Missing hunters in Colorado

[BTLowry]

Sad news

At least the families can take comfort knowing they were doing something they loved at the end

RIP guys

 

[gtriple]

Can anyone speak to if it’s worth upgrading to the Instinct Mini 2 from the Instinct Mini 1? Any noticeable performance difference?

Yes, I’ve got both and the Mini 2 is much better. Better battery life. Quicker sending and receiving. Better button usage. USB-C instead of Micro USB.

Edit: to add, the Mini 1 still works fine. Garmin will probably release a Mini 3 within the next year or so, so I may wait to upgrade to that one if you’ve got a Mini 1 already. Or get a Mini 2 for cheap.

 

[Fowl Play]

So sorry for these families! I can’t even imagine! I hope details of what happened are shared in the future (once the family has time to greave) as I’m sure there are some good lessons to take away for the broader hunting community. Just this season I have left the truck with minimal gear for a “short” glassing mission that turned into longer than expected after I found game and started following. I’ll definitely be changing that given this story (even without full details yet).

 

[ChrisAU]

A reminder to to keep your inreach on you - in the pack doesn’t help if you’ve dropped it for a stalk, or if you walk off from your glassing spot for any reason. I attached mine to my bino harness which is on me more than anything else I wear except maybe my boots. Cole Tac makes a sweet little molle pouch for them.

 

[thegrouse]

I normally grab mine when walking away from the vehicle, feels weird when I can see the vehicle. My plan is $8 per month. I had a sketchy situation where I didn't have it.

 

[zacattack]

A reminder to to keep your inreach on you - in the pack doesn’t help if you’ve dropped it for a stalk, or if you walk off from your glassing spot for any reason. I attached mine to my bino harness which is on me more than anything else I wear except maybe my boots. Cole Tac makes a sweet little molle pouch for them.

Everyone should carry an inreach or something similar. No reason not to. I take mine just hiking or if I’m wade fishing. With two little kids at home I’m not risking it.

 

[gtriple]

Everyone should carry an inreach or something similar. No reason not to. I take mine just hiking or if I’m wade fishing. With two little kids at home I’m not risking it.

Mine stays active year round and goes with me every time I venture out where I might lose service. Freak accidents can happen anywhere.

 

[mtnbound]

PLB's have a much higher transmitting power so a better chance of signal getting out. More robust satellite system. They have one job, SOS. Punch the button and they keep transmitting that SOS until the battery dies. Some newer units have a return confirmation ping that'll tell you the SOS was received.

Pros, cons, & my picks: PLB’s, satellite messengers, & phones

A definitive & unbiased comparison of satellite communicators, including functionality, cost, & form-factor. Plus my buying recommendations.

andrewskurka.com

I'm sending my older unit in for a new battery. I let it go when I bought an inReach but rethinking that now. May carry both in some circumstances.

The disadvantage of a PLB is that you have to push the button for help. If you are incapacitated it will do nothing for you.
Using a unit with tracking capabilities like InReach, Garmin can provide your location when you are unable to hit the SOS.

 

[Thomas11]

Inreach or other devices like this are a must in my opinion, Not only for emergencies but to let people where you are when in the backcountry.

I tend to agree now! Times are different now. I spent over two weeks in the Gila one time w/o reception and no way to communicate on an elk hunt and my ppl were not happy. But I knew it going in but I was much younger then and looking back prolly not a great idea. But that was really before all these inreach etc devices

 

[mtnbound]

Pretty sure you can share your location via satellite on an iPhone 14 or newer.

If you are incapacitated how are you going to get sat lock. The biggest advantage the InReach or other units have is the ability to someone else to ping your position and send help. Maybe the phone based systems will get there but currently they do not replace my InReach.

 

[jmez]

The disadvantage of a PLB is that you have to push the button for help. If you are incapacitated it will do nothing for you.
Using a unit with tracking capabilities like InReach, Garmin can provide your location when you are unable to hit the SOS.

Take both.

Sent from my moto g power 5G - 2024 using Tapatalk

 

[Aviator]

RIP

 

[COJoe]

There were like 15 units available by one seller on Amazon an hour ago, now gone! Crazy.

I had bought mine at Costco a couple years ago. My wife was able to follow me on my first mule deer hunt and she appreciated that. I'll have it on again for my hunt next month.

Praying for the families. I am deeply saddened by this story and ending. I was thinking back when I was their age, where I was at and some of the risky hunting/fishing adventures I took alone while living in AK. I am very thankful to still be here.

 

[406flyfish]

Im
No tech guy but what is the benefit of the arc plb vs inreach type of device? I currently don’t even carry any of these. Kinda rethinking now

https://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-forum/1320470-acr-plb-vs-inreach-mini.html

 

[Choupique]

Take both.

This is what I do. ACR PLB and Garmin inreach, both with o shit buttons.

I never used the location tracker feature on the inreach, but I will from now on when I'm not at base camp.

It also never crossed my mind to use that feature offshore fishing. I will also do that from now on.

 

[rclouse79]

I was sad to read this news today.

 

[BBob]

The disadvantage of a PLB is that you have to push the button for help. If you are incapacitated it will do nothing for you.
Using a unit with tracking capabilities like InReach, Garmin can provide your location when you are unable to hit the SOS.

And why I said may carry both at times. My inReach runs year round and I have it with me very often. Always when traveling in the mountains, snowboarding, mountain biking, etc…

 

[ColoradoBackpackHunter]

Do NOT rely solely on this.

Yeah I should have made that clear. It’s a nice tool but does not replace a PLB or Garmin type until at the current technology level.

 

[ReddingArcher]

Man such a sad deal.

 

[OneGunTex]

I just purchased a PLB.

This hit close to home. These guys sound like me and my buddies, and we would absolutely go grab a bag and a gun and go chasing after an elk without a second thought. I was all macho about telling my wife I didn't need her looking at the pings and having to stay in touch and freaking out if I take a nap on a hillside for a few hours while glassing. Then I realized how freaking stupid that is. I promised to her and my buddies that I will have that beacon on me all the time, and they should feel comfortable knowing that I'll hit the button if something bad happens, before it's too late.