looking at the Colorado hunters missing thread

I generally hunt with friends or family but with my wife gone I am doing more solo fishing , camping . hiking and hunting.

cell service is weak at best a lot of places I go

I try to make a point to check in with the kids daily when I find service but they would be hours away at best

I am just wondering what others here are using , or do

I am not afraid of dying , I would rather not I sort of enjoy life , but I especially don't want to put my kids through heck and stress with an unknown like the families of the lost hunters and a big search.

what are you using for options

I was looking at getting a 200i it is more money than just an in-reach but would have a lot more ability also , my son has a 200 that I could link too but the i portion seems like it gives the satellite capability also.

I use a Spot X. I like that I can send 10 predefined messages and "Check in's" for free. It does take a little while to send but it does always send. I use it almost daily while out in woods, I keep it in my side by side, when I get out I grab it and clip it to my belt. When I hunt, I send a check in to the wife when I get up my tree stand so she knows all is good, send another check in when I am back on the ground.
Its pretty cheap a month, like $13.


https://www.findmespot.com/en-us/products-services/spot-x

I use a Garmin Inreach Mini 2 because I am not the invincible 65 year old I was a few years ago.

I have an Inreach Mini 2 as well. It's a small piece of peace of mind. I did note that on our trip to Alaska this year, the new update for my iPhone that allows for Satellite texting worked really well. We were able to use that without issue, but again, it's a small piece of peace of mind.

How often are you without a cell signal?
I have an inReach Explorer. It pairs to my phone. Depending on your plan you can send/receive unlimited text messages. For a price you can also get weather. I'm in Alaska. Lots of country without cell signal.
If those 2 in Co. had used an inreach or spot..............
Wasn't a fan of the spot. My iPhone 14 can also send/receive satellite messages.

when grouse hunting , I loose signal about 5 minutes after turning off the state highway.
this is an area I am hoping to camp and hunt more , the roads are mostly gavel in that area.

in SW WI it has everything to do with what hill is in the way. you get down in a coulee and you get reception if you climb out to the top.

I also want to get more out of the state , so while not the roughest terrain , I am thinking BWCA , Isle Royal , maybe out to the Dakotas.

not sure exactly where I will go , alone is most likely, money and vacation time are really the only factors to slowing me down and my last kid will be out of college in a year leaving me not paying their tuition and rent.

I use a Garmin In-reach SE Plus. Great to have for peace of mind. Even with the cheapest plan it allows you to send three pre-programmed messages for free. I have mine set up to pretty much cover everything. I drop one to my wife where I leave the ATV, a check-in message, and then one saying that I'm done for the evening. With each message it includes the coordinates so she can see where I'm at on a map. If I need to send a custom text I can I think it's 50 cents. You can include as many people as you want in the pre-programmed messages and it does not cost anything. It just got to be done before you leave for your trip via the online portal.

Ol dad

Did you decide?

No subsciption fee, works everywhere, a helicopter will be hovering over you soon.

Inreach mini 2. Worth it

Lots of options I used Onx and my Garmin watch to get around in the National Forest but that’s nothing like where they were at. Theres the Spot X satellite locater might be better for areas like that.

Just a few years ago they had a different locater but I don’t see that it’s offered now so either they went under or upgraded to a different model. That was Spot something also.

I use a zoleo. At the time a bit more cost effective than the Garmin. Gave me a lot of peace of mind out in the Idaho desert.

No I went fishing for 4 days

and realized even where I have cell service , Fri , Sat , Sun till noon , a touch of weather moves in and I don't even standing on a hill where I was getting calls in and out fine the previous 2 days

I was going so far up into backwaters that chances anyone would find me were not real good.

I did find fish but it took finding lower water temps where a spring fed the backwater

water temp was 74 on the main river a couple degrees and clearer water was where the fish were at.

also generally all cell service stinks in SW WI once you leave a city or Hwy 151 and if Mineral point is the city it stinks unless you're on Ridge street in view of 151

even the service on Hwy 80 was only when you were high , go low and no service

I am leaning towards in reach but in a Alpha 200i , if I am going to spend 400 + a subscription

do I get a second dog rig so I can track the dog and have my own head unit , more maps , more features , yes it is $ and weight but , it is more functionality also

will have to see Garmin runs any black Friday sales , this was my last backwater or remote excursion alone till after thanksgiving