Garmin

<p style="text-align: center;"><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201bb089c8f0b970d-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Dual 7600xsv social" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201bb089c8f0b970d img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201bb089c8f0b970d-600wi" style="width: 600px;" title="Dual 7600xsv social" /></a></p> <p>The holidays are here and it can be difficult to find the perfect gift for those who love spending quality time in the woods or on the water. Over the last few days, we have been counting down our favorite gifts for those who love spending time outdoors. Coming in at number nine on our list is the Garmin <a href="https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/GPSMAP%207400/7600/on-the-water/fishfindergpscombos/sidevu/includes-inland-maps/cOnTheWater-c519-bBRAND10120-atFILTER_FEATURE_SIDEVU_01-atFILTER_FEATURE_FRESHWATERMAPSMARINE_01-p1.html" target="_blank">GPSMAP 7600xsv </a>line of chartplotters.</p> <p>Featuring a beautiful and bright sunlight-readable touchscreen that is readable even with polarized sunglasses, an ultra-fast processor, and available in 7â, 8â, 10â, 12â and 16â models, the GPSMAP 7600xsv units are the cream of the crop when it comes to fishing electronics.</p> <p>With built-in dual CHIRP sonar, DownVü and SideVü, anglers will see what is under the water with greater clarity and target separation than ever before. Find fishing hot spots with preloaded LakeV. Easily share waypoints and additional maps, such as <a href="https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/maps/on-the-water-maps/lakevu/u-s-lakevu-hd-ultra/prod148922.html" target="_blank">LakeVü HD Ultra with MaxDef Lakes</a>, between networked units for an even better experience.</p> <p>Thereâs no better way to spruce up the boat this winter than by upgrading to new electronics. For an even better experience, pair the new graphs with <a href="http://garmin.com/panoptix" target="_blank">Panoptix</a> all-seeing sonar, the most revolutionary and game changing technology in the fishing industry.</p> <p>Read more about the GPSMAP 7600xsv series <a href="https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/GPSMAP%207400/7600/on-the-water/fishfindergpscombos/sidevu/includes-inland-maps/cOnTheWater-c519-bBRAND10120-atFILTER_FEATURE_SIDEVU_01-atFILTER_FEATURE_FRESHWATERMAPSMARINE_01-p1.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <p>Follow <strong>Garmin Fish & Hunt</strong> on social media in the coming days for more of our favorite holiday gifts for outdoorsmen.</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.twitter.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Twitter</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.instagram.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li> </ul> <p>Click the links below to see the rest of our Top 12 Holiday Gifts for Outdoorsmen:</p> <p>#12: <a href="http://bit.ly/1QrWusF" target="_blank">epix</a> </p> <p>#11: <a href="http://bit.ly/1PWma2j" target="_blank">Rino 650t</a></p> <p>#10: <a href="http://bit.ly/1RaU3fN" target="_blank">HuntView Maps</a></p> <p>#9: GPSMAP 7600xsv series</p> <p>#8: Coming soon</p> <p>#7: Coming soon</p> <p>#6: Coming soon</p> <p>#5: Coming soon</p> <p>#4: Coming soon</p> <p>#3: Coming soon</p> <p>#2: Coming soon</p> <p>#1: Coming soon</p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=CO8mMQAiiJo:W1q5CnATNbk:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=CO8mMQAiiJo:W1q5CnATNbk:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div> View the full article

The holidays are here and it can be difficult to find the perfect gift. Over the next two weeks, weâll be providing you a list of our Top 12 gift ideas for your hunting/fishing buddy or that special outdoorsman in your life. Coming in at number 11 on our list is the rugged Rino 650t handheld. The Rino series is one that outdoorsmen have come to know and love as being a dependable and even lifesaving tool to have in their hunting pack. Its built-in two-way radio lets you communicate with your hunting party in case you split up or get separated. When you donât want to disturb the wildlife, if anyone else in your group has a Rino, you can send short text messages back and forth through the units and even see each otherâs location on a map. Check your stateâs hunting regulations to make sure electronic communication in the field is permitted. Included are preloaded TOPO U.S. 100K maps and a 1 year subscription to BirdsEye Satellite Imagery. Upgrade to TOPO 24K or HuntView maps for an even more detailed look at the land you plan on hunting. Whether youâre hunting western big game or hunting whitetail in the flatlands of Kansas, the Rino 650t is an amazing tool that you wonât want to leave home without. Follow Garmin Fish & Hunt on social media in the coming days for more of our favorite holiday gifts for outdoorsmen. Facebook Twitter Instagram Click the links below to see the rest of our Top 12 Holiday Gifts for Outdoorsmen: #12: epix (LINK) #11: Rino 650t #10: Coming soon #9: Coming soon #8: Coming soon #7: Coming soon #6: Coming soon #5: Coming soon #4: Coming soon #3: Coming soon #2: Coming soon #1: Coming soon Related articles Rino: Adventure with Confidence Bass Fishermen: Win Cash for Using Garmin Electronics Five Finesse Techniques for Finicky Bass Best Handheld GPS for Waterfowl Hunting Top 12 Holiday Gifts for Outdoorsmen: #12 - Garmin epix View the full article

<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7f6ca39970b-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Epix brittany FB" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7f6ca39970b img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7f6ca39970b-600wi" style="width: 600px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Epix brittany FB" /></a></p> <p>The holidays are here and it can be difficult to find the perfect gift. Over the next two weeks, weâll be providing you a list of our Top 12 gift ideas for your hunting/fishing buddy or that special outdoorsman in your life.</p> <p>If you were thinking about getting yourself or your loved ones a smartwatch, activity tracker, or handheld GPS this Christmas, look no further than <a href="https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-trail/wrist-worn/epix-/prod146065.html" target="_blank">Garmin epix</a> â itâs all three of those things. Because itâs a watch, epix is easy to glance at when you need it and out of your way when you donât.</p> <p>Available with built-in TOPO 100K mapping and the ability to add BirdsEye Satellite Imagery and regional TOPO 24K maps, any outdoorsman will be thrilled to mark a waypoint of his favorite treestand or bass fishing honey hole, right from his wrist.</p> <p>The possibilities are endless, as you can customize your workouts and activities using Garmin Connect. Help plan your trips and survey terrain before your hunt using BaseCamp. Whatever activity you are taking part in, Garmin has you covered with the preparation and epix will help you achieve your goal in the heat of the moment.</p> <p>Stay tuned to Garmin Fish & Hunt on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram over the next couple of weeks to see all of our favorite things!</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.twitter.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Twitter</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.instagram.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li> </ul><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=BKrJ6-AVbvU:KETMpYJn2p8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=BKrJ6-AVbvU:KETMpYJn2p8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div> View the full article

Today we're excited to announce that there are now more than 40,000 worldwide golf courses preloaded and available for Approach GPS watch and handheld users. With the addition of these courses, Garmin now offers the most courses of any golfing device on the market. Courses will come preloaded on new Approach units, while current Approach owners will be able to download all of the new courses to their device at no additional cost. âWeâre thrilled to announce that we now have the largest selection of courses available,â said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. âWith Garmin Approach devices, we want to ensure that golfers have an upper hand when they play, and having more than 40,000 courses available is a big part of that.â Each course is displayed as full-color CourseView⢠diagrams1, so golfers are able to preview hole details like traps, green shapes and more. Golfers will also get precise distances to the front, middle and back of the green, as well as layup and dogleg distances. In addition to course data on Approach devices, golfers will also be able to access data through the recently updated Garmin Connect Mobile app. Golfers can view their scores and stats from each round, and track their progress over time. Garmin Connect Mobile also provides course analysis, so golfers can be aware of their own trends and tendencies to improve their game. The Approach series is the latest solution from Garminâs expanding outdoor segment, which focuses on developing technologies and innovations to enhance usersâ outdoor experiences. Whether hiking, hunting, geocaching, golfing, dog training, or capturing it all on VIRB action cameras, Garmin outdoor devices are becoming essential tools for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels. For more information about Garminâs other outdoor products and services, go to http://www.garmin.com/outdoors, www.garmin.blogs.com and http://twitter.com/garmin. For more than 25 years, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at garmin.com/newsroom, contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200, or follow us at facebook.com/garmin, twitter.com/garmin, or youtube.com/garmin. 1 CourseView available on select devices only. Click here for full list. View the full article

<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201bb089355c0970d-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Switchback 1" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201bb089355c0970d img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201bb089355c0970d-600wi" style="width: 600px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Switchback 1" /></a></p> <p>The adventurous couple with a big dream to visit all 59 US National Parks in just one year is back with another trip update. Elizabeth and Cole have paused their careers, packed their bags, and hit the road to fulfill their dreams. This time the Switchback Kids visited Congaree National Park in South Carolina and had an unforgettable journey with a little help from their Garmin products. Here is Cole, in his own words, recounting their exciting journey inside Congaree. </p> <p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201bb089355d5970d-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Switchback 2" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201bb089355d5970d img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201bb089355d5970d-600wi" style="width: 600px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Switchback 2" /></a></p> <p>Our visit to Congaree National Park was unique. Since flooding has put over 90% of the park's activities under water, we were forced to change our strategy a little bit. We tried this new thing called relaxation.</p> <p>Even though we shortened our stay to three days in the park, we easily covered all the areas of the park that were open. The first day we hit the visitors center and set up camp. On day two we walked the whole half-mile of boardwalk that wasn't flooded and admired the gigantic state champion trees of the old growth forest. For the last day we got out our inflatable kayak and launched from the boardwalk and weaved in and out of trees on our tour of the floodplain. This paddle was a bit unnerving because everything looked the same and the floodplain stretched as far as you could see. It would've been very easy to get lost in just a few strokes. Luckily, I simply tracked our progress using Waypoints on my <a href="http://fenix3.garmin.com/en-US">fÄnix 3</a> and I was able to follow the course back to our starting point in no time.</p> <p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7ef33df970b-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Switchback 4" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7ef33df970b img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7ef33df970b-600wi" style="width: 600px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Switchback 4" /></a></p> <p>Each day we got to walk the only open trail - the Bluff Trail - on the 1-mile trek to our campsite. It was worth the effort to have the campsite all to ourselves.</p> <p>Our visit to Congaree wasn't necessarily what we expected. But our slower pace allowed us to really soak in the beauty of the park and enjoy a more intimate (and relaxing) experience. And now we have an excuse to go back.</p> <p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b8d178f8b5970c-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Switchback 3" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201b8d178f8b5970c img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b8d178f8b5970c-600wi" style="width: 600px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Switchback 3" /></a></p> <p>The US National Parks attract outdoor adventurers from all over the world. The Switchback Kids will be experiencing most, if not all of them. Learn even more about their one-year adventure <a href="http://switchbackkids.com/">here</a> and stay tuned for another post from Cole and Elizabeth in the following weeks. Donât forget to share with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and use #HaveNoLimits.</p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=eM3k-YMx-EA:cSQ3ts0E6Q8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=eM3k-YMx-EA:cSQ3ts0E6Q8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div> View the full article

<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201bb08980040970d-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Unknown-1" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201bb08980040970d img-responsive" height="552" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201bb08980040970d-600wi" style="width: 414px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Unknown-1" /></a></p> <p>When Charles Dwyer and Scott Dewey founded Retrieving Freedom back in 2011, they werenât just looking to train service dogs for disabled veterans, autistic children and type 1 diabetics. They were looking to train service dogs that could restore disabled veteransâ love for the outdoors and help get them hunting again. Retrieving Freedom uses Garmin products to help them train some of the best and most unique service dogs out there. We wanted to hear their story, so we recently spoke with Charles to learn more about Retrieving Freedom and how they may be able to help you or someone you love.</p> <p><strong>Garmin: How did Retrieving Freedom get started?</strong></p> <p><strong>Charles Dwyer:</strong> Weâve been a not-for-profit organization since 2011 and we train service dogs (Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers) primarily for disabled veterans, children with autism, and type 1 diabetics. I actually founded the organization along with my wife Belinda and weâre based out of Mississippi. Scott Dewey is a co-founder as well and heâs based out of Waverly, Iowa. We pretty much cover the entire United States out of those two states. Scott and I are the only two trainers, but we have a huge volunteer base that fosters puppies and are involved in raising the dogs up until they are 6-8 months old, then the dogs come back into the program to start the formal obedience work and specific task training.</p> <p>Our veterans can have anything from mobility issues, single, double, and even triple amputees, but the majority of the dogs we train are psychiatric support dogs that help with PTSD. Most all of the guys that we train for, not only do they have a physical disability, but also have a combination of a post traumatic stress and a traumatic brain injury situation as well.</p> <p><strong>How long does it typically take to train one of these dogs, and what are some of the tasks that you train the dogs to learn?</strong></p> <p>Training one of our service dogs is about a two-year process, and thatâs assuming we start training the dog as a puppy. At around 8 weeks of age, the puppy will come in, then go to a foster family that will socialize the dog and start training basic obedience, house and crate training, teach it to go to the bathroom in a hurry, walk on a loose leash, and expose it to the public as much as possible. That gives us a really good jump-start for when the dog comes back into the program to start its official training. From then on, we train the dogs pretty much exactly the same until they are 16-18 months of age. At that time, we are able to tell what role the dog is going to be capable of fulfilling, whether itâs going to be a service dog for someone who is fully disabled, or possibly a child with autism, or a person with diabetes. After we figure that out, we will start sending the dogs different directions for task-specific training.</p> <p>A dog can do literally as many as 85 tasks for a disabled person. We teach them things such as turning light switches on and off, to push wheelchairs, open and close doors, open cabinets and pull something out for you, load and unload laundry, and helping the handler grab things off of a shelf at a grocery store. We can even train them to help with disruptive behavior if someone is having a flashback, where the dog can be taught to nudge or nuzzle the handlers to ground them and bring them back to reality. Dogs can be taught to interrupt nightmares, and a lot of our folks with PTSD are really concerned about the dog being able to clear a house. If they leave their house, then come home, especially after dark, they are a little apprehensive about going in alone. So in that case, we will train the dog to go in ahead of them to do a room-by-room search and turn on as many light switches as that person wants them to, so it helps reduce the amount of stress and anxiety that someone with PTSD might have.</p> <p><strong>Many of those loving and caring instincts might come naturally to dogs, but at the same time, do you have to train the dog to act upon those instincts?</strong></p> <p>Thatâs exactly right. Dogs have an innate ability to read body language, so there are a lot of cues that we give off and take for granted. You and I donât recognize it because itâs not that important to us, but dogs are constantly reading our body language. They can smell and taste emotion and feel and react to things that we take for granted. We associate some of that awareness when role playing and teach that dog to cue off it when we present a specific behavior. Itâs really neat how it all works, but thatâs how we train.</p> <p><strong>So when you are training for these specific behaviors, is it difficult to âfakeâ a certain behavior to train the dog to react a real-life situation?</strong></p> <p>Everybody has different triggers and different reactions. When we get close to the end of training and a guy wants to have a dog that helps them come back from a flashback or nightmare, we interview the family and ask them what that person looks like when heâs having that episode. What kind of body language does the person exhibit when things are starting to go wrong? We can then role-play.</p> <p>Say for instance one of our individuals does a lot of rocking and it gets faster and faster until the point that he goes into a flashback. A lot of the guys we train dogs for will freeze. From there, we can chain several behaviors together when we exhibit those types of behaviors specific to a handler or recipient. So with the rocking, we can tell the dog to nudge, and we do it over a number of times so that if the dog sees the person rocking back and forth, theyâll go over and nudge him, and be like âHey, look at me, whatâs up?â We can actually get the dog to hand the recipient a leash to break that energy or focus, which will help ground them and bring them back to reality.</p> <p><strong>So how does the Garmin PRO 550 help you train the dogs?</strong></p> <p>Retrieving Freedom is a little bit different from the average service dog organization. Garmin is very aware of what it takes to train a competitive retriever because your products help accomplish that. Thatâs where Scott and I started. Scott was training dogs for field trials, and I was training for hunt tests.</p> <p>The Garmin PRO 550 is a great tool to help the dog learn. We use it to force fetch and collar condition our dogs, and what that allows us to do is give the dog a better understanding of what we expect out of them. A lot of the organizations out there are strictly reward based. The dogs have got to want to do it, but at the same time, with the proper tool, we can help the dog understand at the next level what is right and what is wrong. The e-Collar just helps reinforce it.</p> <p>When the dog is actually in the program for the official training, weâve got a routine we go through. When itâs their turn, theyâre chompinâ at the bit when itâs their turn. We work a lot of the dogs in group settings to get them socialized, or when another dogâs working, theyâre on a place board or in an area of the room just watching, hanging out, and being taught to be still and quiet and wait their turn. Service dogs have to be bulletproof and have to be able to handle every environment or situation that its handler goes through over the course of a day. The person has to be able to go about their day just like you or I would, and the dog has to be able to handle that and respond appropriately.</p> <p>As a matter of fact, a lot of the dogs that we train, especially for our veterans, are for hunt tests and field trials. A lot of these guys loved to hunt before they were injured and when they were looking for service dogs, a lot of the organizations they reached out to said that they wouldnât train a dog to hunt in addition to the service dog related tasks. These guys wanted a dog that they could get back out into the outdoors with and none of these other organizations do that, so that was something very important to Scott and I when we put this organization together. We want the dog to also be a tool to help a guy reengage himself and get him into the outdoors, so we incorporate that into the dogs that we train for them.</p> <p><strong>What do you look for in a puppy that might make a good service dog?</strong></p> <p><strong> <a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201bb089800ae970d-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Unknown-3" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201bb089800ae970d img-responsive" height="353" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201bb089800ae970d-600wi" style="width: 265px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Unknown-3" /></a></strong></p> <p>We deal with a very diverse age range of people. If we have person who wants a service dog but also wants to hunt, weâll look for a dog with a medium range of energy and also with a little bit of prey drive thatâs controllable. Obviously the dogs live with these guys 24/7, so they have to be house dogs as well. They have to be able to turn it on and turn it off.</p> <p>We will also have people that want a dog to just be a companion to help with stress out in public. One that will cover both his back and his front, and pick up things up so he doesnât have to bend over and feel vulnerable when that happens. We look for dogs with all types of energy levels to accommodate a pretty diverse group of folks that we deal with.</p> <p><strong>How much does it typically cost to train a service dog and how is Retrieving Freedom funded?</strong></p> <p>Being a 501©(3), a nonprofit charitable organization, the only way we can operate is through donations, fundraisers, grants, and the generosity of the public and private sectors. These dogs take two years to train and have a price tag of about $25,000, so the average person, especially a veteran or the family of an autistic child, just doesnât have the ability to pay that out of pocket. When we put this business plan together, we had to be a nonprofit organization, which allows us to go out and accept those tax-deductible donations and apply for grants that would help cover the majority of the production cost of these dogs.</p> <p>We do ask that our recipients contribute $5,800 over the course of the two years that the dog is in training, but we donât want them to just write us a check. What we want them to do is actually go out and fundraise with our help, and bring some public awareness to the situation. Some veterans that are suffering from PTSD donât have the ability to go out in public and engage people, so we will go out and do the fundraising for them. Weâre absolutely not going to put somebody at risk, or not accept somebody that isnât far enough along in their recovery to go out and do that, so we have other sources that will go out and collect that part of their production cost.</p> <p><strong>If you would like to learn more about Retrieving Freedom or help fund a service dog by making a tax-deductible donation, please visit </strong><a href="http://retrievingfreedom.org/"><strong>retrievingfreedom.org/</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=-KrYXNDnK14:6LWzY0N2Qxg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=-KrYXNDnK14:6LWzY0N2Qxg:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div> View the full article

Today weâre excited to announce that all Forerunner 920XT and fÄnix 3 users will be able to download updated software to access the latest running dynamics that were introduced last month with the Forerunner 630. Available to download soon, these software updates will work with both the watches, the HRM-Tri, and the original HRM-Run strap to give users even more data to measure their workouts. Building off the advanced running dynamics introduced with Forerunner 620: cadence, vertical oscillation and ground contact time, 920XT and fÄnix 3 users will soon be able to utilize the new metrics, including: Stride Length: Measures the length of a runnerâs stride in real time. Ground Contact Time Balance: Measures a runnerâs left-right ground contact symmetry, which some runners have found to correlate with injuries or strength imbalances. Vertical Ratio: The cost-benefit ratio of vertical oscillation to stride length, serving as one indicator of a runnerâs efficiency. Adding these new metrics is just one more way Garmin is working to keep runners aware of their bodies while training, help avoid injury and improve overall performance. For more information on the new running dynamics, check out the Forerunner 630 info videos here. View the full article

<p>Whether you hunt waterfowl by from a boat or blind, or simply go pond hopping, chances are that when youâre heading to your coveted spot, youâll be covering a lot of land (or water) under the cover of darkness. A handheld GPS should not be considered a luxury item for the avid waterfowl hunter, but rather a necessity. Here are a few of our favorite GPS units for our trips to the duck blind and our reasons why.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/handheld/rino-650t/prod521048.html" target="_blank">Rino 650t</a></strong></span></p> <p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7ef4803970b-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Rino Camo 1" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7ef4803970b img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7ef4803970b-600wi" style="width: 600px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Rino Camo 1" /></a></p> <p>The Rino 650t handheld is a great unit for hunting on or near water, due to the peace of mind it gives you and your hunting party. Pair multiple units together and communicate via its built-in radio, and also have the ability to see their position in case you get separated. Other features include preloaded TOPO U.S. 100K maps, a high-sensitivity antenna for precise GPS locations, IPX7 waterproof rating (incidental exposure to water of up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes), and a built-in NOAA radio for severe weather alerts. Be sure to check your stateâs hunting regulations to determine whether the use of two-way communication devices is permissible.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-water/handhelds-wrist-worn/gpsmap-78sc/prod63603.html" target="_blank">GPSMAP 78sc</a></strong></span></p> <p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7ef4812970b-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="GPSMAP 78sc" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7ef4812970b img-responsive" height="449" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7ef4812970b-600wi" style="width: 347px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="GPSMAP 78sc" /></a></p> <p>For those of you who hunt the coastal marshes, the GPSMAP 78sc is the perfect unit for you. It is IPX7 waterproof rated, and best of all it floats! It has preloaded U.S. coastal charts, and the ability to add more detailed maps if desired.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-trail/gpsmap-64st/prod140024.html" target="_blank">GPSMAP 64st</a></strong></span></p> <p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201bb08936cfc970d-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="010314_ROD_6581" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201bb08936cfc970d img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201bb08936cfc970d-600wi" style="width: 600px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="010314_ROD_6581" /></a></p> <p>The GPSMAP 64st is an awesome all-around unit that includes preloaded TOPO 100K maps, a GPS and GLONASS receiver with a quad helix antenna for superior reception, and gives you the ability to add Bluechart g2 or LakeVü HD mapping. Itâs also IPX7 waterproof rated in case you accidentally drop it in the water, however we do recommend that you use the included carabiner clip when not in use. </p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-trail/wrist-worn/epix-/prod146065.html" target="_blank">Epix</a></strong></span></p> <p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b8d1790df5970c-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Epix Camo fb" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201b8d1790df5970c img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b8d1790df5970c-600wi" style="width: 600px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Epix Camo fb" /></a></p> <p>While itâs not a handheld, do check out the epix for rugged, wrist-based navigation and detailed TOPO 100K mapping. You donât have to worry about getting it wet or in the way, and best of all, it functions as an everyday smartwatch and activity tracker. </p> <p>Good luck on your waterfowl hunts and be sure to check out <a href="https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/handheld/cIntoSports-c10341-p1.html" target="_blank">garmin.com</a> for our full line of handhelds GPS devices.</p> <p>Follow <strong>Garmin Fish & Hunt</strong> on social media and share your fishing and hunting photos with us using #FishGarmin and #HuntGarmin.</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.twitter.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Twitter</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.instagram.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li> </ul> <fieldset class="zemanta-related"><legend class="zemanta-related-title">Related articles</legend> <div class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; padding: 0; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="padding: 0; background: none; list-style: none; display: block; float: left; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; width: 84px; font-size: 11px; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px;"><a href="http://garmin.blogs.com/my_weblog/2015/04/bass-fishermen-win-cash-for-using-garmin-electronics.html" style="box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; padding: 2px; display: block; border-radius: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://i.zemanta.com/339833458_80_80.jpg" style="padding: 0; margin: 0; border: 0; display: block; width: 80px; max-width: 100%;" /></a><a href="http://garmin.blogs.com/my_weblog/2015/04/bass-fishermen-win-cash-for-using-garmin-electronics.html" style="display: block; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; line-height: 12pt; height: 80px; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px;" target="_blank">Bass Fishermen: Win Cash for Using Garmin Electronics</a></div> <div class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="padding: 0; background: none; list-style: none; display: block; float: left; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; width: 84px; font-size: 11px; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px;"><a href="http://garmin.blogs.com/my_weblog/2015/06/choosing-the-right-etrex-for-your-lifestyle.html" style="box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; padding: 2px; display: block; border-radius: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://i.zemanta.com/346939958_80_80.jpg" style="padding: 0; margin: 0; border: 0; display: block; width: 80px; max-width: 100%;" /></a><a href="http://garmin.blogs.com/my_weblog/2015/06/choosing-the-right-etrex-for-your-lifestyle.html" style="display: block; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; line-height: 12pt; height: 80px; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px;" target="_blank">Choosing The Right eTrex for Your Lifestyle</a></div> <div class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="padding: 0; background: none; list-style: none; display: block; float: left; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; width: 84px; font-size: 11px; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px;"><a href="http://garmin.blogs.com/my_weblog/2015/06/become-a-better-hunter-and-angler-with-garmin-f%C4%93nix-3-.html" style="box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; padding: 2px; display: block; border-radius: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://i.zemanta.com/345932943_80_80.jpg" style="padding: 0; margin: 0; border: 0; display: block; width: 80px; max-width: 100%;" /></a><a href="http://garmin.blogs.com/my_weblog/2015/06/become-a-better-hunter-and-angler-with-garmin-f%C4%93nix-3-.html" style="display: block; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; line-height: 12pt; height: 80px; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px;" target="_blank">Become a Better Hunter and Angler with Garmin fÄnix 3</a></div> </div> </fieldset><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=qso2u-nDM-0:7NvgRH0rdPY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=qso2u-nDM-0:7NvgRH0rdPY:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div> View the full article

With winter in our sights, itâs time to start thinking about all the fun to be had outside in the snow. Whether youâre building a snowman with the family or barreling down the mountain on a set of skis, the Garmin VIRB XE is ready to capture all the cold and crazy memories. The VIRB XE was built for action, especially snowboarding. With a 1-touch record switch on the top of the camera and a dedicated shutter button for still photos in the same place, it couldnât be simpler. The solid click of the switch makes it easy to know that you are recording, even if youâre wearing gloves in the snow. The camera begins recording the moment you flip the switch, even if the camera is off. Its tough, compact design is ready to withstand the elements of any activity, and without an added exterior case to battle moisture. Thanks to a hydrophobic, flat, glass lens, shots are crystal clear while transitions in and out of the wet snow stay nearly unobstructed by droplets. Not only is the VIRB XE the perfect tool to capture all your winter endeavors, itâs an even better tool to help tell a better story with our G-Metrix. Are you curious how fast and how high your last run was? Powered by Garmin GPS, G-Metrix gives you the ability to track and overlay how fast, how far, how high and how intense the moment really was. With a variety of versatile mounts for winters sports and multiple compatible remote devices like our fÄnix 3 smart watch, the VIRB XE is ready for snowboarding and skiing. Watch the video below to see snowboarding superstar Mark McMorris put the Garmin VIRB XE to the winter test and donât forget to share with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and use #HaveNoLimits. View the full article

Indoor Dog or Outdoor Dog? One question that pops up pretty often is, âIs it okay for my bird dog to live in the house? I always heard that living in the house will ruin a dog for hunting.â Nothing could be further from the truth. There are many things that can mess up a dogâs potential to hunt â lack of talent, poor breeding, negative experiences, lack of training, poor condition, injury â but living in the house isnât on the list. This is an old-time way of thinking, and when we ask where the person heard that hunting dogs shouldnât be in the house, the answer run the gamut from, âSomebody told me it ruins their nose,â to âThatâs the way my granddad did it.â While we certainly canât argue with the way someoneâs relatives kept their bird dogs, we can say that keeping a dog outside has nothing to do with it being a better hunting dog. Many of the reasons are simply old wivesâ tales â pure fiction, with no real science to back them up. Does living in the house ruin a dogâs scent capabilities? Of course not. There are situations that can have a temporary effect on a dogâs nose, usually where thereâs an over-abundance of a specific scent in a small, enclosed area; but that can happen outside as well. Cedar chips used as bedding in a doghouse, exhaust fumes from a vehicle, an encounter with a skunk â any overpowering scent can temporarily overwhelm a nose, including our own. And those scents arenât house dog specific. Does living indoors make a dog fat and lazy so it doesnât want to hunt? Nope. What makes a dog fat and lazy is too much food and not enough exercise. The same thing can happen to a dog that lives outdoors. And we are pretty certain that the house dog doing back flips by the door because we took the gun out of the safe is just as excited to go hunting as the dog living outside in a kennel. Only difference is, the house dog heard about it sooner. In fact, there are a number of benefits to having a bird dog spend time in the house. A stronger bond forms between human and dog due to the greater amount of time spent in each otherâs company. The amount of interaction between the dog and its family makes a big difference in the respect level given by the dog in the field, assuming the people involved are strong leaders. Remember, each and every interaction with a dog is training, whether you intend for it to be or not. And the interactions between an indoor dog and its family are far greater in number than those of an outdoor, kennel-only dog. A side-benefit of this is that an inside dog gets a chance to âreadâ his owner much more often and under varying conditions, often making it far more perceptive than his kenneled counterpart. If you make use of those interactions, you can gain a lot of ground indoors that will benefit you in the field. Letâs look at a few examples. Feeding time This is a great way to position yourself as pack leader. The pack leader is in control of the resources and always gets to eat first. So, when itâs feeding time, make your dog stand and wait while you get the food ready and put the dish down. Give the dog a release cue, whatever command you choose, that allows it to have the food you have provided. The benefit in the field? A bird is, in instinctive canine terms, food. And who does the dog believe the food belongs to? The person who feeds him, of course. Basic Manners One instance is who goes through the door first. Always make your dog wait while you walk through a doorway. Again, this is a leadership position. Plus, it gives you a great chance to reinforce the âwhoaâ command. Just imagine how many times a day a dog has to wait at the door and then be released. Every one is a training exercise and can be transferred to the field. Sleeping Arrangements Where a dog sleeps is also a control exercise. A crate is ideal, because it gives a dog its own place, just as an outdoor dog has a doghouse and a wild dog has a den. That doesnât mean a dog can sleep only in its crate. It can have a dog bed or two throughout the house. And if you want, it can sleep on furniture or your bed as well. If you decide to permit this, you also have to make sure the dog understands that it belongs to you. This means a dog sleeping in your easy chair or on the sofa needs to respectfully get up and move as you approach, rather than waiting for you to drag it off the chair or, even worse, you sit someplace else so you donât wake the dog. And on the bed, the dog has only the space you have allowed and is not permitted to move over or encroach on your space. Be very consistent about this, and donât let the dog take over. Itâs a battle for leadership, and as long as you stay in charge, youâll have the dogâs respect. If the dog is asleep on the floor and in your way, youâll want to make the dog move rather than stepping over or around it. Gently nudge the dog with your toe, and it will get up and move. In dog language, this is a sign of your leadership, since in a pack the rest will move to get out of the leaderâs way. It may seem rude to wake the dog, but to the dog it is just good manners. They understand and accept this readily if they look up to you and respect you. With an outdoor dog you donât have to deal with this space stuff, right? True, you wonât be asking an outdoor dog to vacate its doghouse to make room for yourself (at least we hope not!), but you also miss out on a multitude of interactions on a daily basis that help you establish and maintain a leadership position. And even with an outdoor dog, you still have to insist that they stand still at the kennel gate, as well as move out of your space. The difference is, the indoor dog gets far more repetitions, the more repetitions there are, the more the behavior is ingrained and learned. This strengthens the bond between the two of you. Can you have an outdoor dog and also be successful? Of course! Dogs in training facilities live in kennels for the most part and are very successful. That has more to do with the training and the trainer than the living conditions. Trainers, by virtue of the fact that they tend to have routine behaviors ingrained in themselves, tend to be consistent in their expectations and the boundaries they set. Consistency, as weâve said so many times over the years, is the key to good training. If your bird dog lives in an outdoor kennel and receives plenty of exercise, training, and attention every day, it is likely to be as successful as its potential allows. On the other hand, if all that happens to the outdoor dog is to be fed, watered, and cleaned up during the off-season, and then the same dog is expected to hunt for the gun when the season opens with little to no work or training in the interim, the outcome may well be less than satisfactory. An ideal situation would be a dog that spends time in the house but is also equally comfortable being outside some of the time. Weather conditions also play a role in this, as a dog that primarily lives indoors may not be as acclimated to temperature extremes as the full time outdoor dog. This shouldnât matter much for hunting, as severe temperatures preclude most hunting anyway. While a short-coated pointer may do well in the heat, it doesnât have the coat or body fat for sub-zero weather and will need to be taken care of accordingly. And a thick-coated Drahthaar may find extreme heat uncomfortable but have no problem working in frigid temperatures. For both, housing to suit the dogâs needs is best. Ultimately, the question is not about whether a bird dog can live in the house and not be ruined for hunting. The real question is whether or not the people involved are disciplined enough to be consistent and direct to shape the dogâs behavior. The only person who can answer that question is you. Originally appeared in The Pointing Dog Journal. Written by Sharon Potter View the full article

Time and time again, people have said that CHIRP sonar technology is only useful in deep water, but thatâs an easy myth to debunk and weâre going to tell you why. For starters, hereâs a little background on what CHIRP actually is. The acronym CHIRP stands for âCompressed High-Intensity Radiated Pulse,â but unless youâre an engineer or physicist, that probably doesnât mean a whole lot to you. For the average Joe, what that means is that instead of sending one single frequency at a time like standard sonar, CHIRP sends a continuous sweep of frequencies ranging from low to high. CHIRP sonar technology then interprets those frequencies individually upon their return. Since this continuous sweep of frequencies provides CHIRP with a much wider range of information, CHIRP creates a much clearer, higher resolution image on your chartplotter, and gives you much greater target separation. CHIRP will benefit freshwater anglers fishing any depth of water, but those fishing depths greater than 10â will benefit the most. Thereâs no doubt that if you compare CHIRP to standard sonar, you will see exponentially more fish with a CHIRP sonar unit. With CHIRP Without CHIRP Looking for baitfish? With standard sonar, you would typically see one giant red blob. Garmin CHIRP sonar can actually separate each individual baitfish (especially with DownVu), showing you unbelievable detail that is incomparable to anything else on the market. Before, you wouldnât be able to tell if a big fish was in the pod of baitfish chasing them as your boat went over. With CHIRP, you can. Looking for structure? Have no doubt what you are looking at with CHIRP DownVu and SideVu. Find ledges, humps, roadbeds, submerged bridges, railroads and more with detail that youâve never been able to have until now. Hands down, no doubt, Garmin CHIRP sonar will change the way you fish. CHIRP capabilities are already built-in to the GPSMAP 7600xsv series (with a CHIRP transducer), but if you have a GPSMAP 840xs or 1040xs, you will need to purchase a GSD 26 CHIRP Professional Sonar Module. Helping you find the perfect device for your boat is something that our exceptional customer service team excels at. If you have any questions at all about Garmin electronics, please donât hesitate to contact our customer support team or your local Garmin dealer. Follow Garmin Fish & Hunt on social media and share your fishing and hunting photos with us using #FishGarmin and #HuntGarmin. Facebook Twitter Instagram View the full article

<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201bb088504e7970d-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="010-01407-46_HR_0021.2" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201bb088504e7970d img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201bb088504e7970d-600wi" style="width: 600px;" title="010-01407-46_HR_0021.2" /></a></p> <p>Just in time for fall hunting season, we're excited to introduce two new color options for the <a href="https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/health-fitness/vivofit-2/prod504038.html" target="_self">vívofit 2 activity tracker: camo and brown. </a></p> <p>The only activity tracker with a 1+ year battery life, backlit display and move bar with audible alerts, vívofit 2 will get users up and moving. It provides a daily step goal and shows steps, calories burned, distance and time of day. Vívofit can also automatically upload user data to the newly updated Garmin Connect Mobile application, where users can join fitness challenges, save, plan and share progress with friends and family. <a href="http://sites.garmin.com/en-US/vivo/vivofit/" target="_self">Click here</a> for more information. </p> <p> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=uz9YK16sY4M:zKmBVpq_kiE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=uz9YK16sY4M:zKmBVpq_kiE:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div> View the full article

Today we're excited to announce an update to Garmin Connect Mobile, an intuitive application where Garmin users can easily find the information, data and features that are important to them. With this update, the app now has a modern and colorful design, with a new graphical interface can be tailored to the user based on individual interests. Whether users are training for a marathon, trying to fit in more steps throughout the day or working to improve their golf game, Garmin Connect Mobile will show the most important and relevant data to meet their needs. âWeâre excited to bring a new look and feel to the Garmin Connect Mobile app,â said Dan Bartel Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. âThe new interface and customization options make it easy for users to focus on their personal wellness goals and milestones, no matter what Garmin device theyâre using or where they are on their journey to a healthier and more active lifestyle. With the revamped Garmin Connect Mobile, results have never looked better.â Helping keep users on track with their health and wellness goals daily and over time, the new and easy-to-navigate look and feel will include daily snapshots, a calendar, leaderboards and a newsfeed for optimum user experience and engagement. The new interface can be tailored to the individual user for easy access to data thatâs most relevant to the user. Users can select their own snapshots (or dashboards) that allow them to focus on their goals and interests, ranging anywhere from increasing daily steps, getting a better nightâs sleep or training for an upcoming race. At a glance, Garmin Connect Mobile users are able to track their progress and get valuable insight into their activities with metrics that matter. This update also allows for additional social sharing through the newsfeed, leaderboards and the updated Challenges feature where users can compete in a weekly step challenge against other Garmin Connect users that average the same amount of weekly steps. With compatible devices, users can wirelessly upload their data directly from the device to the online network, share progress on social media or even share their workouts in real time using the Live Track feature. The update is currently available to download for Garmin Connect Mobile users on iOS and Android devices. View the full article

<p>As soon as the Bassmaster Elite Series schedule concludes, Brent Chapman is ready to hit the hardwoods for deer season. This year, while managing a jam-packed schedule between Major League Fishing and the Elite Series, Brent found very little time to head out to manage the land for deer at his Kansas farm. It wasnât until mid-September, literally right as the Kansas archery season began, when Brent was really able to get some work done on his property.</p> <p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201bb0884865d970d-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Brent Chapman VIRB Chest Mount" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201bb0884865d970d img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201bb0884865d970d-600wi" style="width: 600px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Brent Chapman VIRB Chest Mount" /></a></p> <p>We tagged along to document Brentâs preparations for deer season with <a href="http://bit.ly/1CJSutY" target="_blank">Garmin VIRB XE</a>. Watch the video below:</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AEAMJGdHiIE" width="560"></iframe> </p> <p>Follow <strong>Garmin Fish & Hunt</strong> on social media and share your fishing and hunting photos with us using #FishGarmin and #HuntGarmin. </p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.twitter.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Twitter</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.instagram.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li> </ul><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=E1-T8ADElA0:hLOeNpP3Nzk:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=E1-T8ADElA0:hLOeNpP3Nzk:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div> View the full article

By: Jason Christie I bow hunt 99% of the time â the only time I rifle hunt is when I take my kids. One of my biggest concerns when bow hunting is scent, which also happens to be one of the toughest variables to control. Many years ago, I noticed that whenever I hunted out of a cedar tree, the deer didnât smell me as much. When we get around cedars, we can smell it; so if we can smell it, the deer can definitely smell it. There is one thing that I will almost always do when walking to my tree stand. If I happen to get close to a cedar tree, I will actually back up into it as hard as I can, and just like a big bear would do, Iâll put the limbs under my arms and scratch my back on it. I just get that cedar smell all over myself. I really think that helps with covering up scent. Itâs something that Iâve been doing for a long time. In addition to that, I keep all of my hunting clothes in a big toolbox in the back of my truck, and a few years ago, I bought a big bag of cedar chips and I keep them at the bottom of the toolbox with my clothes. I used to use cedar limbs, but those would get dry and sharp and get in your clothes. The cedar chips last longer, work better, and donât make a mess all over your clothes. Next time youâre hunting deer and stumble across a cedar tree, release your inner bear and get up in there. You can thank me later. Follow Garmin Fish & Hunt on social media and share your fishing and hunting photos with us using #FishGarmin and #HuntGarmin. Facebook Twitter Instagram View the full article

<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7dca72d970b-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="ALF_0628-1" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7dca72d970b img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7dca72d970b-600wi" style="width: 600px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="ALF_0628-1" /></a></p> <p>We recently loaded up the dogs and hit the road for a two-day early season greater prairie chicken hunt out at <a href="http://www.ringneckranch.net/" target="_blank">Ringneck Ranch</a> in the Smoky Hills of Kansas. Early season prairie chicken hunts are typically known to be a challenging and physically demanding hunt, and thatâs no joke! Tromping miles and miles through the tall, matted grasses of the Kansas prairie can be tough for even the young bucks in their mid-20s. The dogs on the other hand, take it like champs and live to do this kind of stuff! Isnât that what truly matters?</p> <p>One of the best parts of early prairie chicken season is that itâs a great hunt to start getting the pups ready for quail and pheasant season. On the first day, less than five minutes from the truck, Rex, a young English pointer, busted a group of about nine prairie chickens. Rex was obviously excited, frolicking through the tall prairie grasses as he chased after the deceptively fast birds. We called him off the birds using a <a href="https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-trail/dog-tracking-training/alpha-/prod107225.html" target="_blank">Garmin Alpha 100</a>, hoping they wouldnât fly far and we would be able to put another stalk on them. While Rex busted them far out of shooting range, it was a good sign that birds were in the area. Unfortunately, those were the first and last birds we were going to see on that hot September day.</p> <p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b8d16694bc970c-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="ALF_0616-2" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201b8d16694bc970c img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b8d16694bc970c-600wi" style="width: 600px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="ALF_0616-2" /></a></p> <p>On the morning of day two, we woke up early and hit it hard. It was going to be another hot day, so we figured that we were going to be done and headed home by 11 AM. We split up into two groups, hoping that if anyone flushed birds, they would fly to the other group. </p> <p>Midway through the hunt, Rex had a beautiful, picture perfect point. As soon as the shooter walked in on the point, a covey of more than 20 quail erupted. After that, Rex pointed three more singles that didnât flush with the rest of the birds. Quail are still out of season in Kansas, but this point was a promising sign for the young pointer and we were all smiles. That alone was worth the drive.</p> <p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b8d1669557970c-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="ALF_0474 EDIT Un-cropped" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201b8d1669557970c img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b8d1669557970c-600wi" style="width: 600px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="ALF_0474 EDIT Un-cropped" /></a></p> <p>We admitted defeat by chicken and headed back to the truck without any birds in hand. As we met up with the second group, we noticed that they were carrying a pair of prairie chickens. Come to find out, they stumbled upon a few birds that we flushed to them earlier that morning. Looks like our strategy paid off!</p> <p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7dca809970b-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="ALF_0659 EDIT IG - Greater Prairie Chicken Hunt Success" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7dca809970b img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7dca809970b-600wi" style="width: 600px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="ALF_0659 EDIT IG - Greater Prairie Chicken Hunt Success" /></a></p> <p>Overall, we had a great time and walked away with even more respect for the greater prairie chicken. Itâs a tough bird to hunt this time of year, and youâll definitely put on the miles. As a matter of fact, our <a href="http://fenix3.garmin.com/" target="_blank">fÄnix 3</a> said that we hiked over 13 miles over the span of two half-day hunts!</p> <p>The early greater prairie chicken season is the time when maybe itâs not just about shooting birds, but more about getting both your dogs and yourself back in the swing of things.</p> <p>Follow <strong>Garmin Fish & Hunt</strong> on social media and share your fishing and hunting photos and stories with us using #FishGarmin and #HuntGarmin. </p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.twitter.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Twitter</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.instagram.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li> </ul><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=FF4vzIdfWhA:Rm4xYCg9xaI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=FF4vzIdfWhA:Rm4xYCg9xaI:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div> View the full article

<p><em> <a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7db6bf8970b-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Clent Davis Action 2" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7db6bf8970b img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7db6bf8970b-600wi" style="width: 600px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Clent Davis Action 2" /></a></em></p> <p><em>By: Clent Davis</em> </p> <p>There are many variables in hunting and finding the big bucks each season. One mistake I see people make quite often is putting too much pressure on their best hunting spots. They will see a big buck in there one time or capture one photo of him on a trail camera, and then all of a sudden they start obsessing over finding and shooting this buck in that area.</p> <p>What you have to remember is that the entire year, deer arenât bothered and then suddenly hunting season arrives and people are coming in and out. The biggest tip I can offer is to stay out of the area heâs in as much as possible until the wind and all other variables are just right. If you just concentrate on hunting out of just one stand, you're putting all your eggs in one basket and many times you would have been better off staying at home or choosing a different stand to hunt out of, so put up multiple stands is important. When putting your stands up, mark waypoints on your <a href="http://bit.ly/1JXYoKl" target="_blank">Garmin handheld GPS</a> and name them to correlate to the prime wind conditions for that stand. The less pressure youâre putting on him, the better chance you have of getting a shot at him. </p> <p>Follow <strong>Garmin Fish & Hunt</strong> on social media and share your fishing and hunting photos with us using #FishGarmin and #HuntGarmin.</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.twitter.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Twitter</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.instagram.com/garminfishhunt" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li> </ul> <p>When putting your stands up, mark waypoints on your Garmin handheld GPS and name them to correlate to the prime wind conditions for that stand.</p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=HuzTbZgh9hk:tvKCgC0Ec3I:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=HuzTbZgh9hk:tvKCgC0Ec3I:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div> View the full article

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><em> <a class="asset-img-link" href="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7db6f21970b-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="John Wick October Blog Photo" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7db6f21970b img-responsive" src="http://garmin.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451bb7069e201b7c7db6f21970b-600wi" style="width: 600px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="John Wick October Blog Photo" /></a></em></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><em>By: John Wick</em></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">If you go hunting for pheasants, itâs doubtful that you would take a .22 caliber rifle with .22 caliber cartridges filled with bird shot. Itâs very doubtful you would use that type of gun and ammo to go duck or turkey hunting. You look like a smart and sensible person, so Iâm willing to bet you donât take a .22 rifle and handful of shorts if youâre going deer or elk hunting. It sure wouldnât be a big enough gun or adequately powered ammo. Besides that, itâs illegal to use such a small gun for big game.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Seems like about 99 percent of hunters know what type of gun and ammo is appropriate and plenty adequate for whatever type of game or birds they hope to harvest. If theyâre not carrying something adequate for the job, they are usually carrying more gun than they really need instead of less. I bet most of my readers agree with those statements.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">A very high percentage of you faithful readers have some type or types of hunting dogs. Most of you use an E-collar to help teach your dogs in the easiest, most humane, and most effective way. You want the best behavior, pleasure, and performance that each of your dogs is capable of providing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here is what I donât understand. My question for some of you and the reason for my puzzlement is why do most folks carry a big enough gun but too small, weak, or inconsistent of an E-collar? Why is that? Itâs a situation that I frequently hear about or run into during various conversations or questioning phone calls. Frequently the other person is concerned, upset, or frustrated because theyâre not getting consistent performance from their system, and, of course, then they canât get it from their dog. You would not believe the amount of calls I get from hunters unhappy about this or that or something else concerning their dogs and their E-collar.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In quizzing to uncover the root of the problem, I nearly always find out theyâre trying to use an E-collar system that is meant for backyard training or close-ranging dogs in open areas. They are trying to make that system work on a dog half-a-mile or more away in heavy cover or foliage or on the other side of a mountain or steep hill! No way in heck is that gonna work. Itâs impossible.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Frequently these people are new owners of this system. While I hold my thoughts and attitude in proper and respectful tones, I try to find out how they decided to buy that system. Very often they answer, âWell, usually my dogs donât go too far away.â</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then they admit, âAlso it was on sale.â Of course, on sale can be good; but only if the product is <span style="text-decoration: underline;">great</span>!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Or maybe it wasnât on sale but it was considerably cheaper than the more powerful units that had much greater and more consistent range and helpful features.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Another comment I hear quite regularly is âWell the one I got is rated for half-a-mile.â</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Or they will say they recently purchased a unit that is rated for one mile; but typically they are disappointed to find they seldom get range anywhere like that.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As mentioned, I stay calm and respectful, but I also really want to say firmly, âWelcome to the real world. It has always been like that!â</p> <p class="MsoNormal">E-collars of every brand have always been rated for such and such a distance and then usually somewhere in the hard-to-find fine print, youâll learn that rating is for âline of sightâ range. That means if you canât see it, you canât get it. In other words, any brush, buildings, hills, hard rain, foliage, or anything between you and that collar that stops you from seeing it, also stops you from getting anywhere near that kind of range.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">For about 40 years now, Iâve had fairly serious conversations with some of the E-collar companies in which I took issue with their advertising that I frequently found to be misleading. They always disagree. I guess itâs because to me spoken or written words matter, and spoken or written words should mean what they say.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Maybe the person who has to wake up and realize what the real world is all about is ME!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Truthfully, no matter what weâre buying, we need to do some homework. We need to read the fine print and figure out what it means. Buying new products of any sort is not a fairy tale or fantasy land. Marketers want to put the contents of our wallet into their wallets. Or they want us to whip out our credit card, put ourselves on the hook for the purchase price, hurry home with the item, and then deal with our disappointments later.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thereâs no point in going deeper into figuring out whose fault the disappointments are when they happen, but certainly we must first look into the mirror and figure out if we did our due diligence to learn enough to make an informed decision. Did we call and talk to knowledgeable users of these types of products before we made our fateful decision? We know that when weâre dealing with sales people we must be somewhat skeptical and on guard. Often they want or need to sell whatever is in stock! Sometimes we become too easy when weâre talking about buying hunting equipment.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When it comes to E-collars, I think most manufacturers and dealers kind of assume that everyone is aware that whatever range is advertised or promoted as what this certain unit will get must actually be cut in half or less in the potential purchaserâs mind when theyâre making their buying choices and decisions. What these sellers maybe donât realize and donât work very hard to change is that most new purchasers of this type of equipment are not aware of that practice. The newbie buyers donât realize that itâs been this way for almost 50 years with all makes, models, and brands.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">One of the problems this practice causes is that at least half of new purchasers and even many people who have had various units before end up buying something they are not satisfied with. Itâs kind of like them buying a .22 rifle and box of shorts when theyâre planning to go elk hunting. After realizing their mistake, many folks sell at a loss and then order a better outfit. Confession: In my early years, I did that . . . two different times. Smiles. Since those days, I always use <span style="text-decoration: underline;">the BEST</span> outfit that exists!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">What kind of gun would be the right kind for elk? Well, I donât know because thatâs not something Iâm an expert at. But I do know that we donât want less gun than we need. If in doubt or if weâre going to make an error, we want it to be a bigger and better gun than we might actually need for the job. Certainly not less! And that is always my recommendation when folks ask me before they buy an E-collar outfit.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I always firmly tell âem this is not a time to try to save a hundred dollar bill and then end up unhappy, frustrated, and with a dog that is getting inconsistent messages. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Inconsistent E-collar signals means major training failures</span>!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">You want a big and good gun. If in doubt, you want a bigger and more powerful gun than you think you may need. A collar unit built for backyard training or for close-ranging dogs will simply not do the job for real hunting dogs of any type where the terrain or cover blocks that line of sight.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Folks often say, âYeah, but Uncle John Iâm never going to need to stimulate my dog a mile or two away.â</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And I reply, âBut thereâs a real good chance you may want to stimulate it three-quarters of a mile away as you realize itâs about to fade out of hearing on a whitetail, or bushy tail. Or you may want to press the tone button to bring your dog back to you if itâs a mile or more away. Or if itâs under a bulldozer pile or part way into a hole in the ground or in a barn full of hay that the coon took refuge in; and these obstacles are only a quarter or half mile away. You need a unit you can rely on during a heavy rain storm. You need a unit you can rely on when your dog is in a hundred acres of standing corn that is 10 feet tall, and itâs only a quarter or half mile away.â</p> <p class="MsoNormal">To get the performance you want and deserve in challenging places and conditions, you need an E-collar that is one of the best, if not the best, and longest range units available. To be successful, you need a big enough gun. A powerful gun. A gun that might be more than you need most of the time, but one that will get the job done when situations are more difficult than usual.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Your dog canât learn to behave and to obey when part of the time your unit can reach out and give him a good tickle, and part of the time the message just wonât get there. That is exactly what is typical of most peopleâs experiences when they buy a smaller model or cheaper brand than what is actually required to get the job done right.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It doesnât matter what youâre hunting, you need an adequate gun. And it doesnât matter what type of dog youâre training, or teaching to come back to you by using the tone sound, you need an E-collar that is not just adequate part of the time but one that is the best possible outfit all of the time. Itâs much better and wiser to buy a top of the line E-collar but then go ahead and save $100 or $200 when you buy your gun and ammo.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">There is one noteworthy exception to all my statements above about cutting the advertised distance in half or less if you really want to be thinking correctly about range of any particular E-collar outfit. That exception, and to my knowledge at this time, itâs the only exception in the E-collar world, is that the Garmin/Tri-Tronics Pro Trashbreaker operates differently than all others. I can verify that the distance it reaches is amazing and unbelievable. I was a doubter! Then I tried and tested and have continued using and testing, and it really does work for several miles. It is by far the longest range E-collar outfit available. Itâs the one with the fairly long flexible antenna on the collar and the black and yellow hand-held transmitter. For hounds, itâs the berries!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">No, I donât plan to stimulate a dog three or four miles away, but I do want to be sure that I can always reach out there a mile or two if I need to give âem a tickle. Or more often to use the tone sound to bring a dog back to me. More importantly (and much more frequently) I positively want to be able to send them a message 100 percent of the time when they need to receive one in normal hunting range even though it may be very challenging weather or foliage conditions.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Whatever you decide is up to you. However, most experienced dog experts would recommend that you never take your dogs hunting or training with less E-power than you need. Thatâll ensure your training efforts are most successful; and also that youâre one of the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">satisfied</span> customers.</p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=YtQCdQfZmxQ:oaNQey8QTpM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?a=YtQCdQfZmxQ:oaNQey8QTpM:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/GarminOnTheTrail?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div> View the full article

Today we're excited to announce two new color options for the fÄnix 3 Sapphire multisport watch: a silver version with a leather band, and a white version with rose gold accents. These two versions will be available in addition to the original fÄnix 3 Sapphire with stainless steel band. Boasting the same multisport toolset as the original fÄnix 3 Sapphire which was announced in early 2015, these two versions put a fashionable twist on a watch with rugged good looks and smart features for fitness training and outdoor navigation. These bands will also be available as accessories for current fÄnix 3 owners, and can be purchased separately. About FÄnix 3 Sapphire: FÄnix 3 Sapphire is the top-of-the-line multisport training watch with GPS/GLONASS support and smart watch connectivity. With the new EXO GPS antenna, fÄnix 3 boasts features that support a full range of multisport activities, from advanced fitness training, to cross-country and alpine skiing, snowboarding, as well as hiking, climbing and trail running. Itâs compatible with the Connect IQ store for even more smartwatch functionality and customization. With uncompromising details like a stainless steel bezel, scratch-resistant sapphire lens and sunlight-readable high-resolution color display, the fÄnix 3 combines the GPS and wearable technology that Garmin is known for with a sleek new form factor that suits both the outdoors and the boardroom. View the full article

Itâs easy to lose track of time and before you know it, hunting season is here and youâre scrambling to figure out where to hunt. We have a few tips that can help you maximize your time in a pinch and also help you scout for future seasons. Scout from Home There are many resources that help you scout from the comfort of your own home before you even hit the road to physically scout the property you are looking to hunt. Garmin BaseCamp is a free program created by Garmin which allows you to organize your maps, photos and waypoints into a âdigital diaryâ that keeps track of where youâve been and when. Whether you're scouting from home via Google Earth, using detailed Garmin 24k TOPO or HuntView maps paired with a Garmin handheld GPS, or another resource provided for by the state you are hunting in, there are plenty of ways to compile enough information that will not only save you time scouting in the field, but also increase your chances at harvesting the buck of a lifetime. Use your handheld GPS to mark waypoints of potential game trails to check out. If youâre trying to break down an entire section, it can take a ton of time if you donât do your homework beforehand. Cross-reference from previous years using Google Earth to see if you can find the same game trails year-after-year. Garmin offers BirdsEye Satellite Imagery for all of its handhelds to make it easier for you to find the same game trail on your device. Donât forget that deer are creatures of habit, just like we are. If they can, deer will take the path of least resistance every time, just like we will. If itâs your first time hunting an area or if you havenât had much success at your tried and true spot over the last several years, hereâs a tip for potentially stumbling upon a big buck. Try comparing public land maps from the previous year to this yearâs map. New land is either leased or acquired by the state every year and not many people will look to see the subtle changes that could pay off for you in a huge way. Be Quiet! How will you enter and exit your stand quietly without alerting wildlife or other hunters to your whereabouts (unless itâs for your own safety)? A lot of this will come with experience, but thereâs a lot you can do to prevent spooking wildlife. Wear quiet, scent-free clothing and make sure you get in there before the deer wake up and before other hunters arrive. Whatever you do, donât give up your secret spot by hanging flagging tape in the area youâre hunting. Thatâs what waypoints are for! Figure out where other hunters might be entering. Knowing that can help you utilize hunting pressure to your advantage, as they can push deer towards you. It will also give you an indication as to the chances of another hunter walking right up on your stand and spooking the deer youâre after. Be Efficient Be efficient with your time and pay attention to little details that may be more important than you realize. Piece them together to help you figure out a story, so to speak, of what the deer are doing. Putting together a pattern in hunting is just like putting a pattern together in fishing.Itâs one in the same. Mark waypoints in your GPS of potential locations to hang your treestands and make notes on each waypoint, whether it be in your mind or on paper â whatever works best for you. Always take into consideration what the wind could potentially do, so donât limit yourself to hanging just one stand, because if you only have a few days to hunt, the wind might cripple your chances for success. Donât Overlook Land Boundaries and Thick Cover Hunt the thickest cover you can find â places that nobody will want to go, because you can bet that the biggest, oldest, wisest deer will head there to get away from hunting pressure â especially after the rut. Deer have a general sense of areas that are pressured during hunting season. They catch on quickly and will often head to neighboring private land for refuge. Deer will pattern human behavior just like we try to pattern theirs. Try setting up your stands near land boundaries to potentially catch some of these deer crossing over, because they donât have the luxury of having Garmin HuntView mapping with public/private land boundaries like you might. Some states even compile files that you can download to your Garmin handheld GPS units, which might include public/walk-in land data and boundaries. We hope these tips will help you increase your chances for success this fall and many more to come. For more exciting and informative hunting and fishing content, follow Garmin Fish & Hunt on social media. Donât forget to share your fishing and hunting photos with us using #FishGarmin and #HuntGarmin for a chance to be featured on our channel! Facebook Twitter Instagram View the full article

Today we're excited to announce a new a new accessory bundle for our VIRB XE action cam, the Auto Racing bundle. Featuring an OBD-2 data relay dongle, drivers will now be able to access real-time auto diagnostic info, in addition to standard G-Metrix and overlay it into their videos. With simple one-touch pairing, the compact OBD 2 sensor automatically syncs driving data such as speed, RPM, MAF rate, torque, throttle position, engine load, intake, coolant and fuel rate. With this sensor, users can track and overlay G-Metrix data into their VIRB video to show how fast, how far and how intense the moment truly was. Already have a VIRB XE but still want Auto G-Metrix? Get your OBD-2 Data Relay here. The OBD2 data relay works on all 1996+ cars and light trucks sold in the United States (except hybrid or electric vehicles). The available G-Metrix data is dependent on the make, model and year of the vehicle. View the full article

Watching hog dogs work is not only fun to watch for us as humans, but something that brings great enjoyment to the dog. Catch dogs are often the most stubborn to train and the speedy bay dogs can easily start chasing a hog somewhere you donât want them to be. Garmin offers solutions for both tracking and training. Letâs go over a few situations that you might find yourself in while hunting with and training hog dogs so you can decide which Garmin tracking and training products are right for you. Tracking With Astro and Alpha, you no longer have to worry about searching for your lost dogs. Have the ability to track up to 10 dogs at one time, at a range of up to 9 miles with the T 5/TT 15 or 4 miles with the T 5/TT 15 mini. This can quickly pay off by saving yourself from buying way more fuel than you had planned Cut your dogs off before they get into a trespassing situation or approach a major road. With both Astro and Alpha, you will have the ability to track their every movement and cut them off via vehicle, but the Alpha adds the ability to stop them via safe and effective momentary or continuous stimulation, audible tone, or vibration command. Looking to buy a new hog dog? Use your Astro/TT 5 or Alpha/ TT15 on your potentially new dog to make sure it performs as well as the person youâre buying it from says it does. Training Garmin e-collars make it much easier to develop a good pack. Correct a young dog (or up to 9) if it starts chasing unwanted game with the PRO Trashbreaker, which does not have tracking capabilities, but can reach out to 4 miles. Alpha gives you the best of both worlds, as you the ability to reach out from a longer distance to correct your dog, but also see its location from your device. Donât forget to document the action and excitement of your hunt using Garmin VIRB action cameras. Rid yourself of the headaches of lost dogs and the potential dangers that exist in running your hog dogs long distances and pick up a Garmin tracking/training system. You wonât be disappointed, as the information provided to you from your device is sure to make your hunt more enjoyable. Follow Garmin Fish & Hunt on social media and be sure to share your fishing and hunting photos with us using #FishGarmin and #HuntGarmin. Facebook Twitter Instagram View the full article

A sizable percent of what most hunters think they know about dogs is more myth than truth. Some firmly held beliefs are downright comical in the degree that they defy common sense. Downright sad is the degree to which many hunters firmly refuse to revisit or even privately rethink some of their long ago learned tactics that they stick with even though results are often disappointing. But Iâm not speaking only of other folks. I clearly recognize that when pointing one finger at someone else, three of mine are pointing right back at me! I, too, must fight the urge to relax and rest on theories and conclusions picked up along the way. If weâre serious about doing our best to get the best from our dogs, we must always remember to be extremely careful about setting our beliefs in concrete. All of us are somewhat prone to arrive at mistaken beliefs, although they may be based on what we consider to be true observations; but from which faulty conclusions may have been drawn. It happens to us all; usually caused by not carefully gauging a large enough sample of dogs, reactions, and results. Over my many years, I, too, have reached some faulty conclusions. Some inaccurate but tightly held popular misconceptions get repeated so often and for so many years that hunters in general simply accept them as true fact. In the first 20 of my over 50 years of serious houndsmenship, I was too quick to believe most of what I read and most of what I heard that was presented in an authoritative voice. Only years later and after numerous messed up dogs did I finally realize that paper will hold still for anything to be written on it, and some people who are gifted speakers are not gifted dog-savvy experts. Truth is that many of them are simply repeating incorrect theories and misconceptions that they picked up somewhere along the line. Sounded good and was commonly accepted as fact, so they passed it on. For most of us, the few people who first expose us to totally different ways of thinking are usually viewed with suspicion, or labeled as âsome kind of nuts.â And when we are being super observant while working with our dogs and seeing clear signs that contradict commonly held wisdom, we often dismiss them or think itâs some sort of weird fluke. Sometimes itâs remarkable how even our own experiences and clear-cut evidence must bang us on the head before we wake up and smell the truth. The truth is that some of what weâve been fed wasnât fit to eat, or solidly build our dog strategies around. But continue to carefully and thoughtfully read and listen anyway. After weâre lucky enough to get a few of our beliefs rattled, and we recognize that it happened, and we rethink a couple of issues, then we are somewhat changed in our thinking because our thinking is rearranged. After we recognize and heed the first couple of wake-up calls, we start to realize that dang near everything we thought we knew probably needs at least a slight rethinking. Also needing to be rethought are some of those folks we had previously labeled as some kinda nuts. After re-examining their thoughts and reasons, we may again conclude that some of them are kind of nuts, but Iâm also betting that a few of those folks will receive a new label in our mindâmy new trusted mentorâor my dog savvy hero. Yep, some of those ânutsâ in every realm of human endeavor are actually the geniuses. The ones with a deeper understanding. The ones ahead of their time. The biggest eye-opener is that it always pays to remember that much of what passes for common knowledge is simply wrong. As in all things, our dog savvy coaches and mentors must be very carefully chosen. And we must have a certain amount of healthy skepticism about advice we read and hear; but become less skeptical when in our own training endeavors we see clear evidence that the stuff nearly everyone says is not what you see from the dogs you work with. View the full article

Are you thinking about getting your pilotâs license? Here are a few reasons you should learn to fly! 1. Flying is a better way to travel. âAre we there yet? Are we there yet?â Do these words sound familiar? Well weâve all been there. The long road trips in the family cruiser, the unbearable traffic jams and nothing but highway views can sometimes be hard to get excited about. Flying has dramatically shrunk the world and the way we travel globally. Forget about packing into the car or the TSA lines to get onto an airliner, with your pilot's license you go load up the airplane and get from point A to point B quicker and easier. 2. It can take you to remote places. From big tundra tires, to floats or skis, many airplanes can be outfitted for different landscapes, opening the backcountry to pilot adventurers. From hiking and camping, to fishing and hunting, there are endless opportunities in Mother Nature, and a personal airplane is the perfect way to get you there. However if your airplane isnât best suited for the most extreme locations, there are many fly in campgrounds located all around the country that accommodate a wide range of aircraft types. 3. You can go upside down. Have you ever been at an airshow, watching an aerobatic performer and wondered what performing those maneuvers feels like? The sensation of pulling positive and negative G Forces on your body while watching the horizon go in circles is exhilarating for some, but not for everyone. If you love riding roller coasters and thrill rides, aerobatic flying may be right up your alley. With the proper aircraft and training, acro flying is just another fun option. 4. The views. The opportunity to see a sunset or landmark from a few miles up, or even float next to a cloud is often times reason enough to fly. 5. It's a great accomplishment to share with your friends and family. For many, earning a pilot's license is one of the pinnacles of their lives. The pure joy and freedom of flight is paralleled by little else. On top of the great feeling of accomplishment that comes with flight, it is a great activity to share with your family and friends...and they will no doubt be impressed. Join the great pilot community and start working toward your pilot's license today! View the full article

Fresh off another successful FLW Tour season, Andy Morgan is ready to put away his boat and pick up his bow. We caught up with Andy before he heads off into the deep woods to talk about his passion for hunting. Garmin: Does hunting make you a better angler, and does fishing make you a better hunter? Andy Morgan: Yes, without a doubt. Iâm going to refer back to whitetail deer hunting and fishing. Whitetail deer use structure just like fish use structure to migrate in and out of spawning areas, and head out to the ledges during the summer months. Itâs all one in the same, except one lives in the water, and one lives in the woods. One of my favorite places to hunt is around North Platte, Nebraska. Itâs flat in the river bottoms, but the only structure in the woods are ditches, and what we call islands, which are little high spots. Those deer use that stuff just like they do at home here in East Tennessee in the ridges, mountains and hollows. They use that terrain to travel just like bass do. Bucks canât help but frequent those ditches and high spots during the rut. I guess thatâs why Iâve gotten into deer hunting so much over the last 15-20 years. You can read them just like reading structure on your Garmin electronics. Itâs all one in the same â you do your homework and spend time scouting and preparing. When you come up with a good strategy and gameplan, deer hunting and bass fishing are very similar. What do you enjoy more â hunting or fishing? Hunting. The reason why is, Iâve got about 90 days that the law says I can hunt, and youâve got to cram all that stuff into 90 days. In hunting, and Iâve always said this, in the business weâre all in, selling Garmin units, bows, treestands, boats, motors, whatever it is ⦠the anticipation is what sells your goods. Itâs the anticipation of spring coming up; itâs the anticipation of hunting season, because you have a limited period of time that you can do that. I try to cram in as much hunting as I can during that period of time. I absolutely love to hunt. Where I live, I can fish 12 months out of the year, so the anticipation isnât the same, but when I hunt for three months, Iâm ready to go back to fishing, and after fishing for 8 months, I canât wait to hit the woods. Is it easy to focus your attention to hunting after fishing season ends? As soon as we get done with the Forrest Wood Cup every year, I park my boat in the garage, empty it out, turn the lights out and donât look back until I sell it, which happens sometime during the fall. Come winter/early spring, Iâll have a new one sitting here and Iâll load it up and take it back out fishing. After the championship and I make my last cast, I donât even think about fishing until January. Itâs as easy as that! How do you balance the responsibilities between your show and your fishing sponsors in the offseason? If Iâve got a sponsor that wants too much out of me, I just decline. I just donât have the time and I donât take the time away from my family. We hunt as a family. I run the camera a lot as well and film my little girl Keylee, my wife Missy, and my little cousin who also hunts with me. Iâve turned down some really good deals just because I donât have time. Sometimes the money just isnât worth it. I like to do what I do and if Iâve got too much obligation, Iâm going to make room to do what I want to do! Iâve got to take some time to recoup. Doing the television stuff for hunting makes it a little bit of a job. Itâs a huge challenge and itâs never easy when you have two people in a tree trying to shoot a mature buck. Itâs a heck of a challenge, just like catching a fish, weighing them in and winning a million bucks in a bass tournament. Thereâs nothing guaranteed and I promise you that youâll work your guts out if youâre going to do it consistently. Once I hunt for three months, Iâm hungry again to hit the water and fish hard. I donât fish just for fun. Iâm out to win and I want to catch every bass in the lake. I think thatâs how I keep my fire. When I step away from it, my mind is clean. I donât even consider it, but when itâs time to get back focused on it, Iâm focused on it. What is your TV show âHit Listâ about? Moultrieâs âThe Hit Listâ is about game cameras, putting together a pattern and shooting a mature whitetail, elk, mule deer, or whatever big game animal youâre after. Get your picture, pattern him out, and take him to the taxidermist! What is your favorite big game animal to hunt? I went elk hunting one time, and Iâm going back again this year. That was really fun, but Iâm going to say whitetail deer. Hunting an old mature whitetail buck is a challenge. Itâs a lot of fun to pursue them, and theyâre all close to home. I can hunt other states, too. You have whitetail in every state in the lower 48. Heâs plentiful, so you can go around, get tags in three or four states and chase him all year. I really enjoy the Western big game hunts, but I just donât have the experience. Iâd love to go more than I do to hunt any Western game. Mule deer, elk, pronghorn, Iâd like to pursue that a little more, and I plan on it over the next couple years. Follow Garmin Fish & Hunt on social media and share your fishing and hunting photos with us using #FishGarmin and #HuntGarmin. Facebook Twitter Instagram Related articles New VIRB Mounts Compatibility View the full article