OnX Connected Hunting Optics a step too far

[timber_hunter]

OnX now has a feature where you can mark animals with compatible rangefinders and it will export the animal's location to your app. I think this is a step too far, but maybe I'm getting old and crotchety. What do you say? Is this still fair chase? If you think this new technology violates fair chase, why do you continue to support onX?

 

[Nick87]

OnX now has a feature where you can mark animals with compatible rangefinders and it will export the animal's location to your app. I think this is a step too far, but maybe I'm getting old and crotchety. What do you say? Is this still fair chase?

We crossed that line a while back.

 

[Big Sky Guy]

OnX now has a feature where you can mark animals with compatible rangefinders and it will export the animal's location to your app. I think this is a step too far, but maybe I'm getting old and crotchety. What do you say? Is this still fair chase? If you think this new technology violates fair chase, why do you continue to support onX?

I don’t have one but you can do basically the same thing manually. They have the direction/range finder compass thing so you can range a target and then orient your phone the direction of the target and drop a pin at X number of yards. Another option I’ve used successfully when I’m not sure the OnX compass is correct is just dropping a waypoint where I am standing and turning on the waypoint radius to match the distance of the target.

 

[gouch]

So, the app automatically creates a waypoint using that fancy range finder as opposed to you manually creating that same waypoint using a bearing and a plain old range finder?

That's your red line when it comes to using technology for hunting.

 

[jimh406]

Other than ease of use, it's not that different than what you can do on your own.

 

[BAKPAKR]

For even moderate range shots, pinning the location of an animal (or where it was at the shot), either manually or with a linked rangefinder, can sure make recovery easier.

 

[Brad]

About the only technology I'd like to see adopted is a "chipped" arrow so all the archery hunters wounding elk in Montana can actually recover some of those animals...

 

[Nick87]

About the only technology I'd like to see adopted is a "chipped" arrow so all the archery hunters wounding elk in Montana can actually recover some of those animals...

If you think there's some questionable shots taken now....

 

[Brad]

If you think there's some questionable shots taken now....

I don't think it would change that one bit.

 

[WapitiBob]

About the only technology I'd like to see adopted is a "chipped" arrow so all the archery hunters wounding elk in Montana can actually recover some of those animals...

We were offered one when I was at Golden Eagle in the early 80's and we passed. I suggested Coleman (our parent company) put the technology into a bracelet for kids to wear when camping, to aid in location should a kid wander off.

 

[rogerthat]

About the only technology I'd like to see adopted is a "chipped" arrow so all the archery hunters wounding elk in Montana can actually recover some of those animals...

I’d like to see chipped bullets for the same reason. Bet that would be eye opening. Whole herd would be gps’d

 

[Big Fin]

About the only technology I'd like to see adopted is a "chipped" arrow so all the archery hunters wounding elk in Montana can actually recover some of those animals...

I think such technology already exists.I was approached by a company that has such technology inserted in the nock of the arrow. I declined.

 

[SAJ-99]

About the only technology I'd like to see adopted is a "chipped" arrow so all the archery hunters wounding elk in Montana can actually recover some of those animals...

I would think archery companies would be against this. It might allow me to recover all the arrows I lose at the range.

 

[Brad]

I think such technology already exists.I was approached by a company that has such technology inserted in the nock of the arrow. I declined.

If organizations like PETA actually knew what went on in the mountains of Montana during elk archery season, we'd lose archery season... or as some of us call it, "the wounding season."

There are plenty of elk unrecovered during rifle season, but nothing like archery season. And it happens to the most careful and diligent archery hunters, unlike the many slob rifle shooters.

I'll add another unpopular thought - in Montana you should have to choose your weapon. Archery, or rifle. Not both.

 

[Beignet]

I don’t have one but you can do basically the same thing manually. They have the direction/range finder compass thing so you can range a target and then orient your phone the direction of the target and drop a pin at X number of yards. Another option I’ve used successfully when I’m not sure the OnX compass is correct is just dropping a waypoint where I am standing and turning on the waypoint radius to match the distance of the target.

I hadn’t put two and two together to realize that’s how that range feature worked.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Before there were range finders we essentially did the same thing with map and compass, took a little bit of time but surprisingly accurate. Those were the days when someone claiming to making a shot over 400 yards was largely ignored. Mid 90s the laser rangefinder showed up, that was a game changer. Not to long after that Rangefinder with true ballistic range and angles. Now you could if you still remembered how to use a map and compass get with in a few yards of where you last saw the animal. Prior to having TBR you could be across the canyon thinking you’re at the same elevation but you could be off a bit. With a map, compass bearing, angle to target and TBR you will be real close.
I actually got one of the new rangefinders I can link with OnX for my birthday. I’ve played with it some and will agree it could save me a few minutes of map and compass work, but that’s about it.
In my mind the real game changers are the laser rangefinder and GPS devices. Prior to the rangefinder it was tough to accurately judge distance, the further out past 400 the greater the impact of being off on your guess by 25 yards becomes. GPS has allowed the more tentative adventurers to get as far from the truck as they want.
In my opinion the laser rangefinder more than anything else changed the game. Because guys are able to get hits at extended ranges I think being able to accurately plot where that animal was will certainly aid in recovery of the animal. I would ague that even if you are skilled with map and compass you’ll be more accurate with the range finder. I’m not too worried about dropping a pin on an elk you see way across the canyon. If it’s that far away, by the time you work in to him he probably won’t be there. If you can read a map you should be able to find the same ridge and elevation simply by observing and working the solution for a few minutes.