Handheld GPS advice

I'm looking for a handheld GPS to find the acreages of some farms that im thinking about renting. Walking them off would be the cheapest, but these ares are very irregularly shaped, and with the prices of rent, chemicals, and fert I want to get an accurate as possible(outside of a survey) figure. So if you guys have a any experience with a handheld unit with a area calculator feature let me know! Thanks.
 
If you have a smart phone there is an app for that. It is what I use when mowing a pasture or lot for someone. Most people are honest but they have exceptions. They claim it is only 5 acres and it winds up 7.5. Before I used this I did not have a leg to stand on when I doubted their word.
 
You can measure them with GPS but just go to the FSA office for your county. They have very accurate maps for each farm. You can get copies for your records.
 
If you know someone with a Garmin GPS tracker collar for dogs, there's a menu for measuring acreage. I use mine all the time in evaluating food plot sizes.

Larry
 
I have used a garmin GPS with that feature. YOu turn on the tracking feature on it and walk the perimeter. Then have it caculate the area. It has been a long time since i have used it.
 
Hello GarrettFields,

If the owner does not know the size of his property, the tax office sure does. They also have copies of the same available,

Guido.
 
I have a Magellan 500 that will measure acerage.

I also use it for marking fishing spots and finding my way around in the back country when hunting.

I also use the GPS for geocaching.
 
Another option is use Google Earth's polygon feature and this site.
http://www.earthpoint.us/Shapes.aspx

You mark the points of the perimeter of your field, then copy and paste it into the earthpoint site, and you get acres and perimeter. It took a few minutes of practice, but it was easy.
 
I have been mapping and using photographs (in GIS software) for over 10 years to estimate acreage for environmental work. Phone apps, online aerial photos, and GIS software are all useful. The cost of using a GPS unit in the field goes up with the accuracy of the unit. I use a unit capable of sub-meter accuracy, which costs about $2000.00 used, and the amount of error can run as much as 20%, per the experience of a surveyor I did some work for. GPS units can also be inaccurate when you have tree cover around the field edges.

I have also been using some Trimble Ag mapping products that you can put in your tractor, truck, etc. that are useful too. I believe the last one the company bought was about $1100.00.

So, keep in mind that most tools that are economical are less accurate. They should be considered an estimate and not an absolute.
 

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