Tip 1: A Necessary Evil.
Years ago, I was excited when I was issued a pager. “Finally, I’m important!” I thought. It took about 10 hours to realize it was more like a leash – everyone could find me immediately. When I got a cellphone it was worse – when it rang, I had to answer it. I was not excited about a smartphone, until I used it for a while. Now, for me, the phone feature is the thing I use the least.

Tip 2: Let There be Light.
My iPhone has a flashlight built in, which is really handy. In many cases, I can just activate the screen and that provides plenty of light to find gear in a tent, cabin, or house, without waking everyone up. I can also set the light to flash when I get a call or the alarm goes off, which is very useful. Out of the box, my phone also had a calculator, notebook, alarm clock, GPS maps, text messaging, email, internet connection, weather forecast, and compass. I’ve used all of these in a deer stand.

Tip 3: Smile!
The cameras (still and video) in the current smartphones are pretty good – not great, but good. Their advantage is that the phone is always in your pocket. A great camera left at home is pretty useless, but a marginal camera in your pocket will come in handy. I’ve shot photos and videos and transmitted the images to people within seconds. I still use my expensive camera and lenses to shoot for publication, but I also take some shots with the iPhone. That way I can pull my phone out of my pocket to show people the photos wherever we happen to be.

Tip 4: Where am I?
I’ve used the GPS/map function to mark stand locations while hunting, as well as where my car is in an airport or mall parking lot. I use it a lot, but be careful – it’s not infallible. It’s wasted a lot of my time by taking me off the interstate and onto county roads to save a mile or two. Learn how it works and make a close review of your route before you leave. In the field, I drop ‘pins’ at important locations, and I can return to those locations easily.

Tip 5: Downloading the App.
For anything you want to do, learn, or accomplish, there is an app. Tying knots, finding gun shows, getting ballistic information, finding the weather where you will be two days from now, or getting a recipe for elk tenderloin – there are more apps than you can imagine, and many of them are free. An app from WTU sponsor OnXmaps can help you find places to hunt and help you avoid trespassing.

Tip 6 Stay Legal.
I’ve got an app that tells me sunrise and sunset (and much more) for my specific location. Since many legal hunting times are based on sunrise/set, and there is a very accurate clock in the phone, I can know exactly when legal hunting times start and stop. I usually set the alarm clock to vibrate, and that’s when I load or unload my firearm. Also, many states are now putting their game regulations in an app.

Tip 7: Safety First.
At its core, a smartphone is a safety device. If something happens, you can call for help – if you have a signal. Remember that technology is not a substitute for good planning and being responsible. Get a decent waterproof case, and if you spend a lot of time on the water, there are even cases that will float. Get an external battery, and make sure your phone and spare battery are fully charged when you leave. Whatever it is you do outdoors, your smartphone can help.