It's a new world in hunting with all of the new smart phones and the many applications that you can get for the smart phones. The use of my smart phone was like having a new toy, than a tool. I asked all of my friends about their favorite apps (applications) and got many of the usual favorites. The bubble level, GPS, The Weather Channel, and of course some games.

I then started exploring the many apps for my work in construction. I have an app to put my blueprints on my phone, a construction calculator, estimating for the different construction trades, Day Timer, to keep track of appointments. I've only scratched the surface on the many construction apps. I'm studying the many that are out there and of course their cost.

I then started getting serious, I started my search for hunting apps. My first hunting app is one called, "Where's My Tree Stand". While on stand, you can mark your location with a pin on a map of your hunting area. You can record the date that you mark the stand location and give it a name. You can get directions from any point to your stand location. Looking at it now, it tells me that I'm 60.8 miles from my house to the stand and that it will take about 1 hour 27 minuted to get there by car with traffic. It also tells me that it would take me 19 hours 49 minutes to walk there, that's not going to happen. It's like Tom Tom for the deer hunter.

The next app if got, was "Moon Phase" that shows the phase of the moon for every day on the calendar for your location. This is great for those who believe that the moon phase affects deer movement and the rut. I have it, because I do think the moon phases greatly affect deer movement and follow the predictions made by people such as Charles Alzheimer. This app give you a lot of information on the moon, maybe more that you will ever need, unless you're planning a trip there in the near future.

My next app was "ShootingHrs", to tell exactly when it is legal to hunt. Some areas may have different regulations on shooting times. You can set it up for where ever your current location is, this is a good app for staying legal. It also gives you sunrise and sunset times for everyday of the year. It automatically locates your current location to make sure that all the times are accurate for your location.

I like this app a lot, "HuntFishTime". This app tells you what the BEST hunting or fishing times are for every day of the year and also tells you the GOOD time are also. Another app that is also good for forecasting the best hunting times, is "Hunt Cal". This app has very good graphics showing the forecast for each hours of the day. You can also store pics of your trophy pics in this app and play sounds of different game animals.

An app that most all hunter will like, is "Topo Maps". This one is pretty self explanatory. It has topo maps, satellite maps, hybrid maps, and street maps. The maps can be oriented to magnetic North, way points can be set, you can file you way points, center your current location, and you can see the name and range of each quadrant of the map of the whole country. This is a must have app for any hunter.

The are plenty of fun apps for hunting too. You will enjoy playing with "Primos STL". I contains most all of the sounds of your favorite game animals. The sounds are good enough to use for calling with your phone rather than using the manual call itself. I'd be careful with this one, electronic calling is not legal in some state. It sure aggravates my wife to death. Now I need to find out how to move the call sounds into my ringtones.

There are also many hunting games out there also and can also get the Kindle app to download books onto your phone. This might be good for those who get bored on the deer stand, you can play or read to pass the time, but you might miss that shooter walking under your deer stand.

This is just the beginning of what will be coming down the line for your smart phone (mini-computer). Your phone will be one of your favorite hunting tools. It will help you navigate, call 'em in, keep you awake, and call for help if needed. The smart phones and the applications are great tools, and I forgot, you call make phone calls too! You will be heard telling people that "I have an app for that". In my opinion, the greatest apps are for navigation and for safety. It's nice to have the fun apps, but these are real tools for work or play. Many are free and many very economical and some are pricey. Read the reviews before spending your money, but above all have fun.