GPS-Go-Play-Safely.

Bowhunting is a vital part of each of our lives, and is a source of spiritual and mental renewal. Bowhunting also allows us to use our brain's gray matter as we plot and plan our seasonal strategies. We use our muscles, too, whenever we abandon the couches to trek into the woods. It isn't much of a stretch to say that bowhunting is fun, despite the fact that some animal-extremists would feel that such a description is disrespectful to the animals we pursue.

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Those folks simply don't understand what we know: an activity can be quite serious in its objectives, yet provide plenty of challenging fun in the events that lead up to its conclusion.

One of the best examples of this type of fun can be found in the new and constantly evolving field of GPS technology. GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System, could also be used to denote the words Go Play Safely, for that's exactly what the words represent for many archers who once were fearful of leaving their local environs.

Getting lost is no longer much of a worry, if you own a GPS and know how to use it. Each season brings GPS upgrades, many of which involve superior mapping technology, but some of which also include lower price-point models that are downright easy to use. Some of these latter units are made to order for even the most technologically-challenged archer in our ranks. Others are complex enough to provide the world's greatest technophile with an array of extras that will keep his or her interest level in the unit at a near-fever pitch.

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While surfing through the myriad new products, quite a number of units stand out. These include units that just about anybody can master, as well as units better suited to the more advanced GPS fan. The units featured here are all products marketed by the 'Big 4' of GPS technology: Magellan, Garmin, Lowrance and Brunton. Anyone intent upon purchasing the best unit for his purposes and skill level should also visit www.gpsexplorer.com and click on the "GPS for Outdoors" sub-heading, or visit www.cabelas.com and search under 'GPS' to find even more great GPS products from Cobra, Navman, Furuno, Raymarine, Vcommand and others.

Magellan, a subsidiary of Thales, (www.magellangps.com/en/products; [phone]), is certainly proud of their new eXplorist Series, and with good reason. The company set out to prove that GPS buyers could spend less and get more for their money.

On the outside, the eXplorists' colorful, rubber-armored cases are tough, waterproof, weigh just four ounces and are compact enough to fit in your pocket. Inside, Magellan's new TrueFix technology incorporates a 14-parallel channel for quicker acquisitions, with a WAAS/EGNOS-enabled GPS receiver so users get precise position fixes within three meters. (WAAS stands for 'Wide Area Augmentation System;' EGNOS for 'European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System'). One button takes users to menu, navigation screens, routing, and backlighting capabilities. Save up to 500 waypoints, 20 routes, and multiple track logs with up to 2,000 points for each. The 2.3-inch diagonal LCD display features zoom capability with a bright amber backlight.

The eXplorist 100 is perfectly suited for a novice or anyone who can't abide even the thought of studying a 'how-to' manual for days. No manual is required; simply turn on this GPS and go. Three navigation screens, complete with track plotting, will help you find your way back safely, while storage capacity is large enough for three track-log files, each with as many as 2,000 track-points.

Moving up to the eXplorist 200 makes sense if you need built-in mapping capabilities. The 200 comes with either a North American or European background map and its attendant access to the locations of roads, parks, waterways, airports and more. Plus, this model can save up to five track-logs, each with up to 2,000 individual track-points.

Magellan's eXplorist 300 does everything the 200 does, and more, thanks to its barometer, altimeter and an electronic compass.

Magellan's rubber-armored, waterproof SporTrak Topo 'grab-and-go' GPS at 6.1 ounces comes pre-loaded with 108 MB of built-in nationwide topographic maps. An additional 16 MB of memory enables the user to increase the unit's mapping capabilities with Magellan's MapSend software, a CD of which is included with each purchase. This GPS, which features WAAS and EGNOS, is also pocket-sized and lightweight. Nine customized navigation screens include map, compass and speedometer; readouts include heading, bearing, speed, direction and ETA. The SporTrak Topo will store up to 20 routes, 500 waypoints and 2,000 track-points. Other great features include Save Track-to-Route, which allows you to convert track logs into routes, NorthFinder, plus sun and moon rise and set as well as moon phase for any date and location in the world. And it floats, too!

Garmin (www.garmin.com; [phone]) owns an enviable reputation, thanks to its GPS technologies, with new and improved advancements being announced with regularity. The latest additions to the eTrex Personal Navigator family of products include two units that weigh just 5.6 ounces each. Garmin's eTrex Legend C (up to 36 hours of battery life) and eTrex Vista C (about 20 hours of battery life) to date are the company's smallest and least expensive products with a color TFT-transflective-display, WAAS and advanced auto-routing capabilities. Both are also waterproof.

The transflective color TFT display prevents screen washout or fade when used in bright sunlight. Automatic route generation, off-route recalculation (when you go where you hadn't been planning to go), turn-by-turn directions with audible alerts, and icon-driven menus for locating points of interest (when used with Garmin's optional MapSource CD), together with 24 MB of internal map storage memory are featured on both models. The mini-USB port can be PC-interfaced to download even more data from Garmin's online MapSource library.

Both the Legend C and Vista C use TracBack technology and have storage enough for 500 waypoints, 50 reversible routes, 20 tracks and 10,000 track-points. Other features include proximity waypoint alarms, anchor drag and off-course alarms, plus a built-in alarm clock, stopwatch, hunting calendar, sun and moon calculations and trip computer. The Vista C is also outfitted with an electronic compass, barometric altimeter and elevation computer.

Garmin's Foretrex 201 (15-hours of battery life; 2.75 ounces), a wearable, waterproof Personal Navigator, has taken aim at hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts. Wearing the device, which features a 12-parallel channel GPS receiver, 10,000 track-point capability and 10-track storage as well as upcoming turn feature, PanTrack and TracBack function, while allowing hands-free navigation. Six dedicated buttons that make operation a snap, and the brilliant display screen with backlight are features commonly found on higher-priced units. Each Foretrex 201 comes complete with rechargeable internal lithium battery, desktop charger, PC interface cable, wrist strap and expandable strap.

Archers who simply don't want to lose valuable sighting-in and bowhunting time should run right out and buy Garmin's Geko 101 GPS (12-hour battery life). This unit is made to order for beginners and others who want a GPS's basic functions but without the need to spend days defragging a complex usage manual. The waterproof Geko 101 features 12-parallel channels, one-touch waypoint recording, and one-hand, 5-button operation. Storage allows for up to 250 waypoints, 10 tracks and 3,000 tracklog points. PanTrack lets you surf your current route and mark locations, even those previously visited.

Anyone flummoxed by his or her Garmin eTrex and what it can do should run, not walk, to their Cabela's catalog to order Garmin's eTrex Legend GPS Instructional Video. Onscreen demonstrations show future users how easy it is to use the eTrex and MapSource CD-ROMs.

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Lowrance(www.lowrance.com; [phone]) minces nothing in its description of their great new iFINDER Hunt GPS (8.7 ounces; 12 hours of battery life). Rugged and waterproof, this 12-channel GPS, with WAAS receiver, features icons specific to hunting that can be used to mark tree stand locations and various types of deer sign. There's also an electronic compass, barometric altimeter, dual processors for faster screen updates, a built-in continental U.S. map, and three modes of operation: easy, advanced, and hunting. Log up to 2,000 waypoints, 1,000 event markers, and 100 routes and save up to 100 retractable plot trails, each with up to 10,000 points. The iFinder Hunt can be upgraded by adding Lowrance's optional Mapping Accessories (U.S. Topo) Pack, which includes MapCreate mapping software with its unique hunting areas database. The unit is also compatible with optional IMS Fishing Hot Spots and other electronic maps and charts. Or, simply buy the iFINDER Hunt Plus, which comes fully-loaded with MapCreate software with its public hunting areas database memory card, card reader and USB connector.

Users can also enhance their units' background maps with even more detail and data by purchasing IMS SmartMap Mini-Cartridges. Each of the 64 different cartridges covers one region of the 48 contiguous U.S. states and contains about 1 MB of data.

And last but definitely not least, look at an array of GPS products from Brunton, (www.brunton.com; [phone]) a leader in outdoor equipment and navigational tools. Brunton's Atlas GPS system utilizes a number of their Atlas MMC cards including TopoCreate and Atlas TopoCards, which offers topographical data on a 1:24,000 USGS scale. Look at the Atlas GPS and new for 2005, waterproof/submersible Atlas MNS GPS for a user-friendly navigational system. The 12 channel parallel GPS & WAAS receiver Atlas GPS can access maps from across the World. An expandable memory slot for MMC/SD cards backs up eight MB of internal memory.

The new Atlas MNS GPS uses a TrueMagnetic digital compass, altimeter and weather forecasting Storm Watch Barometer that shows current pressure and a 12-hour weather forecast. A StraightHome feature allows the user to backtrack to their starting point with or without battery power with a push of a button. Brunton's Atlas MNS is GPS and WAAS compatible which is accurate to within three feet. And the addition of an expandable memory slot will give you the opportunity to register every hiding hole and dirt road in the U.S. Dual processors offer faster updates and scrolling of info on a large high-resolution display. The Atlas MNS is compatible with MapCreate and TopoCreate electronic mapping programs.

For hunting enthusiasts, look at Brunton's USGS Topo Maps and Game Management Information maps. Each TopoCard gives you access to more than 700,000 points of interest including phone numbers and addresses of businesses, marinas and public lands. Atlas TopoCards and TopoCreate PC software makes it possible for hunters to track game in your areas and create custom hunting and camping maps.

GPS units rely upon our government's Global Positioning System satellites to provide users with outdoors peace of mind, no matter where they roam. More features, most of which can be accessed more quickly and easier than ever before, have helped convince an increasing number of buyers that owning a GPS, like any of the great models featured here, will not only help them become better hunters, but will almost guarantee their ability to Go Play Safely, anywhere in the world.