January 07, 2014
By Preston Keck
From social media to organizing your daily schedule, you can do almost anything with apps. The hunting industry didn't take long to follow suit and carve out their piece of the app market.
After sifting through an endless amount of hunting and fishing apps for this piece, we tried to follow the road less traveled. The first thing we looked for was uniqueness. We tried to find apps that were one-of-a-kind, informative, and impactful to the sportsman's daily life whether afield, afloat, or in the cubicle. The next criterion for the list was intuitiveness. If an app isn't easy to use, it has a short shelf life on our devices. Lastly, we looked for apps that were useful. If an app doesn't help us accomplish something, whether it's wasting time in the waiting room before that romantic yearly physical, or deciding whether or not the conditions are right to hunt or fish, it doesn't make the cut.
We have narrowed the list of useful apps for sportsman down to 15, in no particular order. While there was no winner, some of the apps on the list stood out because they are just pretty darn neat. For example, findmefish.com allows users to buy and sell fishing honey holes on the internet. OnXmap's Hunt offers users a bird's eye view of property boundaries and property owner's names. Huntforce.com is a robust and powerful trail camera tool that gives a whole new meaning to game management.
Although these were just a few of the cool apps we came across, all the apps proved to be a creative, unique, and beneficial tool to making us sportsmen more lethal, or at least less bored at work. If you get a chance download these apps, do it. You wont be disappointed.
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ActInNature ActInNature is great for preventing hunting accidents on public land and private clubs. Utilizing device GPS, it allows users to see each other's geographical location in relation to other hunters in order to steer clear of shooting in their direction. The app is also complete with sunrise-sunset and the ability to take photos, videos, and notes all in cloud storage.
actinnature.com Gun Safe Gun Safe is downloadable at Google play only for Android. Users can store, track and manage their inventory of guns in a secure location. You can store inventory data, photos, ammo stock, and other firearm information. Also, track your shooting proficiency by storing photos of your targets. This app is for the serious shooter looking to be more efficient.
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Tracking-point.com Tracking-Point.com has unleashed a form of technology that is unprecedented in the hunting industry. With their scope, rifle, and app system you can lock on a target like an F-16. One of the coolest aspects of the system is that the app allows viewers to watch the shot in real time on their device. It does, however, come with a price tag of $25,000. We can dream, right?
tracking-point.com FindMeFish.com FindmeFish.com is a multi-device application that puts guide-quality fishing knowledge at your fingertips. Findmefish.com allows users to buy and sell fishing hotspots through a GPS interface that seamlessly integrates with Google maps. If you are an experienced angler, or guide, looking to earn some cash by selling your fishing honey-hole, or an angler wanting local guide knowledge for a fraction of the cost, Findmefish.com allows you more time fishing and less time looking.
findmefish.com OnXMaps' Hunt Hunt, powered by OnXmaps, is a useful tool for the tech-savvy hunter that will continue to grow in importance as hunting lands become scarcer. The app generates map layers that provide information on property owner, public, private, managed forests, and other need-to-know info for the exploring sportsman. A great app for exploring new hunting areas, some states not available.
huntinggpsmaps.com Huntforce.com Huntforce.com is a ground-breaking trail cam web application that is 'Redefining how trail camera information is looked at and how efficient we can be, ' according to Ryan White, founder of Huntforce.com. This app is a must-have for the serious sportsman. With a few simple clicks you can easily organize and categorize trail cam photos through a clean, intuitive, Mac-esque interface that separates deer into location during both huntable and non-huntable hours. With Huntforce.com the possibilities with game management are endless.
huntforce.com Hunting Season Countdown Hunting Season Countdown may not be high end in function, but is a must-have for those who cannot sleep during the days and weeks before opening day. The app allows users to create a countdown clock that uses their favorite hunting photo, type of season opening, and a running countdown clock. This is
the app for the hunting obsessed.
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Hunt Predictor Hunt Predictor is one of the coolest apps on the market for making sportsmen more efficient. Hunt Predictor uses a combination of GPS positioning and weather to determine the optimal time for you to hunt. Hunt Predictor allows you to choose between deer, turkey and waterfowl. The layout is clean, well-designed, and easy to follow. The line graph is great for determining whether to get up or stay in bed.
huntpredictor.com iFish USA iFish USA is the ultimate fishing app. iFish 'Provides the most innovative fishing experience available today ' according to the company's website. Users can get up-to-date fishing reports and detailed info on local lakes. Great for anglers at all levels. The app could be as important as your favorite plastic.
ifishusa.com iHunt Journal iHunt Journal is the most robust and powerful app for all species in the e-hunting journal market. The app utilizes a clean layout with all the features for tracking daily adventures at your fingertips. Some of the most useful features are the observation function, harvest record keeping, GPS, and a weather overlay. This app has everything you need to begin journaling your next hunting adventure.
nature-software.com InterMedia Outdoors Digital Editions InterMedia Outdoors has their own series of apps dedicated to providing their readers with a convenient way to get their favorite magazines delivered straight to their device. You still get all the great tips and articles you expect with your magazine, but with the convenience of your device. You can find reads such as Game & Fish, Bow-Hunter, Wildfowl and many more. Download the app today and hunt better tomorrow.
imoutdoorsmedia.com Pocket Ranger Pocket Ranger DNR apps are some of the most practical apps for sportsmen. The app usually offers state hunting zone maps and notifications of hunting season openings and closings through your state calendar. There is also a trophy case section, just be sure not to give away the honey hole. Pocket Ranger hunting apps offer everything you need to hunt safely, legally, and ethically.
itunes.apple.com Point of Impact Guns and Ammo's Point of Impact is a first person shooter app for the dead-eye in all of us. Utilizing a realistic and detailed armory of weapons, one can choose between training, time, and accuracy modes. Shooters earn points and new weapons as they progress. Share your scores and compete for the top spot on the leader board. Point of Impact is a great app to scratch the sportsman itch in the offseason, or the office.
gunsandammo.com Smart Hunter Legendary Duck and Goose caller Field Hudnall's app, Smart Hunter, is a must-have for the serious waterfowler. Like Hudnall's calling, Smart Hunter is first class. Smart Hunter includes an easy to fill out journaling form, waterfowl tips, and the always-useful alarm clock. It is the perfect app for the serious waterfowler looking to pattern their hunting spots or share their adventures with friends.
itunes.apple.com Whitetail+ North American Whitetail's Android and IOS app, Whitetail+, is a complete device forum app for deer hunters. Whitetail+ puts you in contact with serious deer hunters across the country. If you are looking to share your trophy photo, answers to deer hunting questions, or wanting to see the latest monster buck that's been harvested, Whitetail+ is the go-to app.
itunes.apple.com What are your favorite hunting apps? Share them with us in the comments!
