Do you use a GPS for backcountry hunts?

Hunting
1

I am in overthink mode for my first elk hunt in Colorado. Normally, just a whitetail hunter here in TX. I have a Garmin InReach Mini 2 and I have OnX on my iphone, but I have a bad feeling there will be ZERO service there. In hunts like this, what is the consus for mapping? What are you all using?

2

All you have to do is download a map of the area you will be hunting ahead of time. You then can use the map on airplane mode. That’s what we have done for years when elk hunting in Colorado

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3

I just carry an extra battery and have a little backpacking solar panel.

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4

A Garmin GPS doesn’t use cell service it is communicating with satellites. Usually does a triangulation of 3 satellites.

5

Buy a physical topo map of the area ( I think I used Topozone), download a map to your phone, take a battery bank(s) (Anker works well) small solar panel (the size of an ipad) and use your inreach/Earthmate app to navigate. Your solar panel can recharger your battery bank while you are out hunting for the day. Worked well in Alaska and Colorado. Note - IOS 18 has satellite messaging capability if you have an Iphone 14 or newer.