GPS ?

There are lots of great GPS units out there. The two main brands people seem to focus on for hunting and fishing in ND are either Garmin or Lowrance. In general what I typically tell people is if you mainly hunt probably Garmin but if you mainly fish probably Lowrance. This is not an absolute. Also, most people don't realize what a good automotive GPS can provide so this should be thrown in there as well. 

4 recommendations:

Lowrance: XOG - Now discontinued but a really good deal as many places still have them on clearance. They are a cross-over GPS. Nice big touch screen, built in road maps, good antenna considering not SiRF star III. I can get a lock in a house which surprised me. Turn by turn navigation in US plus supports lake maps and other Lowrance maps. One of the best all-around sportsman GPS units.

Lowrance H2O Series: Good basic fishing GPS and OK for hunting but that is it. Affordable, rugged, and waterproof. Very limited base map and needs purchase of additional mapping to really be good for many things.

Garmin Nuvi: Tons of different versions of this unit including good base map. Automotive system mainly but accepts Garmin maps. Turn by turn navigation anywhere in US.

Garmin 60CSx: Considered one of the most popular handhelds produced, color, waterproof, and just about any feature you are looking for including a great antenna (SiRF star III). Base map is very limited and needs additional MapSource maps to be a really good unit. Does do turn by turn navigation but not audio navigation. From factor is nice but screen size is a bit small.

So here would be my recommendations. XOG one of the best values in the industry if you can find it, but not waterproof and form factor isn't as nice for in-field use. However, for 90% plus of people who hunt and fish and drive (which we all do), this is probably the best value. If you just want an inexpensive good handheld, then the H2O series is probably for you. If you are a very series traveler as well as hunt and fish, then the Nuvi by Garmin and if you want one of the very best GPS units that will get you a lock just about anywhere (like in the mountains) and be as tough as nails then the 60CSx.

The other thing to consider is mapping and the cost of the maps. Just lake maps for ND alone can run $100+ . Hunting data for ND is pretty limited. However, there is only one company that has hunting maps and fishing maps for ND for both Garmin and Lowrance as well as other recreation data all on one map. Previous posts talk about this. Since it works for both Lowrance and Garmin, it doesn't matter which GPS brand you choose.  Hard to keep a post like this short. PM if you have any additional questions as I have used all of these and many more.

kirsch Said:

Lowrance H2O Series: Good basic fishing GPS and OK for hunting but that is it. Affordable, rugged, and waterproof. Very limited base map and needs purchase of additional mapping to really be good for many things.

I second that I've had a H2Oc for about four years and it works great. The lake map chip works very well in it. Hunting is a different story your best off marking waypoints, which means you have to go there first, mark it then the GPS will get you make...I have yet to find a chip that shows many county roads...It's a portable unit but you can mount it and/or run from a 12v source...it is not however rechargeable but I just use rechargeable batteries in mine.

H2Oc has worked great for me

Yes, the mapping for all of them is pretty much worthless.  I have been building custom maps for a while now.  It's a pain in the butt for the most part and not something the average joe is going to want to do or really capable of doing.  I just work with the similar things in my career which allows me to have tools and experience to build them.

There wil be an announcement probably sometime in the future on custom mapping.  Stay tuned...

Wow thanks a lot guys.  Kirsch that is some great information and really helped me decide on which one to get.  Very, very helpful...thanks again.

i have the lowrance fishing hotspots north card and it has a ton of roads on in in the badlands and all throuh  western nd, only thing i dont like is no contouron sakakawea or th river but it does show the old river channel, and the roads have  been pretty spot on, i paid 150 for my h20 and got the card for free, rebate deal with my lowrance graph last year.

I use a Lowrance Ifinder Hunt.  It came with a pretty good basemap that even included the vast majority of the legal roads and trails in the Grasslands. 

I upgraded the map recently to NDTRAX and while I have only briefly goofed around with it, the maps in the Grasslands were even more complete than what Lowrance had.