Headed Back Privacy Policy
Last updated October 3, 2026
Headed Back is a check-in app for hunting, hiking, fishing, camping and road trips, operated by David Brady Cox, a sole proprietor in Florida ("we"). Before you head out you check in; if you're not back on time, the people you chose get a text with your last position. This page says what we collect and what we do with it, in plain English.
What we collect
- From you: your name (we show your first name by default), and, only while you're checked in, your GPS location, speed, phone battery level, the time you headed out and your back-by time, what you're doing (hunting, hiking...) and the plan you type ("north oak hammock stand").
- About the people you add: their name and mobile number, whether they replied YES to get texts, and when they last opened their view-only link.
- Plans saved from home (optional): your plan and back-by time, so we can text your people if your check-in never reaches us.
- "Still OK?" checks and party boards: when you answered, and, for a party you joined, your position while you're checked in so the others in that party can see who's out.
- Things you leave for others (optional): songs, poems, drawings, riddles and their answers, road-story chapters, hitchhiker notes, the short notes you pick from a list for the next person (and the "Helpful" marks you give them), trails you make (we review a trail before anyone else sees it), the name you sign with, and the spot, rounded to within about half a mile. Hearts, finds and solves on them, and any reports or blocks you make.
- The writing helper (optional, only if you use it): what you type into it, such as a riddle's answer, place names or your notes for a trail, and a record that you used it and when (there's a daily limit). For each request we also keep which AI model answered, how much text went in and out, what it cost and whether it worked, so we can cap spending. What you type is sent to Anthropic, the company that makes the Claude AI model, to write suggestions; nothing else about you is sent, and nothing is posted until you post it yourself.
- "A trail for where you are" (optional): your rough area, the corner of a map square about 3 miles across, never your exact spot. The trail made for that square is shared with everyone in it and isn't linked to you; we keep a record that you asked for one. If you report one of these trails, we keep the map square, your anonymous app ID and which of the two reasons you picked.
- Sponsored coupons and errands (optional): which offer you claimed or errand you ran, your one-time code, when you claimed and used it, and a one-way scrambled version of your network address, used only to stop abuse (we never store the address itself).
- On headedback.com: if you sign up for the beta, the name, phone or email and answers you type, used only to send you the beta link and ask how it went. If a business fills out our form, what they type.
- Kept only on your phone: critters you caught, missions, stamps, road points and saved spots. We never see them.
Location for check-ins is collected only between checking in and checking out, and you can pause it. The map, Road treasures, Trails and missions use your location only while those screens are open. If you turn on "Tell me when I stop near one," the app also looks for treasures near you while you're checked in.
How we use it
- To show your position and track to the people you chose, and to text them when you head out, when you're back, if you're overdue, if you miss a "Still OK?" check or if your battery is low.
- To show things people left near you, and to check that coupons are claimed where they're offered.
- To show you your own trip history.
Text messages (SMS)
People you add get texts only after they reply YES to our first message. How often depends on how often you go out, usually a few texts per trip. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to stop, HELP for help. We do not sell or share your SMS opt-in data or personal information with third parties for marketing. No mobile information is shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Safety texts never contain ads.
Who sees it
- The people you chose see your trip. People in a party you joined see your position while you're checked in.
- Everyone using the app nearby sees what you leave for others, with the name you signed (if any) and the rounded spot. Never your account, phone number or exact location.
- Businesses that sponsor coupons see counts (how many were claimed, delivered and used), never who you are.
- Service providers that run the app: Supabase (database), Twilio (texts), Expo (app updates and notifications) and Cloudflare (this website). If you use the writing helper, what you type into it is sent to Anthropic, the company that makes the Claude AI model, to write the suggestions; nothing else about you is sent. For "a trail for where you are," only public Wikipedia text about the area is sent to Anthropic, not your location or anything you typed. Map tiles come from the U.S. Geological Survey, OpenTopoMap, OpenStreetMap and NOAA; weather from the National Weather Service; nearby history from Wikipedia; public places from OpenStreetMap; place names from Apple. These see the map area or approximate location being looked up, not who you are.
- We may disclose information if the law requires it, or to help emergency responders find someone who is overdue.
How long we keep it, and deleting it
Trips and plans are kept until you delete your account. Things you leave stay until you delete them (or three reports hide them). To delete everything: in the app, go to Settings and tap Delete my account and data. It deletes your trips, the people you added and their links, everything you left for others, your coupons and your login, right away. (It waits until you check out of an active trip.) You can also email us and we'll delete it within 30 days.
Children
Headed Back is not directed at children under 13. Leaving things for others is for people 13 and older, and we don't knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has posted something, tell us and we'll remove it.
Contact
Questions or deletion requests: [email protected]
Headed Back texts your people if you're overdue. It doesn't contact 911 or any rescue service and can't prevent an accident. It's one more layer, not a replacement for a harness, telling someone your plan, or calling 911 in an emergency.