Top 10 Best Hunting Watches [Watches For Hunting]
A watch can be so much more than a means of telling the time. It can be a valuable tool that helps you in whatever it is that you are doing. Different areas and activities require different tools, and in order to perform at the highest level and get as much help as possible, it is important that you find tools that are made according to your needs and purposes.
If you go to dinner, you need a dress watch, if you go diving, you need a dive watch, if you go fishing, you need a fishing watch, and if you go hunting, you need a watch for hunting.
The latter is what we are going to look closer at in this article.
Every hunter should invest in a watch that is made for and suitable for hunting. For those who have not yet discovered the benefits of one, they can be truly useful and you may be surprised at just how functional they can be.
What is a hunting watch?
A hunting watch is obviously exactly what it sounds like – a watch made for hunting. But what does that mean, exactly?
Hunting is a sport and hobby that requires skills, experience, and patience, to be good at. You need to practice shooting, animal behavior, terrains, and much more. An important aspect of hunting is understanding the location and terrain you are in, as well as the time and how the animals act, especially during different times. To help you with this, you have the hunting watch.
The hunting watch is a watch, accessory, and tool that is generally designed as a regular watch, but is particularly designed to be robust and suitable for the outdoors, but also to provide you with key information that can truly make a difference when you are out hunting. And we’ll look closer at the most important functions below.
Without further ado, in this list, we take a look at the best and most popular hunting watches on the market. Some of the watches include all of the functions mentioned above, others are more simple. Different hunters have different needs and preferences, but you can still be sure that you should be able to find one that suits your needs.
Best watches for hunting
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Casio SGW-1000-1ACR Triple Sensor
First up, we have the Casio SGW-1000-1ACR Triple sensor watch. As you can already tell from its design, the watch is tough, robust, and extremely durable. In other words, exactly what you need in a watch when hunting.
The watch has a robust resin case construction with a large LCD screen. The diameter measures 54.7mm. The watch can withstand temperatures as low as 10C and the screen is equipped with an LED backlight so you can read the watch in any environment and situation. It also has a water resistance of 100m which not only means that it can withstand rain and damp conditions, but also that you can go swimming with it.
It is particularly its many functions that appeal to hunters, however, and this watch certainly has a lot to offer. This watch features an altimeter, barometer, digital compass, and thermometer. As mentioned earlier, all of these functions are such that may actually be useful when hunting.
In addition to these more advanced functions, you also have a number of other features such as world time with 31 time zones, 5 daily alarms, a countdown timer, and a stopwatch.
Safe to say, this is really an advanced hunting watch that is packed with functions and is appropriate for the most demanding hunter. Not only is it practical, but everything it offers can truly make a difference for your convenience and possibly also for your safety.
Casio G-Shock GD-120CM Camo
The Casio G-Shock GD-120CM Camo is a less advanced watch than the one above from a technology standpoint, but as mentioned, not everyone wants tons of functions and features when hunting. Some people simply want a less complicated timepiece for their hunting adventures.
This watch offers just that, but it still has several functions built in. Most importantly, it is built to be tough, durable, and robust, which is what we have come to expect G-shocks to be. A nice and appropriate touch to this watch is also that it has a camouflage-colored case and bracelet. This allows the watch to blend in with your outfit and keep you hidden when hunting.
Like most G-Shock watches, it is made with a robust resin case (with a diameter of 51mm) which can handle shocks and bangs well. It has an LED backlight which ensures great legibility at all times and in all environments. The water resistance is 200m/660 feet which is actually quite impressive. In fact, this is a dive watch performance, meaning you can go swimming with it shall you need to.
When it comes to the functions, it offers a stopwatch, a countdown timer, five daily alarms, a full auto calendar, and is powered by a quartz movement.
All in all, this watch is just as cool as it looks and a perfect choice for any hunter. Whilst it is not the most complicated watch in terms of functions, it still puts durability at the forefront and has enough functions for most people.
Suunto Core Outdoor Sports Watch
If you’re looking for an advanced smartwatch as your hunting watch, Suunto Core is a popular choice for outdoor adventures. And it is also appreciated by hunters due to the huge number of functions that hunters may find useful. In fact, the functions that this watch offers are not only useful but can also be crucial for your own safety and navigation out in the woods.
The most central features for hunters are the storm alarm, altimeter, barometer, and compass which all help you navigate in the woods and stay updated with the current weather conditions so you can plan your hunting accordingly.
In addition to this, it also has dual times, a date display, and an alarm, as well as predicted times for sunrise and sunset. The latter can be very useful to plan your hunting times.
Since it is an outdoor watch, it is also built to be durable and used in the outdoors. It is robust and comes with a built-in depth meter. It is perhaps not the most important feature for hunters, but it’s still nice to have. Since it is also a fitness watch, it provides data and information about your fitness performance as well, including tracking your sports, daily activity, and sleep
All in all, this is a great hunting companion which is appreciated not only because it is tough and rugged, but also because it has functions in addition to regular timekeeping that can be truly helpful when you are out in the woods hunting.
Garmin 010-02064-00 Instinct
Another great outdoor smartwatch is the Garmin Instinct 010-02064-00. This is one of the most popular outdoor watches due to the large number of advanced functions it offers. First and foremost, it is constructed with a robust case with a large screen and a rugged case design. In fact, the watch is built according to the U.S. Military standard 810G for thermal, shock, and water resistance and is rated to 100 meters.
A feature that is particularly useful for hunters for navigation is the built-in GPS function. The GPS function has multiple global navigation satellite systems as well as a 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter which is helpful for tracking in more challenging environments. One of the perhaps most important functions for hunters is its trackback feature which helps you navigate the same route back to your starting point to keep you from getting lost in the woods.
Since this is also a fitness watch, it has plenty of functions related to health and fitness such as heart rate monitor, activity, and stress. It is also convenient to have its smart notifications, meaning it is compatible with a smartphone so that you can get access to notifications from your phone without having to pull up your phone. For hunting, this can be really useful since it means you can focus on hunting and not be distracted by your phone.
The battery life is also quite good and can last up to 14 days in smartwatch mode and up to 16 hours in GPS mode which should be enough for your hunting adventure.
All in all, this is one of the most advanced hunting watches out there with lots to offer for hunters.
Garmin Tactix Delta Solar 010-02357-10 Hunting
The Garmin Tactix Delta Solar is another advanced smartwatch that is useful for hunting. It is powered by a quartz movement but also has a solar function built-in, meaning it gets energy from solar and ambient light to extend the battery life.
Naturally, the watch has a rugged and robust design that is built to handle harsh and demanding conditions. It is finished with a black DLC-coated bezel.
As for the functions, the Garmin Tactix has a lot to offer. It has preloaded TOPO maps, multi-GNSS support, and advanced navigation sensors. To help you navigate in the woods and keep you from getting lost, it has waypoint projection, dual-position format, and preloaded tactical activity.
For perfect legibility at all times, it allows you to switch between daytime view and nighttime view.
Overall, this is a rugged smartwatch built according to military needs and specifications and is therefore also appropriate for hunters. Both for keeping track of time, but also for helping you navigate and keeping yourself safe.
Casio PRO TREK PRG-600YB-3CR
The Casio Pro Trek is a watch that is built for the outdoors and rugged environments. It is not the most advanced watch, nor is it a smartwatch, but it is still appreciated by outdoor enthusiasts and hunters.
The watch has a 52mm case which is quite large but at the same time appropriate for outdoor use and has good legibility. What’s interesting and also useful about this watch is that it has both an analog and digital clock. The analog clock makes it easy and quick to know the time, and the digital screen helps it provide additional details and information. This is also a good choice for those who appreciate a watch with a more classic style and not a full-on watch with a digital design and solely a screen. For legibility, the watch is equipped with a double LED light for the dial and a backlight for the LCD screen. For the analog dial, the watch has large hands and large hour markers which help improve legibility and give an easy reading of the time.
Another smart design feature in this watch is its solar-powered quartz movement which helps extend the battery life. Since it is built for the outdoors, it is low-temperature resistant down to 10C.
At the same time, this is not solely a time-only watch and still has quite a few functions to offer. It has a digital compass, altimeter with a measuring range of –700 to 10,000 meters, and water resistance of 100m/330 feet.
Overall, this is a robust outdoor timepiece that will work as a trusted companion for all your outdoor adventures and will be able to withstand all kinds of harsh conditions.
Casio Tactical Rangeman G-Shock Solar GW9400-1B
The Casio G-Shock Tactical Rangeman GW9400-1B is one of Casio’s toughest and most robust timepieces. It is built to last and handle all kinds of harsh conditions. It is truly a watch that will never let you down. Its robust resin case with large shock absorbers gives the ultimate shock protection out in the field.
The watch is designed with a large LCD screen which is divided into smaller sections for easier reading of the different functions and features. This is not just a tough watch but also a rather advanced and technically complicated one. It is equipped with a triple sensor that provides data about altitude, barometric pressure, temperature, and direction readings to help you navigate when hunting, keep you from getting lost and understand the current preconditions for the weather.
In addition to this, it also presents the date, day, and time.
If you’re looking for a seriously tough watch that can withstand most situations, but also can provide valuable data and information for your hunting adventures, this is definitely a hunting watch we can recommend.
Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar outdoor & Hunting watch
The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro solar is a popular hunting watch, and for good reasons. First and foremost, it has a robust and durable design that is built for the outdoors. Secondly, it has a large screen allowing for good legibility, and lastly, it is packed with tons of useful functions for outdoor activities, not to mention hunting.
The watch is battery-powered but also has a solar power function which helps increase its battery life.
One of the key functions that many people look for in a hunting watch is a GPS function, and that is exactly what this watch has. It also comes with preloaded TOPO maps and a multiple global navigation satellite system. Furthermore, it has built-in sensors for a 3-axis compass, gyroscope, and barometric altimeter.
All of these functions may be useful for hunting, in particular the navigation with the GPS and the compass. The barometric altimeter tool also helps you stay up to date with the current weather and predict your hunting activity accordingly.
Luminox 3051 EVO Navy SEAL
If you’re just someone who wants a simple analog watch with a rugged design to keep track of the time but without all of the functions, the Luminox Eco Navy Seal 3051 is a great choice.
The watch is built according to military standards and has a 44mm Polyurethane with a mineral crystal on top. It is also equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel with a 60-minute graduation scale. This watch puts an emphasis on legibility which is of course very important when hunting. In particular, considering that the surroundings for legibility may not always be ideal.
The dial is black and has large white Arabic numerals printed on it. What makes many of Luminox’s watches stand out is their use of lume tubes which give a bright and long-lasting glow – much better than applied luminescence. The hands are white for optimal contrast and also have lume tubes applied to them. In fact, according to Luminox, it glows 100 times brighter than other luminous watches. Positioned at 3 o’clock, it also has a date window that helps you keep track of the date when hunting.
Powering this watch is a Swiss quartz movement for durability and reliability. The water resistance is also really great at 200m/660 feet.
All in all, this watch is a great choice for those who don’t want or need a bunch of complicated technical features but prefer a simple watch that will help them keep track of the most basic – the time.
Casio PRO TREK PAG-240B-2CR Hunting watch
Last but not least, we have the Casio Pro Trek PAG-240B-2CR which is both robust and technically advanced.
It is built with a seriously tough 51mm steel case with a mineral crystal on top which is designed with shock absorbers and protecting elements. The water resistance is 100m/330 feet which should be enough for most hunters. To make it even more durable, it has low-temperature resistance.
The watch is powered by a solar-powered quartz movement which gets energy from solar and ambient light which is useful for increasing its battery life. In terms of functions, this watch has everything you may think of, presented on the large LCD screen with a backlight for good legibility. The watch has a triple sensor that provides altimeter, barometer, thermometer, and compass information to help you predict and understand the current conditions, but also to navigate and keep yourself from getting lost.
Furthermore, the watch has sunrise and sunset data which is useful for planning your hunting, as well as a bunch of additional functions such as world time with 31 time zones, five daily alarms, hourly time signal, 1/100-second stopwatch, full auto-calendar, countdown timer, and more.
All in all, this is a seriously advanced and tough timepiece that can not only withstand virtually everything you subject it to but also present you with tons of valuable information that can be useful when hunting.
What to look for in a hunting watch – buyer’s guide
In general, there are no criteria or functions that are required for a watch to be called a ”hunting watch”. But at the same time, there are functions that are particularly important and useful for hunters, and it is these functions that you want to look for.
First and foremost, a hunting watch needs to be robust, durable, and suitable for harsh outdoor conditions. Since hunting means being out in the wild, and perhaps also during harsh weather, you want to make sure that your trusted companion in the form of a hunting watch never lets you down.
Below are the most important functions that you should look for in a hunting watch. You may or may not need all, but it’s important that you consider which of these are most important for your needs, and then choose your watch accordingly.
Think about your own needs
First and foremost, you want to think about what you want in a hunting watch. Since there are no fixed requirements for this type of watch, you can choose freely, but of course, there are several advantages to buying the most advanced and function-rich timepieces. Ask yourself, do you want a simple yet durable analog watch to help you keep track of time, or do you want something more advanced with GPS and other functions?
In our view, a good hunting watch is not only about helping you keep track of time, but also keeping you safe. A GPS function will keep you from getting lost in the woods and is, therefore, one of the most central functions in a dive watch that a lot of people want. But beyond that, hunting watches can also provide information about weather conditions, change in weather, upcoming storms, temperatures, and much more- all to help keep you safe and plan your hunting adventure accordingly.
GPS function
As mentioned, when it comes to hunting watches, the GPS function is probably the most important. If you’re not familiar with the woods you are hunting in, it may result in you getting lost. And this can of course be extremely dangerous in the worst case. A smart hunting watch will include GPS technology to help you navigate in the woods and know your exact location at all times.
On the contrary, if you are familiar with the woods you are hunting in, a GPS function may not be crucial for your safety and navigation, but it can still be useful too, for example, to mark specific areas where you want to return to.
Ruggedness and durability
Naturally, your watch may be subject to harsh conditions and tough surroundings when you are out in the wild. As such, you will need a rugged and robust timepiece that can hold up against these demanding environments. Decent water resistance can be important for when it rains or when you find yourself n wet areas, and good shock resistance is good to keep it protected shall you accidentally knock it. It should be all to withstand mud and extreme temperatures as well.
And whilst we are on the topic, you also want to consider the design of your watch. Naturally, you want something discreet that is somewhat camouflaged and does not have a lot of reflections or bright colors. Ideally, it should be in a dark and camouflaged color to keep you hidden.
Good legibility (and lume)
Whether you opt for an analog timepiece or a digital one, the legibility of the timepiece is of utmost importance. You should be able to read the time and information on the watch at any time. When hunting, you don’t always find yourself in ideal conditions from a legibility standpoint. It may be dark, foggy, or rainy. With that in mind, it is crucial that the watch is designed to provide excellent legibility, either with strong lume or bright LED light. Naturally, digital LED watches win this competition due to their advantage of using bright lights.
Additional useful functions (compass, ABC function)
The ABC functions, also known as altimeter, barometer, and thermometer, are all very practical features to have in a hunting watch. In addition to this, you may also find great use in a compass.
Many hunting watches include all of these functions for the obvious reason that they can be extremely practical to have.
These four functions really don’t need any further introduction, but a barometer, altimeter, and thermometer will all help you better predict and understand the weather and can plan your hunting accordingly. A barometer, for example, is practical in mountainous areas where the elevation changes rapidly.
Discreet design
It’s advised that the watch has a discreet and toned-down design. When hunting, you want to camouflage yourself and blend in with nature, so look for a hunting watch made in a discreet color and design. Ideally with a darker appeal or camouflaged colors.
