GPS Tracks and Trails
by Forrest Breedlove
The Global Positioning System or GPS has become one of the most important tools in the DIY hunter’s arsenal. These devices that began as a black cursor on a blank screen, are now capable of topography, vivid color aerial overlay, and even current weather radar. Though these new features are incredibly useful there is no replacement for tracking your previous steps. Depending on the make of GPS you have, this function may be called Tracks or Trails. It is the simple marking of the course you just followed with a line. This simple yet very useful feature can help you crouch behind your next trophy.
More times than not us ambitious DIY hunters find ourselves in areas or even states we have never been before. Once you arrive in your area of focus enable the tracks and drive the surrounding roads, two tracks, and legal trails. This will better familiarize you with all the areas travel corridors without having to drive with a map stretched across the steering wheel. It is much easier to reference a handheld GPS than a USGS map when you are running late to the field. Once you’ve marked the area roads with tracks leading to your hunting areas its time to get out and do some scouting.
Obviously there are many ways to scout a new hunting area. One of which is walking game trails to find bedding areas, feeding areas, rub lines, intersections, and a general understanding of where and why the animals are moving. Nothing marks these trails as you walk better than tracks. Walk out all the game trails with tracks enabled and this will provide you a visual overlook of all the trails on your property. This will help you identify intersections and merges that could be potential ambush locations. Once you have nailed down some stand, blind, and stalk locations use the terrain to your advantage to plan the best entry and exit routes to your newfound ambushes.
Use tracks to record the easiest, safest, and lowest impact entry and exit routes. Nothing is more painful than wading through green briars or multiflora rose bushes in the dark in route to a waypoint. Pick routes that provide you easy and quiet travel that will keep you out of sight or sound of the animals you are pursuing. Walking in creek beds, small running creeks, ditches, or along ridge tops will provide you optimal entry and exit routes that are easily followed in the dark using tracks. When its time to hunt you can avoid the bleeding, and heavy breathing of coming up a steep hillside by following the routes you have prerecorded. After making it to your destination quickly and quietly you finally get that shot you have been awaiting and now starts the job of tracking your game.
Normally a well placed arrow or bullet leads to a short, easy to follow blood trail. Unfortunately sometimes the shot is not placed as well as it should have been or adverse weather conditions can compromise the trail to recovery. At this time you have to resort to looking across the land in hopes of finding your animal. Taking a systematic approach to finding your animal ensures that you do not overlook an inch of ground your trophy could be. Enable tracks and start at the place you last found sign and walk in a straight line for a reasonable distance. Depending on the terrain and cover you may need to move over 5 yards to 100 yards then walk back the direction you just came from. The key is to use the track line as a guide to walking parallel to the ground you just covered. Keep repeating the process until you have covered the entire area your animal may have ventured to.
Today’s handheld GPS devices have many functions and features that help DIY hunters. Though simple and lackluster the track or trails function is a multidimensional tool. Mark the area’s roads to help you navigate quicker to and from your hunts. Recording game trails can help you identify intersections and merges in which could be hunted. Plot the best entry and exit routes so you reach your destination safely and quietly without spooking game. Tracks can even help you recover the trophy of a lifetime. Next time you power on your GPS scroll through the menu and locate this great function because its use may just result in your next punched tag.
