Organized GPS system for waypoints, tracks, etc

[rbljack]

I am finally getting a GPS unit. Although I haven't owned one, I have used a few over the years. I will be getting a Garmin 400T. Id like to start off with an organized system of maintaining and naming waypoints, tracks, routes, etc that can be moved over to either google earth, or garmin basecamp. I figure having a system in place from the beginning may keep things organized.

Is there an easy way to name waypoints to keep everything organized. Also, you yall have a method for labeling scrapes, rubs, wallows, etc when scouting or hunting so at a later date , you can compile all the data into google earth or basecamp to put together all the clues you find each time you scout or hunt?

This is all new to me, along with google earth scouting, etc....and im trying to get a little smarter on it. Any info or systems yall have for this would be appreciated...thanks!
rob

 

[n2horns]

Following this, I am all over the board in my naming conventions.

 

[BackcountryMT]

Keeping your waypoints organized can be a tough chore. I like to use the name of the drainage or mountain range for my waypoints (Gold Crk Wallow, Sandy rubs, etc.). I also have custom waypoints icons on my GPS that I can further use to organize my locations. I also like to back-up my waypoints periodically to BaseCamp and GE.

 

[AMann]

Prior to scouting trips I use GE to create a game plan of areas I think have potential. I drop pins, record the coordinates and enter the waypoints one by one while in the woods. I do this because no matter how much time you spend looking at aerial imagery things appear sooo much different with boots on the ground and I rarely end up at the point I thought was so prime from my computer screen. As far as naming waypoints I tend to use unique names from the first time I found that area. For instance I have places named airplane ridge (for the plane wreckage there), the grizz hole (from a memorable chew of grizz mint I had) and my favorite… the glory hole (for a couple satellites we called in at full mast). I tried the generic honey holes and elk creek rub names and found they all ran together after multiple years of hunting the same area. Probably not as systematic as you were thinking but has worked for me.

 

[rbljack]

Prior to scouting trips I use GE to create a game plan of areas I think have potential. I drop pins, record the coordinates and enter the waypoints one by one while in the woods. I do this because no matter how much time you spend looking at aerial imagery things appear sooo much different with boots on the ground and I rarely end up at the point I thought was so prime from my computer screen. As far as naming waypoints I tend to use unique names from the first time I found that area. For instance I have places named airplane ridge (for the plane wreckage there), the grizz hole (from a memorable chew of grizz mint I had) and my favorite… the glory hole (for a couple satellites we called in at full mast). I tried the generic honey holes and elk creek rub names and found they all ran together after multiple years of hunting the same area. Probably not as systematic as you were thinking but has worked for me.

I think any method that works for ya is a good one. Im guessing my final method will be a combination of a systematic file structure, and a few of those "special names" that you just discussed. I can remember certain details of every hunt, and those special places will probably get the types of names you have discussed above.

I have this problem with overanalyzing things sometimes, but what Im thinking is that as Im walking around on a hunt or scout, Id like something quick and easy....so lets use this example. I go to hunt a new area in Wy, and I park the truck. First waypoint is 001 truck. Then I walk up the mountain, and see a wallow, so that becomes 002 Wal. Then I come to a southern facing ridgeline and find an elk shed, that would be 003 Eshed. Im thinking a three or four letter code for each type of waypoint would minimize the on screen clutter on the GPS too, and maybe help put pieces of the puzzle together while on the hunt.

When the hunt is over, I have a list of waypoints numbered, but also have a brief method of naming each waypoint for future use as a scouting tool. Im not sure how many characters Ill have to work with, but im guessing 10 from what I read for the garmin units. From there, its back to Garmin basecamp to put them in a folder specific to that area. Because there is only a certain amount of waypoints available for storage, if we are marking all of these things we see during a hunt or scout, Im guessing a guy could run out of waypoints after a season of hunting pretty easily.

So keep the info coming. Im doing some tutorial videos on the Garmin basecamp trying to figure that out too. I thought Id be able to use google earth and work directly from the GPS, but from what im reading...ill have to use the garmin base camp as the go between.

lets hear your systems to stay organized with waypoints, scouts, hunts, etc for later viewing and use.

 

[wapitibob]

Your waypoints/tracks are stored in gpx format and can be read directly from the gps or sd card by GE.
Tracks you create in GE are output as KMZ and should to be loaded into Basecamp, then transferred to the gps.
A video I did for an acquaintance showing GE to Garmin via basecamp: https://vimeo.com/50774029

 

[rbljack]

that's some great info in the video..thanks for the link. And its nice to know I can use google earth to visually scout, and save waypoints over to the GPS and the Basecamp.

The concept that I have yet to grasp is what method to use for a file system/naming system or file structure so I can identify all my waypoints, routes, etc for later use. Not sure Im explaining this very well. I guess Im hoping to have an organized method in place before I using the GPS. I messed around with Basecamp this morning, and created a few waypoints, and a few routes. Do you use the GPS to mark them on the fly, and then extract, reaname, organize, etc after each trip? If I come across a rub and mark that as a waypoint, and then find a scrape, and jump three deer, find a shed after that, etc....each of those will be a waypoint. I can expand on waypoints with brief descriptions, like 001 rub, 002 scrape, 003 deer, 004 shed, and so forth. Is that how most of yall do this as you use a GPS and scout, or while hunting? Trying to find a way to stay organized as I scout and hunt different areas as well.

Then, do you store all that data from each trip in a separate folder for a specific area, or maybe by GMU? maybe by date of trip? Im hoping once I get the GPS in hand, and start doing some local practice trips, this may all come clear and a system will evolve naturally...LOL.

 

[Piscatory_4]

You can use basecamp to organize with folders and lists inside each type of folder. So make a hunting folder then have lists of each area you want to hunt in that folder that hold waypoints and tracks for that area. You can make lists of just waypoints and just tracks or combine them into one list. After you do that you can drag the list to the gps unit or the sd card in it.

Organize on the computer in some manner that you understand so it is easy to find FOR YOU.

Here is a thought for you, with the 400t you cannot delete tracks and waypoints from the unit using basecamp, something about the firmware. With the 450t and newer units you are able to edit information on the unit through basecamp. I have both a 400 and 450.

 

[wapitibob]

You can delete/copy/move any data off the gps or sd card using the file explorer on your pc.
Personally, I keep a root "hunting" folder with subs on my SD card and move relevant data to the appropriate sd card Garmin/sub folder when I head out. The gps will read from both Garmin folders, the one on the handheld and the one on the sd card.

also, back up your data....
Copy from the handheld Garmin folder, and the Garmin/GPX root and subs, stick the copied folders on a dvd or usb drive. Best option is a usb drive from costco and back up ALL your stuff.

 

[mobilefamily]

Great topic.

I like to incorporate the date into the waypoint name. So in your Wyoming example, if going out on a hunt December 3, 2014 I would log something like 120314truck or truck120314. That way when you hunt in Idaho in 2016 you won't accidentally try to walk back to you Wyoming parking spot at the end of the day.

We face this problem in offshore fishing quite a bit. Quite often we work the same areas year after year. So in a couple of seasons your chartplotter screen looks like a well used dart board. If you have some dates on your waypoints it can help you return to where you fished yesterday instead of where you fished last season, which may be close but totally wrong for what the moon, current, and wind dictate over a short time period.

 

[rbljack]

anyone care to share their Garmin BaseCamp File Structure? Still messing around with this basecamp program, trying to decide how to integrate the GPS with it. It should be here in a few days. I now understand the differences between the "folders" and the "lists" at least, but still am having a problem visualizing how the file structure and waypoint names should work. From what I can tell, you cant use the same waypoint name twice anywhere. So much to learn....sigh

 

[trk3263]

You can use basecamp to organize with folders and lists inside each type of folder. So make a hunting folder then have lists of each area you want to hunt in that folder that hold waypoints and tracks for that area. You can make lists of just waypoints and just tracks or combine them into one list. After you do that you can drag the list to the gps unit or the sd card in it.

Organize on the computer in some manner that you understand so it is easy to find FOR YOU

This is exactly how I do it. I use to put things like HCWallow1 for Hells Canyon but there is no need. Just use a simple name and in base camp organize it into areas in folders like stated above. When your in the field it sorts your waypoint by distance so only the waypoints closest to you show up at the top of the list.

I like the date but I normally wait until I get home and "clean up" my waypoints and add any notes to the waypoints in Basecamp

 

[trk3263]

anyone care to share their Garmin BaseCamp File Structure? Still messing around with this basecamp program, trying to decide how to integrate the GPS with it. It should be here in a few days. I now understand the differences between the "folders" and the "lists" at least, but still am having a problem visualizing how the file structure and waypoint names should work. From what I can tell, you cant use the same waypoint name twice anywhere. So much to learn....sigh

Hunting (folder)
Eagle Caps
Ochoco
Metolious
Coos Bay
Around town (folder)
Work stuff
Geocash
Hiking (folder)
Steins pillar
Smith Rock
Mt hood
Fishing (folder)
Deschutes river
Crooked river
Mt Jefferson

The sub categories are lists within the folders. Btw these are just made up not my actual lists

 

[Piscatory_4]

Use specific markers for things like scrapes-a red square, stands-blue triangle, parking spots-a car symbol, a deer symbol-game spotted, you get the idea. Create waypoints in the field and like trk3263 says give them simple names and edit at home using basecamp. edit; you can add information to the waypoint in BC. Just double click it or right click and open. Naming on the unit is cumbersome. When you get home create the folders and lists as you want them in Basecamp, connect unit, highlight it or one of the drives on it, (internal or sdcard) and drag tracks to a track list and waypoints to a waypoint list or put them all in one list. Edit as needed. Tracks can be a pain if you don't save them at points in the field, otherwise they run together and you will have to trim/divide them in BC to eliminate unwanted portions. Especially that long straight-as-the-crow-flies track from when you turned off the unit and then turned it back on when you are home. Best thing I have found is to save current track, then clear current track, turn off track log and clear again. That way you don't have that track from the one spot track to the new location where you turn it back on.

Once everything is on the computer from the unit, do a reset on the unit to clear everything off of it. I use a 4g or 8g sd card in mine and put map images on it and tracks from BC. I use unit memory for tracks and WP's I make in the field. You can have several maps active at the same time on this unit, as maps and overlays. Topo maps and GMU boundaries with your tracks and WP's shown on them.

 

[Daniel_M]

I typically clear out my GPS after every trip, holding only the points of interest I may find on my next adventure. Using the Garmin BaseCamp software has been very helpful in cataloging, but always make a backup copy.