Must have gear for beginner

[Blurry1]

OnX is a must have out west. And if you are going to be away from your vehicle for days a compact solar panel or battery bank is a must have.

Sorry. Not to be contrarian but onX and electronics in general are luxuries not musts. Knowledge and ability to navigate on the other hand are.

 

[Jzoss]

Sounds like you are good to go! Make adjustments as you find what works for you and what does not. Fingerless wool gloves are a must for me though!

 

[Pausekey]

Sorry. Not to be contrarian but onX and electronics in general are luxuries not musts. Knowledge and ability to navigate on the other hand are.

I think the calculus has shifted on this. Knowledge and ability to navigate are learned skills, so a beginner simply won't have them developed. OnX helps to bridge that gap and allow someone to start hunting later in life.

I think it is fair to say that you shouldn't rely exclusively on OnX. But as someone who did my first western hunt, non guided, at 34, there is no way I could have done it without OnX. Between the e-scouting leading up to the hunt and the confidence it gave me in the field I felt very well prepared. And then in the field I was able to grow my navigation skills.