How it works
1. Check in
One tap: which stand or area, and when you'll be back (a few hours, noon, or after dark).
2. Hunt
Lock your phone and put it away. Headed Back keeps your position in the background.
3. Check out
Back at the truck, tap I'm out. It can also notice you're back and ask. Your people get an all-good text.
4. If you're late
Running late? Tap +1 hour. If you're just overdue, your family and lease buddies get a text with your last position, stand, and what to do.
What they get
Each person also gets their own view-only link. No app or login needed, and it shows your position only while you're checked in.
Built for no signal
Checking in with no bars is normal in the woods. Headed Back says so plainly, saves your check-in and every position on the phone, and sends them when a bar appears. Tip: check in at the last spot where you have signal.
Why check in?
Most hunting injuries that reach a hospital are falls, and most of those are from tree stands. One Ohio State study found half of hunting-injury hospital visits were falls, and 92% of those falls were from tree stands. Indiana wildlife officials counted 100 treestand falls among 182 reported hunting accidents over five years. (Field & Stream summary)
If you get hurt where there's no signal, what matters first is that someone knows where to look and when to worry. That's all Headed Back does. It doesn't prevent a fall. Wear a full-body harness every time you climb.
Status
Headed Back is in testing and isn't in the App Store yet. Want it when it's ready? Send an email and we'll let you know.
Headed Back is the hunting sibling of Headed In, the check-in app for boaters.