User Guide
How to Use WOW Outdoor App
Step-by-step instructions for every feature β from your first login to GPS trip tracking, contests, and community hotspots.
Creating Your Account
- 1 Open the app and tap Create Account on the welcome screen.
- 2 Enter a username β this is your public display name. Choose it carefully as it cannot be easily changed.
- 3 Enter your email address and a password (minimum 8 characters).
- 4 Select your home state β this determines which species and regulations appear in your Species Guide.
- 5 Tap Register. Your account is created on your device immediately. If you have internet, it syncs to the cloud automatically.
Logging In
- 1 Enter your username or email and password, then tap Login.
- 2 After your first login, the app will offer to set up a 4-digit PIN for faster future access. Tap Set Up PIN to enable it.
- 3 On future launches, just enter your PIN β no need to type your full password.
Forgot Your Password?
- 1 On the login screen, tap Forgot Password.
- 2 Enter your registered email address and tap Send Reset Link.
- 3 Check your email for a reset link and follow the instructions to create a new password.
Tip The app works fully offline from the moment you create your account. An internet connection is only needed for cloud sync and community features.
Viewing Your Activity on the Map
- 1 Tap the Map tab at the bottom of the screen.
- 2 All your crab pots, fish catches, wildlife sightings, and hunting harvests appear as color-coded pins on the map.
- 3 Tap any pin to view the full details for that record.
- 4 Pinch to zoom in and out. Drag to pan around the map.
Adding a Record Directly from the Map
- 1 Tap the + button on the map screen.
- 2 Choose the type of record: Pot, Fish Catch, Wildlife Sighting, or Hunting Harvest.
- 3 Your current GPS location is used automatically. Drag the pin to adjust if needed.
- 4 Fill in the details and tap Save.
Offline The map and all your pins work completely offline. Data is saved to your device and syncs to the cloud when you reconnect.
Adding a New Pot
- 1 Tap the Shellfish tab at the bottom of the screen.
- 2 Tap + Add Pot.
- 3 The app captures your current GPS location automatically.
- 4 Enter a pot name or number (e.g., "Pot 1" or "North Buoy").
- 5 Select the pot type (crab, shrimp, etc.) and bait type.
- 6 Add any notes such as depth or nearby landmarks.
- 7 Tap Save Pot. The pot appears on your map and soak timer begins immediately.
Managing Your Pots
- 1 Tap the Shellfish tab to see your full pots list.
- 2 Each pot shows its soak time β how long it has been in the water since it was last dropped.
- 3 Tap a pot to open its detail view.
- 4 Tap Pull Pot to log a haul β enter the catch count and total weight.
- 5 Tap Re-drop after re-baiting to reset the soak timer.
- 6 Tap Retire Pot to mark it as inactive and stop the soak timer.
Dock Pots
- 1 On the Shellfish screen tap Dock Pots to switch to dock mode.
- 2 Dock pots work the same as boat pots but are pinned to a fixed dock location instead of a GPS coordinate at sea.
- 3 Tap Dock Pots Map to see all dock pot locations on the map.
Tip The soak timer keeps running even when the app is closed. Open the app anytime to check how long your pots have been soaking.
Logging a Catch
- 1 Tap the Fishing tab.
- 2 Tap + Add Catch.
- 3 Enter the species, length, weight, and whether it was kept or released.
- 4 Tap the camera icon to add a photo from your camera or photo library.
- 5 Your GPS location is captured automatically. Tap the location to adjust it manually if needed.
- 6 Add any notes, then tap Save.
Editing a Catch
- 1 Find the catch card on the Fishing tab.
- 2 Tap the pencil (edit) icon on the card.
- 3 Update any details and tap Save Changes.
Note: Once a catch has been shared to the WOW network as a hotspot, it is locked and cannot be edited. A lock icon will appear instead.
Viewing Your Catch History
- 1 The Fishing tab shows your full catch log sorted by most recent.
- 2 Tap any catch to see full details including the photo, GPS location, and your notes.
- 3 Tap Fish Map to see all your catch locations displayed on a map.
- 1 From the Fishing tab tap Fish ID.
- 2 Tap Take Photo to photograph the fish, or Choose from Library to use an existing photo.
- 3 The app sends the photo to Google Gemini AI for identification. Results appear within a few seconds.
- 4 The result shows the likely species, confidence level, and basic species information.
- 5 Tap Log This Catch to create a new catch record with the identified species already filled in.
Best results Use a clear, well-lit photo of the full fish on a flat surface. Side-on photos with the full body visible give the most accurate identification.
Note AI identification requires an internet connection. The feature also works for birds β see Section 7 for bird identification.
Logging a Harvest
- 1 Tap the Hunting tab.
- 2 Tap + Add Harvest.
- 3 Select the game type (deer, elk, waterfowl, upland birds, etc.).
- 4 Enter the date, time, estimated weight, and any notes.
- 5 Add a photo if desired.
- 6 Your GPS location is captured automatically.
- 7 Tap Save.
Editing a Harvest
- 1 Find the harvest card on the Hunting tab.
- 2 Tap the pencil (edit) icon on the card.
- 3 Update any fields and tap Save Changes.
Note: Once a harvest has been shared to the WOW network as a hotspot, it is locked and cannot be edited. A lock icon will appear in place of the edit button.
Hunting Map
- 1 Tap Hunting Map from the Hunting tab.
- 2 All your harvest locations appear as map markers.
- 3 Tap any marker to see the full harvest details.
Logging a Wildlife Sighting
- 1 Tap the Wildlife tab.
- 2 Tap + Add Sighting.
- 3 Enter the species, count, and any behavior notes.
- 4 Add a photo if available.
- 5 GPS location is captured automatically. Tap Save.
Editing a Wildlife Sighting
- 1 Find the sighting card on the Wildlife tab.
- 2 Tap the pencil (edit) icon on the card.
- 3 Update any details and tap Save Changes.
Note: Sightings shared to the WOW network as a hotspot are locked and cannot be edited. A lock icon will appear instead.
AI Bird Identification (Bird Tracker)
- 1 From the Wildlife tab tap Bird Tracker.
- 2 Tap Camera to take a new photo or Photo Library to choose an existing one.
- 3 Google Gemini AI identifies the bird species and provides details about it.
- 4 Tap Log This Sighting to save the sighting with GPS coordinates and the identified species already filled in.
- 5 Choose a Bird Type (Raptor, Songbird, Waterfowl, etc.) to categorize the bird. Select Other to type your own label.
- 6 Choose a Behavior and Habitat from the dropdown lists. Select Other for either to type a custom description.
- 7 View all your bird sightings on the Bird Map.
Tip For bird photos, try to capture the bird perched or still. Include as much of the body as possible β head, wings, and tail markings help AI identification accuracy.
AI Insect Identification (Insect Tracker)
Insects now have their own dedicated Insects tab (ladybug icon) at the bottom of the screen β separate from Wildlife.
- 1 Tap the Insects tab (ladybug icon) at the bottom of the screen.
- 2 Tap Camera to photograph an insect or Photo Library to use an existing photo.
- 3 Google Gemini AI analyzes the image and identifies the insect species, scientific name, habitat, and size range.
- 4 Tap the result to select it, then tap Log This Sighting.
- 5 Set your location using Use My Location or Pick on Map, choose a behavior and habitat from the chip list, then tap Save. If nothing fits, tap Other β a text field will appear so you can type a custom description.
- 6 Insect sightings appear in your sightings list and count toward your Wildlife stats.
- 7 Tap the globe icon on any sighting card to share it as a community Hotspot β visible to friends, groups, or the whole WOW network.
Insect Collection (A-Z View)
The Collection tab inside Insect Tracker shows every insect species you have ever spotted, sorted A-Z like a contacts list.
- 1 Open the Insects tab and tap the Collection tab at the top of the screen.
- 2 Each species you have logged appears in alphabetical order, grouped under its starting letter.
- 3 Each entry shows the species name, total count spotted, and the date last seen.
- 4 Use the alphabet sidebar on the right edge to jump straight to any letter β tap a highlighted letter to scroll there instantly.
- 5 Letters that appear brighter and bolder have species logged under them; faded letters have none yet.
Tip For insect photos, get as close as possible and make sure the insect fills most of the frame. Clear shots of wings, body shape, and markings help the AI identify the species accurately.
Starting a New Trip
- 1 Tap the Track tab at the bottom of the screen.
- 2 Tap Start New Trip.
- 3 Choose your activity type: Hiking, Sailing, Fishing Trip, or Hunting Trip.
- 4 Give your trip a name (optional), then tap Start.
- 5 The app begins recording your GPS route.
During an Active Trip
- 1 The active trip screen shows your live map route, distance traveled, elapsed time, and current speed.
- 2 Tap + Add Record at any time to log a catch, sighting, or harvest mid-trip without stopping your recording.
- 3 Tap Pause to temporarily stop recording (useful for breaks). Tap Resume to continue.
- 4 Tap End Trip when you are finished. Your complete route is saved.
Trip History
- 1 From the Track tab tap Trip History.
- 2 All past trips are listed with date, total distance, and duration.
- 3 Tap any trip to view the full GPS route on a map plus all catches, sightings, or harvests logged during that trip.
Note Background location is needed for the GPS route to continue recording when you switch to another app or lock your screen. Allow this permission when the app asks for it.
Adding Friends
- 1 Tap Profile β Friends.
- 2 Tap Find Friends and search by username.
- 3 Tap Add Friend next to any user to send them a friend request.
- 4 To accept incoming requests, tap the Requests tab and tap Accept.
Creating & Joining Groups
- 1 Tap Profile β Groups.
- 2 Tap Create Group, give it a name, and add members from your friends list.
- 3 The group creator is the Captain β they can add or remove members and manage shared data.
- 4 Group members can see each other's shared trips and catches based on individual sharing preferences.
Messaging
- 1 Tap Profile β Messages.
- 2 Tap New Message to start a conversation with a friend.
- 3 Group conversations are available for any group you belong to.
- 4 Tap any conversation to open the chat and send messages.
Trip Invitations
- 1 Tap Profile β Trip Invitations to see pending invites from friends.
- 2 Tap Accept to join the trip β you will see the shared route and all catches logged during that trip.
- 3 Tap Decline to ignore the invitation.
Sharing Preferences
- 1 Tap Profile β Sharing Preferences.
- 2 Control what data is visible to others: trips, catches, pot locations, and wildlife sightings.
- 3 Set each category to Public, Friends Only, or Private.
Editing Your Profile
- 1 Tap the Profile tab.
- 2 Tap your profile photo to upload a new one from your camera or photo library.
- 3 Tap Edit Profile to update your display name, bio, and home state.
- 4 Tap Save to apply changes.
Adding Your Fishing & Hunting Licenses
- 1 On the Profile screen scroll down to My Licenses.
- 2 Tap + Add License and select your state.
- 3 Enter your license number, type, and expiration date.
- 4 Your license is saved locally for quick reference. You can add licenses for multiple states.
Tip Having your license info in the app means you always have it on hand during field inspections β even without cell service.
Species Guide
- 1 The Species Guide is accessible from the Profile screen.
- 2 It shows fish, wildlife, and game species relevant to your home state.
- 3 Each entry includes identification tips, legal size limits, season dates, and bag limits.
- 4 Tap any species for the full detail view with photos and regulation notes.
- 5 Update your home state in your profile settings to switch which state's regulations appear.
Your Statistics
- 1 Tap Profile β Statistics.
- 2 See lifetime totals: fish caught, pots pulled, miles tracked, wildlife sightings, and harvests.
- 3 View breakdowns by species, month, and activity type.
Account Settings
- 1 Tap Profile β Account Settings.
- 2 Change your email, password, or PIN at any time.
- 3 Toggle biometric login (Face ID or fingerprint) on or off.
Free
Always Free
- Unlimited pot tracking
- Fish & harvest logging
- GPS trip tracking
- Wildlife sightings
- Full offline access
- Species guide
Cloud β $4.99/mo
Cloud Sync
- Everything in Free
- Sync across all your devices
- Automatic cloud backup
- Multi-device access
- Trip sharing with friends
- $24.99 / 6 months Β· $44.99 / year
VIP β $9.99/mo
VIP Network
- Everything in Cloud
- AI fish & bird identification
- Full community hotspot feed
- Contest entry & leaderboard
- VIP badge on profile & posts
- $49.99 / 6 months Β· $94.99 / year
How to Subscribe
- 1 Tap Profile β Upgrade (or tap the subscription banner if one appears).
- 2 Choose your tier: Cloud or VIP.
- 3 Select your billing period: monthly, 6-month, or annual (annual saves the most).
- 4 Tap Subscribe Now and confirm the purchase through Apple or Google.
- 5 Your subscription activates immediately.
Restoring a Previous Purchase
- 1 Tap Profile β Upgrade.
- 2 Scroll to the bottom and tap Restore Purchases.
- 3 Your previous subscription will be restored automatically.
Earning VIP for Free
- 1 Monthly Earned VIP: Log entries daily (up to 5 per day count) and earn bonus points for new states discovered. Reach 100 points in a calendar month and earn VIP access for the next full month β free. Up to 6 free months per year, and this can be earned a total of 5 years over your lifetime. All points reset on the 1st of each month.
- 2 Annual Earned VIP (1 Free Year): Requires an active Cloud membership. Log 1,000 total entries within any rolling 365-day window (for example, April 1 one year through March 31 the next), including at least 150 wildlife sightings and 600 public Network Hotspot posts. Admin reviews and grants 1 full year of VIP β those 365 days run from the grant date. During your Annual VIP year, monthly VIP points do not accumulate β only your Lifetime VIP progress continues building. Earnable up to 5 times over your lifetime.
- 3 GPS State Bonus: Each time you log from a state you have never logged from before, you earn +10 bonus points β once per state per account lifetime. Those same 10 points count toward your monthly, annual, and lifetime VIP goals. They are never counted more than once per award.
- 4 Lifetime VIP (Earned Only): The ultimate achievement β 10,000 total entries, 2,000 wildlife sightings, and 8,000 Network Hotspot posts. Pot events are capped at 6,000. Admin reviews and must verify at least 70% of your entries before granting Lifetime VIP. Lifetime VIP is never purchasable β it is earned through sustained long-term activity or by admin discretion.
Progress Your profile screen shows real-time progress bars for every VIP earn level. Monthly points, today's entry count, states discovered, and all goal thresholds update as you log. See
Section 14 for full rules.
Free Trial New cloud accounts include a 5-day free trial of cloud features so you can try sync and backup before subscribing.
- 1 Cloud sync is automatic β when you are logged in and connected to the internet, your data syncs in the background without any action needed from you.
- 2 All your pots, catches, sightings, harvests, and trip routes are included.
- 3 On a new device, log in with the same account and your data will download automatically.
- 4 If you lose your phone or switch devices, all your data is safe in the cloud.
- 5 Changes made offline are saved to your device and sync automatically the next time you have a connection.
Note Cloud sync requires a Cloud or VIP subscription. The app works fully without it β all data is always saved locally first.
Upgrading from Free to Cloud If you have been using the app on a free account and then create a cloud account on the
same phone, your existing data (pots, catches, trips, wildlife, harvests) carries over automatically β no action needed. A few important things to know:
- The transfer happens once per device for the first cloud account created on that phone. A second person creating a cloud account on the same device starts with a clean slate β this is intentional for shared-phone households.
- Do not uninstall the app before creating your cloud account. Local data is stored on the device and will be lost if you uninstall first.
- Data transferred this way is available on the same phone immediately. It will sync to Supabase and become available on other devices going forward as new activity is logged.
- If you switch phones first and then create a cloud account on the new phone, previous free-account data from the old phone will not transfer β it stays on the old device.
1 β Monthly Earned VIP (Earn Next Month Free)
- 1 Log any entry (fish catch, pot, wildlife, bird, hunting) to earn 1 point per entry. A maximum of 5 entries per day count toward your monthly total β entries beyond 5 in a day are logged to your records but do not add points.
- 2 Earn +10 GPS State Bonus points when you log from a state you have never logged from before. This happens automatically in the background using your GPS coordinates. See rule 4 below for full state bonus details.
- 3 All monthly points reset to zero on the 1st of every month. Your logged entries, catches, pots, and sightings are kept forever β only the monthly point counter resets.
- 4 Reach 100 points in a calendar month to earn VIP access for the next full calendar month at no charge. Contact wowoutdoorapp@outlook.com once your profile shows the threshold met to claim it.
- 5 You can earn free VIP months a maximum of 6 months per calendar year this way. This limit resets every January.
- 6 Over your account lifetime you can earn a total of 5 VIP years via the monthly earn system. After 5 years, renew with a paid subscription.
- 7 Monthly VIP cannot be earned while you are on an Annual Earned VIP year. If admin has granted you a VIP year (the 365-day award), your monthly point system is paused for the duration of that award. Your Lifetime VIP progress still counts every entry during that time β only the monthly earn path is paused.
Progress Your profile screen shows your current monthly point total, today's entry count vs the 5-per-day cap, months earned this year, and lifetime years earned β all updated in real time as you log.
2 β Annual Earned VIP (1 Free Year, Up to 5 Times)
- 1 You must hold an active Cloud membership at the time you apply. Free accounts are not eligible for the Annual Earned VIP award.
- 2 Log at least 1,000 total entries within any rolling 365-day window β the window does not have to follow the calendar year. For example, entries logged from April 1 through March 31 of the following year count. GPS State Bonus points count toward this total.
- 3 At least 150 of those entries must be wildlife sightings (wildlife sightings and bird sightings combined).
- 4 At least 600 entries must be public Network Hotspot posts.
- 5 When all goals are met, email wowoutdoorapp@outlook.com to apply. Include a screenshot of your profile showing progress bars complete. Admin reviews and approves your application.
- 6 Reward: 365 days of VIP access starting from the admin grant date.
- 7 During your 365-day VIP year, monthly VIP points do not accumulate. You cannot earn a free monthly VIP month during an Annual Earned VIP period. Your Lifetime VIP progress continues β every entry still builds toward the Lifetime goal throughout the year.
- 8 When your VIP year ends, the 365-day earning window resets and you can immediately begin working toward your next Annual Earned VIP year.
- 9 This can be earned up to 5 times over your account lifetime. After all 5 years are used, renew with a paid subscription or continue earning monthly VIP.
Example You start logging on June 1, 2026. By May 31, 2027 (your rolling 365-day window) you have 1,000 entries, 150 wildlife sightings, and 600 hotspot posts β all while holding a Cloud membership. You email to apply, admin approves, and your VIP year runs June 2027 through June 2028. During that year, your monthly points are paused but every entry still adds to your Lifetime VIP total.
3 β GPS State Bonus (+10 Points, Once Per State Per Lifetime)
- 1 When you log any entry and the GPS coordinates place you in a US state you have never logged from before, you automatically earn +10 bonus points.
- 2 This happens silently in the background β no action required. It requires a data connection to reverse-geocode the location. If you are offline, the bonus is simply skipped for that entry and is not retroactive.
- 3 Each state can only award points once per account lifetime. Logging from Washington 100 times in 10 years still only earns the bonus once.
- 4 The same 10 points count toward all three VIP earn goals β monthly, annual, and lifetime. They are never counted more than once per award tier. Maximum possible state bonus: 500 points (all 50 states Γ 10).
- 5 States are detected by GPS coordinates only β you must physically be in the state when logging. Licenses are not used for this bonus.
Example You fish in Oregon for the first time. When you save the catch, the app detects Oregon via GPS and awards +10 pts β added to this month's running total, to your lifetime annual entry count, and to your Lifetime VIP total. That single +10 is the same across all three. Oregon never awards points again on your account.
4 β Lifetime VIP (The Ultimate Achievement)
- 1 Log at least 10,000 total entries across all activity types. GPS State Bonus points count toward this total.
- 2 At least 2,000 of those must be wildlife sightings (wildlife and bird sightings combined).
- 3 At least 8,000 must be public Network Hotspot posts.
- 4 Pot events are capped at 6,000 in the total count β each drop/pickup cycle counts as one event. Pot events beyond 6,000 still appear in your records but do not count toward the Lifetime VIP total.
- 5 Admin reviews your account and must verify at least 70% of your entries as legitimate before granting Lifetime status.
- 6 Lifetime VIP is never purchasable β it is earned through sustained long-term activity and admin approval only. Contact wowoutdoorapp@outlook.com to request your review.
Progress bars Your profile screen shows live progress toward Lifetime VIP (if you are a current VIP member) β bars for entries, wildlife, hotspots, and pot events update every time you log.
WOW Outdoor App runs multiple active contests. Every season (JanβJun, JulβSep, OctβDec) the top scorers win cash prizes. All contests are open to VIP members with a cloud account unless stated otherwise.
How to Access Contests
- 1 Tap the Profile tab at the bottom of the screen.
- 2 Scroll down and tap Contests & Events.
- 3 Each active contest is shown with its current leaderboard, rules, and how to enter.
- 4 Tap Community Leaderboard from the same screen to see the all-time standings for hotspot posts and Lifetime VIP progress.
🎂
Live Promotion Β· Ends Aug 3, 2026
Birthday Challenge
Celebrating Timothy's 50th Birthday β Everyone Wins!
Help WOW Outdoor App reach paid user milestones before Aug 3, 2026 and ALL paid cloud users earn free VIP β no contest required. The more we grow together, the bigger the reward. Plus, random Lifetime VIP winners are drawn on Aug 3!
50 Paid Users
1 Mo
VIP for All
★ 1 Lifetime Winner
100 Paid Users
2 Mo
VIP for All
★ 2 Lifetime Winners
150 Paid Users
4 Mo
VIP for All
★ 3 Lifetime Winners
200 Paid Users
6 Mo
VIP for All
★ 4 Lifetime Winners
✓
Active paid cloud account required on Aug 3, 2026. Free trial accounts do not qualify.
✓
All paid users automatically qualify β no contest entry needed. Just maintain your subscription.
✓
Lifetime VIP Lottery: For every 50 paid users reached, 1 randomly selected paid member wins Lifetime VIP β drawn on Aug 3.
✓
VIP rewards are granted by admin within 7 days of Aug 3 and stack with any other promotions you have.
✓
You receive the VIP reward for the highest milestone reached β not cumulative.
Tip: Use the Referral Contest to bring in more paid users β every paid referral moves us closer to the next milestone AND earns you referral contest entries. Double the benefit!
Network Post Contest β Earn Up to 5 Points Per Day
The main seasonal contest. Share your outdoor activity to the WOW network to earn points. Most total points at season end wins.
- 1 Share any record as a hotspot β fish catch, wildlife sighting, hunting harvest, or crab pot pull. Every share with a photo earns 1 point.
- 2 GPS location must be unique. Your post must be more than 100 feet from any other post you made today. Duplicate spots do not earn points.
- 3 Maximum 4 points per day β no more than 4 hotspot posts earn points in a 24-hour period.
- 4 Earn a 5th point on any day you use AI Fish ID or Bird ID on at least one of your posts that day.
- 5 A cloud account and VIP membership are required to earn contest points.
- 6 Users #1 and #2 are not eligible to win prizes.
Tip Spread your posts across different locations each day. The GPS filter rewards active outdoors people β each unique spot you post counts as one point.
Screenshot Contest β Season 1 (Ends Jun 30, 2026)
- 1 Take a screenshot inside the WOW Outdoor App of any activity β a catch detail, wildlife sighting, GPS route, species ID, or any real app screen.
- 2 Email the screenshot to wowoutdoorapp@outlook.com with your username in the subject line.
- 3 Admin verifies each entry. Maximum 3 screenshots credited per day β you may send more but only 3 count.
- 4 The user with the most verified screenshots at season end wins. Top 3 win prizes.
- 5 Screenshot Featured Bonus: When admin selects your screenshot to feature on the WOW Outdoor website, you receive a bonus 2 extra Network Post Contest points as a thank-you reward.
Note This contest runs Season 1 only (ends Jun 30, 2026). It is replaced by the Social Share Contest starting Season 2.
Referral Contest β Bring Friends, Win Prizes
- 1 When a new user creates a cloud account, they can enter your username as a referral during sign-up.
- 2 You earn 1 referral entry for each person you refer who becomes a paying subscriber (credited after day 10, past the free trial).
- 3 The more referrals you have, the more chances you have to win. Most verified referrals at season end wins.
- 4 Contest resets each season β referrals from Season 1 do not carry into Season 2's drawing.
Early Sign-Up Contest (User Numbers 5β200)
- 1 The first 200 users to create a cloud account were automatically entered.
- 2 20 winning user numbers were pre-selected and are locked into the app. When you log in, the app checks your user number.
- 3 If you are a winner, a special Congratulations popup appears when you log in β take a screenshot and email it to wowoutdoorapp@outlook.com to claim your prize.
- 4 Users #1 and #2 are excluded from prizes.
Prize Structure β All Contests
🥇 1st Place β $100 Amazon or Visa Gift Card
🥈 2nd Place β $50 Amazon or Visa Gift Card
🥉 3rd Place β $25 Amazon or Visa Gift Card
Apple and Google are not sponsors of any contest. WOW Outdoor App is the sole sponsor. Full rules at wowoutdoorapp.com/contest-rules
The Captain Trip Guide lets a trip leader log shared outdoor events with their crew and earn contest points for everyone on the trip β one point for the captain, one for each verified participant.
What Is a Captain Trip Event?
- A Captain Trip Event is a fish catch or wildlife sighting logged by a trip captain on behalf of a group.
- The captain earns 1 contest point per verified event.
- Each verified participant earns 1 contest point for the same event.
- Up to 10 people can be included in a single trip event.
- Both fish catches and wildlife sightings qualify as events.
How to Log a Captain Trip Event
- 1 Go to Profile β Contests & Events and tap Log Trip Event.
- 2 Select the activity type: Fish Catch or Wildlife Sighting.
- 3 Take or upload a photo of the moment. The photo must clearly show both the participant (person) and the fish or animal together in the same image β this is required for verification.
- 4 Add a description of the catch or sighting.
- 5 Tap Add Participants and enter the usernames of each crew member on the trip. You can add up to 10 participants.
- 6 Participants must have a WOW cloud account to receive their point β their username must match an existing account.
- 7 Tap Submit Event. Points are awarded immediately to the captain and all matched participants.
Photo tip For the best chance of approval, take the photo with the person holding or standing next to the fish or animal. Both must be visible in the same frame β photos of just the fish alone or just the person alone are not accepted.
Verification & Rules
| Rule |
Details |
| Photo required |
Every event must have a photo showing the participant AND the fish or wildlife together. No photo = no points. |
| Actual participant |
Each person listed must have been physically present on the boat or hike. Adding someone who was not there is false reporting. |
| Max 10 per event |
Up to 10 participants (plus the captain) can earn points from a single event log. |
| Cloud account needed |
Participants must have a WOW cloud account with a matching username to receive points. Offline-only users cannot receive trip points. |
| Admin discretion |
Admin reviews flagged events and can disqualify any captain or participant for false reporting. Disqualified events have points removed from all involved accounts. |
| False reporting |
Adding fake participants, submitting stock photos, or logging events that did not occur can result in account suspension from contests. |
Captain Trip Points Summary
| Who |
Points Earned |
Where It Shows |
| Captain |
+1 point per verified event |
Network Post Contest leaderboard |
| Each participant |
+1 point per event they appear in (with photo) |
Network Post Contest leaderboard |
| Max per event |
11 points total (1 captain + 10 participants) |
Across all accounts |
Note Captain Trip points count toward the Network Post Contest only β they do not count toward VIP earn progress (monthly, annual, or lifetime). VIP progress is based on your own personal activity logs.
⚠️
Safety Warning: The AI identification feature is a guide only. Never eat any wild plant or mushroom based solely on AI results. Always confirm your identification with a local expert, a certified field guide, and good judgment before consuming anything you find in the wild. Many edible species have toxic or deadly look-alikes.
The Foraging Tracker lets you log wild plants and mushrooms you find outdoors. Use AI identification to get a species name, edibility rating, and safety notes β then record the location, quantity, and your own observations for future reference.
Finding the Foraging Tracker
- 1 Tap the Foraging tab at the bottom of the screen (green leaf icon).
- 2 Use the All / Plants / Mushrooms filter tabs to view your logged finds by type.
- 3 The stats bar at the top shows your total finds, plant count, and mushroom count.
Logging a Find
- 1 Tap Log a Find.
- 2 Take or upload a photo β a clear close-up of the plant or mushroom works best for AI identification.
- 3 Tap AI Identify Plant / Mushroom. Gemini AI will analyze the photo and return: species name, scientific name, edibility rating, safety notes, identifying features, habitat, and season.
- 4 Review the AI result. The name, scientific name, and edibility are auto-filled β you can correct them if needed.
- 5 Select the Category (Plant or Mushroom) if not auto-set.
- 6 Set an Edibility Rating β Edible, Use Caution, Toxic, or Unknown. Always confirm this yourself before trusting the AI result.
- 7 Enter the quantity found (e.g. handful, about 20, 2 lbs).
- 8 Add any personal notes β preparation ideas, smell, texture, or anything else you noticed.
- 9 Tap the Location pin to confirm or adjust your GPS pin on the map.
- 10 Tap Save.
Photo tip For mushrooms, photograph the cap (top), the gills or pores (underneath), and the base. For plants, include the leaves, stem, and any flowers or berries. More detail = more accurate AI identification.
Edibility Ratings Explained
| Rating | What it means |
| Edible |
Widely recognized as safe to eat when properly identified and prepared. Always double-check β some edible species have toxic look-alikes. |
| Use Caution |
Edible but requires extra care β may have dangerous look-alikes, only certain parts are edible, or must be cooked/prepared a specific way. |
| Toxic |
Poisonous or potentially deadly. Log it for record-keeping or to learn what to avoid. Do not consume. |
| Unknown |
Edibility not established, varies by subspecies, or could not be confirmed. Do not consume until verified by an expert. |
Viewing a Find
- 1 Tap any logged find in the list to open its detail view.
- 2 The detail screen shows: photo, species name, edibility badge, AI safety notes, quantity, date, GPS location, habitat, season, AI description, and your personal notes.
- 3 Tap the edit icon (top right) to update any field.
- 4 Scroll to the bottom and tap Delete Find to remove the entry permanently.
Common Pacific Northwest Species (Reference)
| Species | Category | Edibility | Season |
| Chanterelle | Mushroom | Edible | Late summer β fall |
| Morel | Mushroom | Caution | Spring |
| Matsutake | Mushroom | Edible | Fall |
| Oyster Mushroom | Mushroom | Edible | Year-round |
| Death Cap | Mushroom | Toxic | Summer β fall |
| Wild Blackberry | Plant | Edible | Summer β early fall |
| Stinging Nettle | Plant | Edible (cooked) | Spring |
| Dandelion | Plant | Edible | Year-round |
| Elderberry | Plant | Caution | Late summer β fall |
| Nightshade | Plant | Toxic | Summer β fall |
Note This table is a quick reference only. Species vary by region and conditions. Always cross-reference with a local field guide before foraging.
Foraging Safety Rules
- Never eat based solely on an app. AI ID is a starting point β always confirm with a physical field guide and, when possible, a local expert.
- Learn three: the target, the look-alike, and the toxic twin. For every species you intend to eat, know what it looks like and what it can be confused with.
- Cook mushrooms thoroughly. Even edible species can cause illness when raw. Very few wild mushrooms are safe to eat raw.
- Harvest sustainably. Take no more than a third of what you find. Leave roots intact where possible. Don't forage in protected or private areas without permission.
- When in doubt, leave it out. A single bite of some mushrooms (e.g. Death Cap) can be fatal. If you are not 100% certain, do not eat it.
SECTION 18
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Washington State Boundary Maps
WOW displays official Washington State fishing and hunting boundary areas directly on your map screens β so you always know exactly which zone you are in without leaving the app.
Turning Boundaries On and Off
On any map screen (Fishing, Shellfish, Hunting, or GPS Tracking), look for the overlay toggle buttons on the right side of the map:
- Marine Areas button β tap to show Washington's 13 WDFW Marine Areas (MA 1 through MA 13) as blue shaded polygons.
- Hunting Units button β tap to show Game Management Units (GMUs) as orange shaded polygons.
- Tap either button again to hide that overlay.
- Both overlays can be on at the same time.
Marine Areas (MA 1 β 13)
Each area covers a distinct region of Washington waters:
- MA 1 β Ilwaco / Columbia River mouth (Pacific coast south)
- MA 2 β Westport / Grays Harbor coast
- MA 3 β La Push / Quillayute River coast
- MA 4 β Neah Bay / Cape Flattery
- MA 5 β Sekiu / Western Strait of Juan de Fuca
- MA 6 β Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca
- MA 7 β San Juan Islands
- MA 8-1 β Deception Pass / Admiralty Inlet north
- MA 9 β Possession Sound / Port Susan
- MA 10 β Port Gardner / Saratoga Passage
- MA 11 β Main Puget Sound
- MA 12 β Hood Canal
- MA 13 β South Puget Sound
Tap any shaded area on the map to see its name and description. Tap it again to close the popup.
Hunting Game Management Units (GMUs)
WOW includes 20 key GMUs across Washington State, grouped by region:
- Northeast WA β Pend Oreille (101), Sullivan (105), Kettle (121), Northport (124), Colville (127)
- North-Central WA β Tonasket (154), Winthrop (169), Methow (175), Entiat (184), Wenatchee (190)
- Central WA β Naches (209), Cle Elum (215), Kittitas (371)
- Southeast / SW WA β Tucannon (506), Kelso (556), Columbia (560)
- Olympic Peninsula β Forks (601), Quinault (627), Dungeness (648), Quilcene (654)
Which Maps Show Which Overlays
| Map Screen | Marine Areas | Hunting GMUs |
| Fishing Map | Yes | Yes |
| Shellfish / Pots Map | Yes | Yes |
| Hunting Map | Yes | Yes |
| GPS Tracking Map | Yes | Yes |
Important All boundary lines displayed in WOW are approximate reference boundaries only. They are intended as a general guide to help you orient yourself. Always verify your exact location and zone with the official WDFW Fishing Pamphlet, WDFW Hunting Regulations, or the WDFW website before fishing or hunting. Regulations and zone boundaries can change each season.
π
Admin Resource
Admin User Guide
The Admin Guide covers VIP grant procedures, monthly earn review, Lifetime VIP entry verification, Supabase management, and the screenshot admin panel. It is intended for WOW Outdoor app administrators only.
View Admin Guide →
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