Greetings VPHUNTER,
I'd like to reply to your gps question. I've been using a gps for years. It started in the deserts of Utah and has been incorporated into my hunting. First and foremost, gps equipment should never be used as your sole navigational tool. I usually have three different types of directional finding tools on my person. (My GPS, digital compass built within my watch and a traditional inexpensive compass).
Now onto your question about GPS Equipment. Most modern GPS Units will do what you want. If you don't own a computer and plan on using hard copies of Topo Maps, then most units will help you find your chosen location assuming you know how to read topo maps. If you do own a computer, then I would suggest looking into a GPS unit that can be hooked up to your computer and transfer, back and forth, GPS data directly to Topo Software installed onto your computer. In practice, I'll give you an example of how this can work. Over the years I've kept GPS data on hunting locations I've been to. I hook up the GPS unit to the computer and then transfer that data to my computer software and overlay those locations directly onto the map software. Once stored, I can go back to those locations where I had good luck seeing bucks, study the topography of the land and look for other topographical locations with the same layout. When I find a location, I mark it on the software topo map and then send the location to the GPS unit. I then print a hard copy of the location so the next time I go scouting, I simply follow the GPS data to that location. By using this method, I've found new hot hunting spots without ever being there to before. Your idea is sound. Now for some suggestions on equipment needed. First, if you plan on using a computer, then the U.S.G.S. has topo maps on cd that you can use with your computer as a data cd. Fugawi is the name of a computer software that I use along with the U.S.G.S. data cds. As for the brand of GPS, I can only tell you that I've had two GARMIN GPS Units and both are fantastic. I've never had any trouble with them. They are very durable. They both work very well with my computer and GPS software. The older unit is over fifteen years old. It has been on several trips to the wilderness of Utah and is now my GPS used with Microsoft Streets and Trips in my car. The newer model is the Rhino. It has performed perfectly since I removed it from its box when new. I hope this helps a little. Hopefully, others will help with their experiences and ideas. Trust me, what you want to do with a GPS is a lot of fun and can improve your quality of hunt and reduce scouting time. Good Luck.!
You have a great idea about incorporating the use of a GPS and TOPO Maps into your hunts.
