is very strong, very accurate, and has a lot of features that are so useful for hunting, hiking, and even normal excursions.
It is preloaded with 250000 geocaches for full paperless geocaching. The device is also available in four different models. Trust our judgment; the device is highly rated and it has received good feedback from buyers. You will surely love it!
If you liked this article, make sure to checkout our articles on deer attractants and hunting gloves!
