By: Lance Valentine

Over the past two months we began looking at how the GPS system works and some features to look for when buying a GPS unit, but with hunting season quickly approaching I wanted to talk about the importance of being prepared before we step out into the woods this fall.

I am amazed at the number of folks who attend my GPS seminars who buy a GPS unit just days before leaving for a hunting trip. Their expectation is they will be able to burrow deep into an unknown part of the woods, hunt all day, then turn on this wonderful GPS unit and be able to immediately return to their vehicle or camp. While this scenario will more than likely be true, depending on a GPS unit as your only navigation tool is asking for trouble!

When a GPS unit is first turned on, the screen displays a warning that most users have never read and quickly skip over. "Do not rely on this GPS unit as your sole means of navigation" is a warning that should be heeded more closely by all GPS owners. GPS users need to know and understand the limitations of the GPS system before heading off into the woods thinking they are never again going to be lost.

Because the GPS needs to clearly "see" satellites to determine position, the heavy foliage of early fall can make a position reading inaccurate or even impossible. Standing along a trail or at a campsite in the morning with a clear view of the sky may give a very accurate reading, but in the woods may be a whole different story. Another cause of lost or inaccurate signals in the woods is the common practice of putting the GPS unit in a belt case or fanny pack. If the GPS antenna is obstructed, it will not be able to receive signals from the satellites.

So how can the hunter overcome these problems with the GPS system? While a signal may not be available in all cases, here are a few tips to make using your GPS easier, safer and more accurate.

The first thing an outdoorsman can do to help with the accuracy of the GPS is to leave the unit on all day and carry it in a manner that allows the antenna to "see" the sky. It is much easier for a GPS to keep a signal than it is to acquire a signal. By getting a good reading in the morning and leaving the GPS on all day to continue tracking, you will see better performance than turning the unit off and then trying to reacquire a signal later in the day. Doing this obviously creates a need for extra batteries-I wouldn’t hit the woods without at least 2 extra sets. Most handheld GPS units also have a "battery save" feature to expand battery life. Use this feature only when you are sitting still and turn it off when using the GPS to navigate.

The second step to being prepared with a GPS is to always carry a map and a magnetic compass! If you were taught how to navigate using maps, landmarks and a magnetic compass, do not forget to use these skills in combination with a GPS unit. If you never learned how to navigate with these tools, learn! The chances of a GPS not working are in direct proportion to your need for it to work. By having a backup plan of navigation, you will always have some level of safety.

Along with this it is extremely helpful to carry a notebook and several pencils anytime you enter the woods. Use the notebook to enter notes and observations, waypoints, or draw routes. If you save several waypoints or icons throughout the day, recording their number and information in a notebook helps when you need to retrieve them at a later time-trying to remember what 50 different waypoints all represent without taking notes is tough! Plus at the end of your trip you will now have detailed notes and information about your hunt and the area. Carry several pencils-not pens-in your daypack and make sure you have a sharp knife to sharpen them with.

Modern day GPS units are wonderful tools for all of us who enjoy the outdoors, but they also have their limitations. By understanding how GPS works and what those limitations are, and preparing for those limitations, we can all have a safer time in the woods.