If you’ve been hunting or camping for a considerable amount of time, you’ve definitely had the unpleasant experience of being lost in the forest. In most cases, people should find the path easily, either by retracing their steps or with friends’ help. But there’s no need to fear being lost in today’s digital age. Thus we decided to find the best GPS for hunting.
To find the best hunting GPS we found a number of factors. We were looking for devices that have a decent battery life first and foremost. This is key in hunting with a GPS tracker. After all, if it runs out of juice it doesn’t matter how good your GPS is. We have also been searching for weatherproof units because you never know what kind of climatic conditions you are having to agree with. Even topographic maps are a plus since they give you a clearer view of the globe than flat 2D maps. See also our recommendations on the best hunting tree stands to buy, the best trail cameras, the best tree stand accessories, the best backpack straps.
Best Hunting GPS to Buy in 2020
1. Garmin Foretrex 401
The Garmin Foretrex 401 is somewhat different from the other choices on our list, as it is not a standard GPS unit. It’s more like a compass with written instructions and simple, black and white images, instead. If you are looking with all the bells and whistles for something, that wasn’t it.
That said, the Foretrex 401 is a huge improvement if you’re used to guiding. It will not only track your speed, but it will also keep track of your speed and how much distance you have traveled. It keeps track of your path automatically and has a battery life of 17 hours. When you need to switch the 2 AAA batteries it knows your route, so if you’re on an extended trip you won’t have to worry about missing any of your information.
This is an inexpensive unit, as cheap as you’ll find from Garmin.
Key Features
3-inch black and white display
Simple compass and waypoint display
Displays elevation
Automatic route tracking
Waterproof
Uses 2 AAA batteries
17 hours of battery life
Weighs 3 ounces
Wrist strap
Pros
Long battery life
Easy to use
Inexpensive
Cons
No map display
2. Garmin GPSMAP 64s
The Garmin GPSMAP 64s is designed for affordability, flexibility, and reliability. It’s constructed like a brick, weighing in at 1 pound and tracking your path automatically as you walk. If you combine it with your PC, you can regularly change location information, which will help your family locate you if you end up stranded.
On this GPS the simple topographic chart is fairly barebones, with no place markers or useful information. You can update them to Garmin’s website for free, but be prepared to spend a few hours getting used to the arcane software. That said, the 64s are priced reasonably, especially given the features. This is an affordable GPS unit that keeps your family posted on your location.
Key Features
2.6-inch screen
Topographic map
Displays elevation
Automatic route tracking
Water-resistant
Uses 2 AA batteries or rechargeable battery pack
16 hours of battery life
Weighs 1 pound
Works with GPS and GLONASS systems
4 GB of internal storage
Syncs with your PC
Pros
Durable
Good battery life
Accurate and easy to lock-on
Lets your loved ones keep track of your location
Affordable
Cons
Heavy
Steep learning curve
3. Garmin eTrex 10
The Garmin eTrex 10 is a basic, no-nonsense GPS with a clear display in black and white. But only because it seems old school doesn’t neglect it. This device pings both GPS and GLONASS, so you get a precise location as soon as possible. It’s also having 20 hours of service from a pair of outstanding AA batteries. And all of this comes at a price which is less than you would want to pay for such a powerful product.
This is a barebones GPS that’s still as reliable as you’d expect from a Garmin.
Key Features
2.2-inch screen
Basic black and white map
Displays elevation
Automatic route tracking
Waterproof
Uses 2 AA batteries
20 hours of battery life
Weighs 9.8 pound
Works with GPS and GLONASS systems
Pros
Accurate and easy to lock-on
Good battery life
Inexpensive
Cons
Small, non-topographic display
4. Magellan eXplorist 310
The Magellan eXplorist 310 is a really cheap GPS device, and it’s the only one on our list that isn’t made by Garmin. The 2.2-inch screen is small but it’s really bright so that even in sunlight you won’t have trouble reading it. It’s still waterproof enough to sustain 30 minutes of underwater but if you drop it in a creek, you won’t have any problems.
This GPS allows for accurate monitoring. The system can keep track of your actions while active tracking is turned on. This makes it very easy to follow your own direction on the map if you want to retrace your steps. It indicates your present elevation and includes a topographic map that will help you identify landmarks in the real world.
The eXplorist 310 will take a custom battery-powered rechargeable battery, which will last 18 hours. You should bring the eXplorist into sleep mode and get still more power out of your battery, which turns off all except the tracker itself. However, you would need to constantly make use of this feature on a long trip, as you don’t have the option to carry extra batteries.
Key Features
2.2-inch screen
Topographic map
Displays elevation
Active tracking mode available
Waterproof
Uses a custom rechargeable battery pack
18 hours of battery life
Weighs 5.1 ounces
Pros
Good battery life, with optional sleep mode
Bright screen
Accurate
Affordable
Cons
Small screen
No replacement batteries
5. Garmin eTrex 20x
The 20x Garmin 3Trex is a lightweight, portable device with a 2.2 “screen. However, there’s plenty of resolution on the screen, at 240 x 320 pixels, so you can see all the details on the map. It shows your level and also records your position history as long as you periodically manually set waypoints.
2 AA batteries provide power and last for up to 20 hours. When you change batteries, the device keeps tracking records, so you won’t lose your data just because you run out of the power.
In addition to GPS, the eTrex can also lock on to Russian GLONASS satellites, which means you can lock on quicker, and if you have trouble locking on to GPS, you’ll have a secondary alternative. It is fairly priced and has an internal memory of 3.7 GB to store additional maps.
But this device isn’t as user-friendly as some of the other products from Garmin. It is non-intuitive to download, install, and use extra maps, and it takes some time to remember.
This is a good choice for people who are already experienced with handheld GPS units.
Key Features
2.2-inch high-resolution screen
Topographic map
Displays elevation
Manual tracking with waypoints
Water-resistant
Uses 2 AA batteries
20 hours of battery life
Weighs 5 ounces
3.7 GB of internal memory
Works with GPS and GLONASS systems
Pros
Long battery life
Bright, high-resolution screen
Accurate
Locks on quickly
Affordable
Cons
Small screen
Steep learning curve
6. Garmin Oregon 650t
The Garmin Oregon 650t has a barometric pressure sensor that can help predict weather changes and animal behavior.
The Garmin Oregon 650 t is something more than just a GPS. It also features an 8-megapixel camera to take images of your kill, and a barometric pressure sensor that will help determine when the weather is about to turn – and when your game will start going.
The most wonderful thing about this device is the impressive topographic display data, which can be zoomed in to simulate a view of the ground level. This can be a life-saver if you’re trying to get your bearings. Combine it to store additional maps with 4 GB of internal memory and you have one heck of a unit.
Like the eTrex, the Oregon 650 t will also lock on to GLONASS satellites, providing you with a backup solution when GPS gives you problems. The AA batteries last only around 7 hours, but the internal backup battery pack helps you to switch without shutting off in a new set. This is a very expensive GPS but it has just about any functionality you might want.
This unit displays extremely detailed topographic data.
Key Features
3-inch touchscreen display
Detailed topographic map
Displays elevation
Manual tracking with waypoints
Waterproof
Uses 2 AA batteries with backup rechargeable battery pack
7 hours of battery life
Weighs 7.4 ounces
4 GB of internal memory
Works with GPS and GLONASS systems
Tracks barometric pressure changes
Built-in 8 megapixel camera
Pros
Detailed topographic display
Accurate
Locks on quickly
Barometric pressure sensor helps you predict animal behavior
Built-in camera
Cons
Poor battery life
Expensive
7. Garmin Oregon 600
The Garmin Oregon 600 is the base model of the 650 t that we just reviewed and has many of the same features in common. These include the 3-inch touchscreen and the battery backup pack, as well as GLONASS compatibility.
It has no camera or barometric pressure and does not have topographic maps, but it can be downloaded from the website of Garmin. It still does not chew into batteries, however, because it does not power as many systems as it does. It’s still expensive, but not even as much as the 650 t.
This hunting GPS unit has a large touchscreen display.
Key Features
3-inch touchscreen display
Simple 2D map
Displays elevation
Manual tracking with waypoints
Waterproof
Uses 2 AA batteries with backup rechargeable battery pack
16 hours of battery life
Weighs 7.4 ounces
1.5 GB of internal memory
Works with GPS and GLONASS systems
Pros
Accurate
Locks on quickly
Good battery life
Cons
Pricey
8. Garmin Montana 680t
The Garmin Montana 680 t has a generous 4-inch touchscreen display which gives you an extremely detailed view of your topographic map. Considering the monitor size it has a remarkably decent battery life, keeping 3 AA batteries for up to 16 hours. You could use the rechargeable battery pack which comes with the unit as well.
This GPS monitors your location and barometric pressure and has an 8-megapixel camera built-in. This will automatically transfer real-time images and location data to your home when you connect it with your PC. Your loved ones will have convenient access to the last known place in case you get into trouble.
However, the software has a steep learning curve, so be prepared to spend several hours tinkering with it when your 680 t enters the mail. This GPS syncs with your PC to keep your loved ones updated on your location.
Pros
Large screen
Good battery life
Accurate and easy to lock-on
Keeps your loved ones updated on your location
Barometric pressure tracking lets you predict weather changes
Cons
Steep learning curve
Pricey
Bottom Line
Nowadays you’re more or less limited to Magellan or Garmin whether you’re looking for a brand of some reputation. So, with a few exceptions, if you’re searching for the latest hunting handheld GPS, you’ll be looking at a Garmin.
But to choose the best one for you, consider what you need first, and how much you want to spend. You might also need a comprehensive topographic map that contains all the features or you might just need a basic one. We hope our reviews have helped you pick the best GPS Tracker.