GPS?

I never really paid much attention to prior posts on this, but now that it seems my steel trap mind has gone from a Newhouse #6 to a rusty #1 victor jump, I'm thinking of stepping into the future some and buying a GPS. The thing is, I want it ultra-simple to operate. All i want it to do is mark trap locations with one simple push of a button and remove them set locations when I pull the traps with another simple push of a button. I'm not interested in paper maps or notebooks, been there done that and its just a mess in short order. When setting road lines I'll set 150 locations maybe and pull and move up to 50 of them a day often times. Its tough to recall them and I hate to miss one!

If anyone can give a specific one to check out, I'd sure appreciate the help.

~ADC~

I actually really love marking set locations with a GPS. When I haven't had enough coffee and drive by a set, or when I drive off the road and break my leg, someone else can use the GPS to retrieve my traps (and fur) and it leaves no marks on the ground. In answer to your main question though, ADC, I really have no recommendation, as I use one that's got all the bells and whistles, and isn't really user-friendly, Sorry. I'm with you on the 330 Conibear turning into a Woodstream mouse trap, however.

just bought a garmin 30x from costco for 130.00 and looking for the same answer as you.

I have a small yellow Garmin e-trex that does exactly what you want without all the other stuff. I think I paid under 100.00.

Osky

For just marking trap locations, laying out a trap line, and always having a birds eye view of the area I think it would be hard to beat ONX hunt , and a whole lot cheaper. Plus they are always updating and improving ONX, so you don’t get stuck with an out of date GPS in a few years. This of course is all just my humble opinion from a guy that runs many traps over multiple lines. Of course if you don’t have an iPad, a smart phone or something to view ONX Hunt on, disregard the above.

As Osky said, the Etrex will do what you want. I have purchased them off Ebay for $35 to $50. May have a few rubs or marks, but they work just fine. Gave one to a hunting buddy because he was always getting turned around in the timber.

I don't leave home without the Garmin 64st. Tough booger and you need that with what we do ADC!
The cheap ones die young.

Mark

I love using GPS to mark my sets. I use the one on my hounds track and train system.
Not sure how many way points you can mark with ONX. As yotegiter said easy for others to find your sets for you just in case. Heck I've even gave the wardens my coordinates a couple times to help bust people stealing and messing with my sets. They found ther sets right away

Thank you for the info thus far. I'm not too concerned about the money but I know if you spend a lot they will likely get more complicated. I know if its not simple and easy to use I'll not likely use it like I should. I'll start researching based on what you have said thus far, but more info is very welcome especially from experienced users.

You are looking for one with a mark button. The etrex ( at least mine ) ain't it. I don't know if there is one with an un-mark button. Generally you have to scroll through your waypoint list to delete them ( or maybe zap them off your map). My old Garmin GPS 45 had the mark button, it lays in the bottom Donkey Creek these days.

The e trex will work but it is a lot slower than the ones with more stuff on it if you over 50 they are all a pain to learn. I met you at the NTA a few year back so I'm guessing it will be a pain to learn lol

Hey now I'm no where near that old. Only 49. lol

Gaia GPS app for your smart phone. It does what you want and has a lot of basemaps you can load including topo, satellite, nav charts, etc. The maps can be loaded ahead of time so you don't need a cell phone connection to use the app. You can add waypoints or routes. It will create tracks that show where you've been. The only feature it doesn't have that you mentioned is one button deleting of waypoints. It's probably 3 or 4 button presses. I think I paid $17 for a year's subscription.

I don't know much about them, in my research I decided I would like to go with the Garmin 64st. It seems to do all I want and will be out of cell range at times and won't have to worry about it. I also personally would like to get the Garmin mini two way satellite communicator in case I get in trouble. But both is pricey.

There is a free app called iGotrapping. You might want to check it out. Can be used on your phone etc. I’ll be trying it out myself this year. Looks promising.

I have a Lowrance fish finder mounted to my truck dash. Has a map screen with road maps installed. Nice big screen that you can mark waypoints. I use that for a road line. I'm not dinking around with a hand held unit. And when not using it, it goes on the boat. Also works if your using it in the boat for a river coon line. Or ATV.

If you have an iPad or smart phone down load avenza app and have Chancey make you a custom map for it. Doesn’t require cell service and is quick and easy.

avenza maps for a smart phone or tablet with some kind of global positioning,download free maps from your state
and you can add and subtract waypoints easily.

I have this app on my phone. I don't use the paid subscriptions and for what it is, it's pretty dang accurate. I am up in Wisconsin grouse hunting now and I am trying it out as a backtracker, setting waypoints, and the map is amazingly detailed. I'm starting to like it better than ONX. I also have a garmin e trex the yellow one. It's a great backtracker. You can load waypoints, but map is not very detailed. But it does take a few minutes to get satellites. The biggest thing with whatever you get is to practice, practice, practice!!!!!! Try out Gaia!!

I have the Garmin Astro 220 which I think is the 64 with the dog tracker and never had a problem in this century except when putting 4 wheeler key thru screen right after setting 80th trap! The better ones have micro SD card in them that I could take out and put in another one and I was good to go again. I was 2000 mi from home too!

Here is the IGoTrapping app … it only works with Apple …. as I understand it.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/igotrapping/id667974944


Just found this that is supposed to work with Android ….

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eisordevelopment.gotrapping&hl=en_US


Garry-

I cashed in some Cabelas points this spring and bought the Garmin 64st, haven’t used it yet but I played around with Marks at the academy and really liked it. I need to get it out and play with it before season gets here

They're cheaper now too because the new model came out, in June I think. Cabela's had them on sale, I missed it.

Well, I've been looking into them, I'm now more confused than before I started. lol I think I'll hold out and hope someone near here has one that works for them and they will show me how to use it.

Yep, they'll put a pretzel in your head. Good luck this season!

Having relied on “cheaper” GPS unit everyday to make a living for the better than a decade I can assure you that is not the case. Over the course of 13 years I used 2 different eTrex units. They are a 1 button proposition for marking a location although you do have to press the button twice. Oh the humanity!

I doubt very much that the more expensive consumer grade GPS units have receivers that are any better than what comes in the eTrex. You simply pay for more bells and whistles that most people will never use. That might mean a bigger screen, touch screen or the like but the features of the unit’s software will not likely serve you any better.

Clark

Your etrex must be different than mine. Once I fire it up, I have to page through 4 pages to get to the two mark pushing on the Menu page. Sure if I hang out on the Menu page then it is only two button push. Since the buttons are hard to read on the side, I hope I push Page and not Enter.

I much preferred the GPS 45 with the mark button.

You’re gonna like it. If you’re ever on Amazon, pick up some screen protectors for them. I got a 2 pack a long time ago. Still on my first one. I think it was $9 or $10 for the pair.

ADC, these things are personal preference, really. I really like mine. I spent some time playing with it then went on the trapline with it. Never said a word about it, forget I had it and realized my wife was running it the whole time we were making sets. So it’s pretty straight forward, I haven’t come across anything yet on it that really through me off. I would buy the 64st again simply because the maps were already loaded. I did try the Garmin version of satellite imagery on it and was NOT a fan. Just me though. Whatever you do, I would suggest buttons rather than touchscreen. Unless a lot has changed, they are not the same responsive screen as a modern smartphone.

I utilized the Garmin Etrex when I put out about 350 gypsy moth traps in 4 counties. That said - I still prefer the old notebook and pencil.....I really like the Gazeteer Atlas that shows all the creeks and land types for each state with all the county roads. I just mark in the atlas and keep driving. A good Write in Rain notebook and pencil is what I tend to keep going back to.

I have an Etrex- we leave it mounted in the duck boat on a ram mount, I use a Garmin 64st that is synced with my Garmin Sounder fish locator- that way I can ice fish cribs and structure with the handheld. Both are great units, the Etrex is low tech but good for tracks and way points. I loaded the onX Hunt app- I haven't took my GPS bowhunting since and plan to use it for trap locations and notes.

ADC,

As you can see friend from these comments, there are varied options on what everyone prefers... and as is usually the case, how/what/where/when you'll use it is part of the equation as far as what you may need - and we're all different. Variances include how long you use it, how many sets you'll tend, how's the weather, do you house it or keep it out in your truck or pocket (mine goes in my side pants pocket so everywhere I walk is tracked... and many other subtle but obviously important criteria.

I've tried Montana's and it's ok as far as a bit more expensive units but it died young and I've tried a half dozen less expensive units, some given to me as gifts. ADC I know you are a go-getter, so you will probably appreciate those GPS mentioned here that hold up over time and don't bog when you use them day after day.

I run upwards of 200-250 traps and snares sometimes here in TX on a good size ranch, so pen and paper (my preferred method) is out the window. That's too much doodling. So, the next best thing is fast, dependable easy and quick to operate GPS. When I grab my GPS, I want it looking at me in the buggy or truck, able to slide around and get whacked an awful lot and keep on ticking, and then bing-bang... I input with a couple buttons. If you run a few traps, no big deal. Run a lot of traps or mark often, and every second counts. You run a bunch of traps so you realize this friend. In fact, to save time, I usually do some of my phone and GPS work while standing on coyotes to kill them (time efficiency).
"Hi mom", "Whatcha doing son, killing a coyote?" "yes mom".

You may be OK with tech that is a whole lot less expensive and if that's the case, sweet. I've found that the weather conditions when I ride on a UTV every day is too harsh for the cheaper units and they die young. I won't mention brands I don't like, just that I use the Garmin 64st. Tough son-a-gun that has been dropped, kicked, run over, and only once did it not like any of that. I'm on my second unit in ten years. Worth every penny the way I use it!

Plus I LOVE the topo maps that come on it. They are crazy helpful for me to drill down with my Google earth maps and pinpoint funnel points, land features, etc. I download what I need to file and SWEET I have the ranch or ground laid out it Google earth fashion. It's called BirdsEye and it's marvelous to use on a trapline brother.

Happy shopping!
Mark