To use onX Hunt effectively in the field you need to be familiar with its features and capabilities, so let's dive in.
Any onX Hunt user can access their Hunt Membership through the onX Hunt App (which is how you'll use your Membership on a phone or tablet) or via the Web Map, a web-based program you can sign into from a web browser on a computer (it can't be saved or downloaded to your computer).
You can log into the same onX Hunt account on up to two mobile devices at a time and access the Web Map on as many desktop or laptop computers as you wish.
However, we can't log someone out of your account if you grant them access, so please protect your account credentials accordingly.
Keep reading for an overview of the key features and basic controls available in the onX Hunt App and Web Map.
Table of Contents:
Features and Tools Overview
Map Layers menu
onX Hunt has dozens of Map Layers that are easily accessed from the Map Layers menu and allow you to overlay your selected Basemap to view private and government land boundaries, species-specific hunting units, motorized road and trail data, and much more—all from the palm of your hand.
Map Layers are divided into State and General layer collections.
-
State layer collections include Map Layers that display private land, government land, hunting units, and access programs specific to each state.
- Depending on your Membership, you may have access to one, two, or all State layer collections.
-
General layer collections feature Map Layers providing information about current conditions, potential access areas, slope and aspect angles, data on trees or crops, and more.
- Map Layers in General layer collections are available to any paid Member (unless explicitly noted otherwise) and aren't restricted to a single state.
If you see something on your map and aren't sure what it is, check the Map Layers menu—it's probably from an active Map Layer, and the Map Layers menu shows you which layers are on or off and how they're displayed on your map.
Click here for more info on using the Map Layers available in onX Hunt.
Offline Maps
The onX Hunt App is designed to function without any cellular service or internet connectivity, but you must pre-save areas using the Offline Maps feature if you want full functionality while offline in the field.
Before heading out, download Offline Maps that encompass the entire area you plan to visit—this ensures all related data is locally saved to your phone or tablet.
We'll say that again because it's very important: you need internet connectivity to download Offline Maps to your device, and you need to save and download them to your mobile device before you can use the Hunt App without cell service.
Click here for more information on using Offline Maps effectively.
Tools menu
The Tools menu lets you drop waypoints, mark your location, attach photos to waypoints, measure distances, create routes that "snap" to existing roads and trails, and save area shapes.
It also provides access to a Wind Calendar that shows wind direction and speed over time for any selected waypoints, along with the option to turn your phone into a virtual compass.
My Content menu
You can view a list of all your saved Markups (Waypoints, Lines, Tracks, Shapes, or Routes) from the My Content menu.
This menu is where you can organize, edit, share, export, or delete the Markups that you've saved to mark areas of interest for future reference.
Trail Cameras
The Trail Cameras tab allows you to add and manage compatible Trail Cameras to the Hunt App and view photos transmitted via cellular networks.
Tracker
The Tracker feature is a powerful tool that allows you to record your path of travel and save it for future use. This capability allows you to retrace your steps later, which can be an invaluable resource when scouting an area or pursuing and tracking wild game.
You can edit saved Tracks to modify their start or end point and adjust the color, style, and line weight/thickness to suit your preferences.
Search
The Search feature allows you to input a query to center your map on locations, points of interest, geographic features, GPS coordinates (Decimal Degree format is highly recommended), street addresses, landowners, and more.
It can't be used to search for parcel numbers or contact information.
Weather
The Weather feature allows you to view current wind and weather conditions (while in service) for a specific area.
Just tap the Weather button in the upper right corner of your screen and position the crosshair over the area in question—you'll be shown the current temperature, wind conditions, and current time for sunrise or sunset.
You can also view weekly or hourly weather forecasts and information on expected precipitation, barometric pressure, or moon phases.
Basemaps menu
A Basemap is essentially a reference map layer that helps you visualize geographic information such as roads, waterways, lakes, mountains, county lines, etc.
With onX Hunt, you can choose between three different options from the Basemap menu to view satellite imagery, a topographic map (displayed at a 1:24k scale), or a hybrid of the two featuring satellite imagery with superimposed contour lines.
The Basemaps menu is also where you can access 3D Mode and turn additional imagery options on or off (depending on your level of Membership).
Location & compass
Nearly all modern smartphones and tablets with cellular capability are equipped with GPS receivers that can triangulate your location using satellites; typical accuracy ranges from 5–10 feet. This allows you to view your current position relative to your map and the surrounding area, even without cell service.
To see your location in the Hunt App, make sure you give it access to your location (either "Always," or "While using").
No, onX doesn't track your location—your device requires your permission before allowing the Hunt App to use its location services and display your real-time location.
Provided you've already done this, tapping the Location button in the lower right corner once will re-center the App on your current position and follow you as you move, while tapping it again allows you to view the direction you're facing or use the App as a compass.
The same features (with the exception of the Compass and Tracker tools) are available via the Hunt Web Map pictured below.
If you're reading from a computer, you can log into the Hunt Web Map by clicking here.
Otherwise, you'll need to open a web browser on a computer, navigate to www.onxmaps.com/hunt, and click "Log in" to sign into your onX Hunt account with the associated email address and password.
Basic Controls and Gestures
The Hunt App utilizes a touch-based user interface, meaning you can use almost anything in the App by simply tapping it with your finger.
You can also adjust your viewing area, angle, and zoom level using the specific gestures listed below:
App Controls
-
Pan: Place a single finger on the screen and move it.
-
Zoom in: Place two fingers on your screen and push them apart.
-
Zoom out: Place two fingers on your screen and pinch them together.
-
Rotate: Place two fingers on your screen and move them in opposite directions.
-
Tilt: Place two fingers on your screen and move them up or down simultaneously.
-
Single-finger zoom: Tap twice, hold the second tap, and slide your finger up or down.
Web Map controls
- Pan: hold Left-Click and drag your mouse cursor in any direction.
- Zoom in/out: scroll up or down with your mouse wheel, or use the "+/-" symbols.
- Rotate/Tilt: hold Right-Click and drag, or hold Left-Click + Control and drag your cursor.