It can and will receive signals while carrying it in a pocket. If you put it in a backpack, it will have a much harder time. I don't normally have my GPS when I'm hunting. I never use it to make trails because of how quickly it tends to eat batteries and memory. But that's just me.

I'm basically going to use its track back option. I'll be hunting mainly unfamilar territory to me, and that unit plus my trusty old compass, should get me back to camp.

I have an older garmin model bought in 2001. I can only speak from my experience with this unit. It can be carried in a pack or in a pocket, neither seems to have any major impact on the signal over the other unless it is in the bottom of the pack. My unit eats the batterys 10x faster if it loses signal. Knowing that I tend to carry it in my breast pocket or in a high pocket on the pack to minimize any obstructions.

Recommendation: If you get to where you want to hunt and are then going to do some basic roaming in that area shut the unit off. Use the unit to get you to where you want to be but don't leave it on continuously. My unit will make a track that I can then get back to every time I turn it on.

Thanks, that's just the info I was looking for.

I was a Boy Scout many years ago but have lead my life with many of their teachings. Be prepared. Be competent with a map and compass and practice, practice, practice, with your GPS. I too forced myself into using my Garmin Etrex and have found it very useful. I don't mind leaving mine on as long as I'm moving. I'll turn it off if I'm sitting and waiting for an elk. I carry plenty of spare batteries in my day pack, saddle bag, and at camp if need be.
I'll always make a 'waypoint' at a significant spot. Ex. trail junction. This proved a blessing one evening when we were packing out 2 elk. Had 2 horses to ride and 4 pack horses. Hit the top of a saddle we have been over dozens of times.
Getting dark, snowing, visablity about 20 feet. Couldn't tell which way was up or down or if we were coming or going. Pulled out the GPS. Brought up the trail junction waypoint and hit the 'go to' button. Followed the GPS right to the main trail. I hope this was some encouragement for you.

I carry mine in a pouch on pack...and it does receive a signal....even though i do not walk with it on......I only have it on when I need to mark or find a certain spot or area.

Has anyone used a GPS unit that you can download a topo in and it shows national forest, blm boundaries, private boundaries, etc. and your location. If so what brand, model, etc. ? Thanks for any input.

KrazyBob,

If you just bought a new GPS, you will have no problem getting signal wherever you put it while you are out. The new models are even great for dense timber or canyons. My old unit (2002) used to leave me hanging when I needed it the most, in thick timber on steep hillsides. The recievers and software are much better now.

For those of you who have an older unit, updating the software on your unit to track satellites can really help. Do this at your manufacturer's website - http://www8.garmin.com/support/download.jsp

You can buy GPS units that come with TopoUSA or similar and use software like Garmin's MapSource to load topo maps into your GPS. They will have National Forest Buoundaries (the area is green when it's NF), but not land ownership so you can see BLM or private land boundaries.

PM me if you need a specific public land area boundary, such as BLM land, to upload to your GPS. I do a lot of mapping of focused areas for people.

Good luck and don't forget to practice with your new unit if you get one.

I had used a Garmin GPS MAP60 CSX while Bear hunting in Canada with some friends and was very impressed and did some research when I got home and read lots of reviews on this unit. This unit has great battery life on this unit also.
I liked it so much that I bought one and ordered a larger storage chip 4gb and then I ordered the City Navigator NT DVD, it covers US and Canada and Puerto Rico and I can down load areas I need.

I also bought the Topo US DVD and the same for that one I can down load areas I want. I will be ordering the Inland lakes map next.
I can't wait to really start using this thing.