GPS
A dedicated GPS unit still earns its place in a pack even in the age of phone mapping apps — better battery life, no cell signal dependency, and features built specifically for hunting and backcountry use. We carry Garmin’s full range, from rugged handhelds like the Montana series to Alpha dog trackers that keep tabs on your hunting dog in thick cover, plus inReach satellite messengers for when you’re truly off the grid. Whether you need mapping, dog tracking, or emergency communication, there’s a Garmin GPS built for the job.
Read our full GPS Buying Guide ↓
Handheld GPS for Hunting and Backcountry Navigation
The Garmin Montana series offers a large, glove-friendly touchscreen and preloaded topographic mapping built for serious backcountry use — marking stands, tracking blood trails, and navigating back to camp without relying on a phone signal. Compared to phone-based mapping apps, a dedicated handheld holds a charge far longer and stands up better to the drops, moisture, and cold that come with real field use.
GPS Dog Trackers: Keeping Tabs on Your Hunting Dog in the Field
Garmin’s Alpha series pairs a handheld with a GPS collar, showing you exactly where your dog is and how it’s behaving — treed, pointing, or on the move — even across miles of thick cover where you’d otherwise lose sight or sound. Many Alpha collars also include training features like tone and vibration correction, making the system useful well beyond just tracking. For anyone running bird dogs or hounds in heavy terrain, a GPS collar removes a real source of anxiety about losing track of your dog.
Satellite Messengers: Off-Grid Communication When You Need It
The Garmin inReach Mini sends and receives messages via satellite from anywhere, with no cell signal required — a genuine safety net for backcountry hunts, remote hikes, or any trip that takes you well outside cell coverage. Beyond messaging, it includes an SOS function that connects to emergency responders, which matters most exactly when nothing else is working.
Choosing Between a Handheld GPS and a GPS Smartwatch
A handheld GPS like the Montana offers a bigger screen, longer battery life, and more detailed mapping — better for extended trips where navigation is the priority. A GPS smartwatch trades some of that for convenience: it’s always on your wrist, doubles as a everyday watch, and still tracks routes and location well enough for most day trips. See our GPS smartwatches if you want that convenience over dedicated mapping power.
Frequently Asked Questions: GPS
Do I need a dedicated GPS if I already have a phone?
A dedicated GPS holds a charge far longer, works reliably with no cell signal, and stands up better to drops, moisture, and cold than a phone. For serious backcountry or hunting use, it’s a meaningful upgrade over phone-only navigation.
How does a Garmin GPS dog tracker work?
A GPS collar on your dog communicates with a handheld unit you carry, showing your dog’s real-time location and, on many models, its current behavior (treed, pointing, on the move) even across long distances and thick cover.
What is a satellite messenger and do I need one?
A satellite messenger like the Garmin inReach Mini sends and receives messages via satellite with no cell signal needed, and includes SOS emergency functionality. It’s worth it for anyone regularly heading into areas without reliable cell coverage.
Should I get a handheld GPS or a GPS watch?
A handheld offers a bigger screen and longer battery life for extended, navigation-heavy trips. A GPS watch is more convenient for everyday wear and shorter outings. Many serious outdoorsmen end up with both.
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