Midwest Deer Hunting: Android

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Great Huntiog App for Wisconsin Hunters _ Almost Free

Image representing iPhone as depicted in Crunc...

We heard your suggestions on how to improve the Sunrise-Sunset app launched last year to help hunters know the legal times to hunt – and we’ve done it.

Now available in both Android and for iPhone and iPad, the improved Sunrise/Sunset App is expanded to include more species of game and easy access to the hunting regulation pamphlets. And, it is now ready for use by more cellular phone makes.

This means you can simply use your smart phone or iPad from where you are – in your tree stand or walking through the woods – to check for legal hunting times and the regulations for any day. This also means you don’t have to pack the regulation pamphlet because you’ll have easy access to it through this app.

Once loaded (see below for how to get it), all you need to do is tap on the “Sunrise-Sunset” app. You will learn immediately the legal times of the day to shoot at your location or check for another spot, another game and another day.

The app also now includes regulation information for deer, bear, wolf, early goose, migrating birds, small game and turkey.

Remember when you used to have to do math from the regulation pamphlet to determine your legal hunting times? No more of that! What you see on the screen for an opening time or a closing time is when you can legally pull the trigger -- or when you should no longer shoot.

Tested by Wisconsin conservation wardens, the app has been developed by the Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Law Enforcement to answer your needs. Using a GPS system, the app tells you to the second the opening and closing time for various hunting seasons for your current location.

The app is really simple to use. Just turn on your phone’s GPS. Open the app and select the date you are going to hunt (Note: it defaults to the current date, but you can change it). Select the species you want to hunt. Using your phone’s GPS, select “your current location” or set your location using the traditional state map areas (A-F) and the correct shooting opening and closing times will be displayed. The app comes complete with a state-time zone map tab, an informational tab and an email shortcut to notify the DNR about app needs and issues by email.

How to get it

Not only is it efficient, it’s cheap – that’s 99 cents cheap! And here are two ways to get it:

In the Android Market, you may download the app by searching for Sunrise-Sunset by the WI DNR in the Google Playstore.

For iPhone and iPad, you will need an iTunes account. In order to download –from your phone or computer – Go to iTunes, search for “Wi Sunrise” and click download.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

South Dakota GFP Offers Apple App for Hunters and Anglers

Image via CrunchBase

The South Dakota Department of Game Fish and Parks has just released a smart-phone application that will make life easier for hunters and anglers.

The GFP application, or app, is a free download at the App Store for users of the Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. It allows sportsmen to purchase and apply for licenses via their phones, provides GPS-enabled maps of public hunting areas and fishing access, and provides access to the current South Dakota Fishing and Hunting Handbooks.
The iPhone app, which joins a similar GFP app for Android phones, also has links to the GFP website, Facebook page and YouTube channel.

"Technological tools like these apps allow South Dakota hunters and anglers to have a lot of useful information at their fingertips," said GFP Secretary Jeff Vonk. "Three years ago, we decided we wanted to be at the forefront of this technology, and I am proud to say we are one of the first states to provide these tools to sportsmen and women."

The new apps also have room to grow.
"We have plans to add some fun, educational aspects to the app, and it also will offer different links during different times of the year," said app creator Chris Marsh, GFP geographic information system specialist. "Currently, users can access the mountain lion hunting season totals, but as soon as snow geese show up in the state, they’ll be able to follow that migration as well."
"The recent development of these mobile apps represent a significant efficiency improvement in state government operations," said Dom Bianco, commissioner of the state Bureau of Information and Telecommunications. "Game, Fish and Parks continues to be a leader in supporting Gov. Daugaard’s e-Government initiative. We applaud GPF’s efforts to increasingly shift government services online and in a mobile-friendly format by creating tools that its customers can access away from home and in the field."
South Dakota sportsmen have responded well to the new mobile tools, Vonk added.
"We have more than 8,000 people using our GPS downloadable maps. In three months, more than 6,000 people have downloaded our Android app, and over 50,000 people have viewed our waterfowl migration/hunting opportunity maps," Vonk said. "I believe that makes for more informed and more active hunters, and that is our ultimate goal."
For more information on the apps and other GFP social media tools, visit:http://gfp.sd.gov/agency/social-media.aspx