Device / Map Combo for Loading GMUs, Draw Boundaries, Land Ownership etc.

[Matt W.]

I rarely use a GPS device here in Alaska. My buddy brings his out now and then, but we don't deal with the private ownership issues of the L48, and most of my hunts are in terrain we know and have spent time in. We carry a simple GPS with some key waypoints for safety reasons, but in reality barely use it.

I drew a tag this year and more out of curiosity than anything, I want to know if I can load the boundaries of that area, including the off limit areas, into a GPS device of some sort.

Alaska Fish and Game Offers this:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/HuntMaps...=197642&ymin=1204331&xmax=317498&ymax=1308312

If using this PDF process are able to see your position on top of the PDF Map you end up sending to your phone/device? I prefer a separate, more durable device than being reliant on my phone for this hunt.

Any tips on how to get to the boundaries I am looking at onto a GPS device, and the best device / software combo for this desire?

Thanks!

 

[5MilesBack]

I would send Bob Looney (wapitibob) a PM and ask him with the details. He seems to understand that whole interface thing pretty well. I'm sure he could hook you up.

 

[COlineman78]

Matt do you have an Android device? I use my phone as my primary GPS and I can do a write-up of what I have found if this is an option for you. I have mostly collected Colorado layers but I could spend some time looking for Alaska metadata.

I know you said that you prefer not to use your phone, but if it's something you'd consider or like to know how to do just say the word. I use Sony cell phones that are 100% waterproof and fairly rugged. You could also use an old unactivated Android phone if you didn't want to ruin your primary device. I would suggest a Sony Z1 Compact if going that route.

 

[Matt W.]

Thanks guys. I will look into both Options.

COlineman. Would greatly appreciate the assistance.
Why a phone over a GPS device? Is is just easier to get in and customize? I run a Samsung Galaxy 5 Note.

 

[mikekulbeth]

Matt do you have an Android device? I use my phone as my primary GPS and I can do a write-up of what I have found if this is an option for you. I have mostly collected Colorado layers but I could spend some time looking for Alaska metadata.

I know you said that you prefer not to use your phone, but if it's something you'd consider or like to know how to do just say the word. I use Sony cell phones that are 100% waterproof and fairly rugged. You could also use an old unactivated Android phone if you didn't want to ruin your primary device. I would suggest a Sony Z1 Compact if going that route.

I would be very interested in this. any luck with using an Iphone?

 

[COlineman78]

I admit that I am a bit jaded against Garmin and other exclusive devices. I have been burned in the past by spending hundreds of dollars on crappy maps on top of the hundreds spent on a device only for it to be useless in a couple years when they come out with a better device.

Using my phone allows me to save the money of an extra device and I always make sure that I have rugged and waterproof devices with SD card expand-ability. For this, I highly recommend Sony phones (unavailable for sprint or directly from any phone carrier). That being said, the Samsung 5 series was water resistant but no expandable memory and the upcoming 7 series will be water proof and the SD card slot will finally be making it's return. Large amounts of memory is important as I like to download multiple base layers of an area such as imagery, USFS and Caltopo maps. I usually end up with 5-10GB of base layers to cover an entire wilderness area.

I also prefer using my phone because when a particular company falls behind or something better comes out it doesn't cost that much to switch or try something else out. It's also something that I carry anyways so no extra device to deal with. That being said, the options that I have tried aren't exactly turn-key like some dedicated devices and if you rely on features like land ownership info any more than public land boundaries you will probably end up paying for a subscription. I haven't tried the Delorme subscription yet, but it's on my list. Being the nerd I am, I sometimes prefer functionality over ease of use which is certainly what you get with some of the current options that I use like BackCountryNavigator.

 

[COlineman78]

I would be very interested in this. any luck with using an Iphone?

As I don't have an iPhone I'm not familiar with the options. I know GaiaGPS is available on both, but haven't spent much time with it. Maybe something I will play around with in the near future. I think Delorme's solution is also available on both.

 

[mikekulbeth]

Thanks! I have been thinking along the same lines, going with my phone instead of a handheld gps. Thanks for the info, I will be toying around with it

 

[5MilesBack]

I admit that I am a bit jaded against Garmin and other exclusive devices. I have been burned in the past by spending hundreds of dollars on crappy maps on top of the hundreds spent on a device only for it to be useless in a couple years when they come out with a better device.

Define better. I use my Garmin 60CSx all the time, and have for several years. Are there "better" units? I don't know, but the 60CSx does everything I could ever want my GPS to do except work as a transporter to get me to the top of the mountain.

 

[COlineman78]

Define better. I use my Garmin 60CSx all the time, and have for several years. Are there "better" units? I don't know, but the 60CSx does everything I could ever want my GPS to do except work as a transporter to get me to the top of the mountain.

My experiences were a while back with the old eTrex and spending $100+ for each stupid map pack CD. I'm sure it's better now, but hardware always goes out of date and eventually you will stop getting updates and land boundaries, GMUs, roads etc will all slowly go out of date.

 

[5MilesBack]

My experiences were a while back with the old eTrex and spending $100+ for each stupid map pack CD. I'm sure it's better now, but hardware always goes out of date and eventually you will stop getting updates and land boundaries, GMUs, roads etc will all slowly go out of date.

Ahh that's ok. Most of my real maps were mapped YEARS ago anyway, so no big deal if my current GPS maps aren't the latest and greatest. LOL. As long as my GPS will give me a UTM coordinate I'm good.

 

[robcollins]

Thanks for sharing everyone. I just downloaded this about a week ago, free trial, and I think about $10 for a state specific, I just have gotten through the trial, and haven't paid for it yet, but will, probably later today. Can't claim to have wrung it out yet or saved particular maps on my Android. (I'd been running a water/shock proof flip phone until about 3 weeks ago) This has GMU, property boundaries, lat/long/UTM coordinates, topographic maps, and probably a lot more that I haven't wrung out yet, like usage in airport mode, tracks, etc.. Not an expert, but throwing it out there:

https://www.huntinggpsmaps.com/

It's already helped me figure out a few spots to slip into public land **easily**, Bill Bryce recommended it to me, any of you Colorado folks that know him, super guy.

Update 3/26: just came to the realization that this app costs $35/ year. Hmmm...