Hunters/Outdoors types: 2-way radio suggestions

[GhostOfTomJoad]

Any of you hunters or outdoor types have any suggestions on 2-way radios and how well they work in the Hill Country? We'd like to get a pair (or more) for my wife's folks who live on a couple hundred acres in Harper (30 miles west of Fredericksburg). Their cell phones are useless out there & we'd like to get them something they can use when they're scattered about the property.

It's pretty standard terrain for out there: moderate to dense brush w/ elevation changes of maybe 40'-50' feet. Not a whole lot of line of site opportunities.

I'd greatly appreciate any suggestions or recommendations. The in-laws are getting up in age & after a mild scare this weekend when my wife's sister got herself a buck and a trip to Kerrville for 8 stitches in her nose when the rifle kicked really helped emphasize the fact that we need to do something to improve their communication capabilities.

 

[NickDanger]

I haven't been favorably impressed by the readily available radios. You have the 1-mile radios and the 5-mile radios and they are very unimpressive in the hill country as you already suspect. Wish I had something better to say.

 

[SAMediaHornFan]

We use Motorola 5-Mile radius radios at my ranch outside of Freer and they work great. The terrain is nowhere near the terrain of the hill country, but it is fairly hilly. I have blinds 6 miles apart and I can still talk and hear clearly from one to the other.

The only downfall, although it can be fun to listen in on, is that there are a ton of people around me that use these types of 2-ways, and not enough channels. So, I get to hear what everybody else is seeing, etc.

For the price, it's a good deal.

Another idea is a VHF radio. It's definetly more expensive but the radios will be clearer and have a longer range.

 

[LosIllini]

I've had good luck w/ the motorola 5 mile talkabouts- however, you just about have to find them on sale to make it worthwhile- as batteries/ charger are usually extra.

I was looking at some pretty nice uniden 8 milers- at officemax the other day. $50 a pair- including batteries and charger. D/k about perfomrance- but that's a pretty good deal. You may want to check them out.