Learning how to read maps

[Dr. Rx]

As we all know, Elk need Food, water, and cover.. I'm trying to learn how scout from home by learning to read Maps and Google earth properly for elk hunting. Any good videos or advice?

Kris

[Elkduds]

I have been using topo map and google map 3D side by side, going back and forth so often that they get into your memory. The 3-d can be rotated and tilted by holding down cntrl key while moving the mouse. Going back and forth between topo and 3-d teaches you how topo map data translates to landforms. Then make notes on the topo map you will have w you while hunting.

[Indian Summer]

The only thing Google Earth has that others don't is the tilt. It can really help you get a unique perspective on things. But if you are good at being able to look at contour lines on topo maps and envisioning of the lay of the land you don't need another perspective. You just need the aerial images and the topo lines. You can overlay those on Game Planner Maps. You can also add another layer to put the blue lines in place where there is water. You can't do that on GE. A map that has aerial images, contour lines, and blue water is priceless!

But I'd say this too Chris. If you are looking statewide or at a huge area and haven't begun to narrow it down that's one thing. You do need to make sure all of the necessary habitat is there. But if you know an area, a unit, a mountain range or even one big ridge or drainage that has all of that the next thing is trying to figure out where in that area the elk will be travelling. That means looking at the topography IN DETAIL. When you are doing that keep going to the topo only layer so that you can really pay attention to the contour libe spacing, then add the aerial to see what the cover and vegetation looks like. So you're looking for benches, saddles, etc where the elk would prefer to travel but also for barriers like cliffs, rockslides etc where they won't likely go.

Those travel corridors will lead to where the elk actually stop and spend time whether it's bedding or feeding. Those places you can really locate by looking at maps. Those are things you learn from experience by running the routes you highlighted on the map. Elk are elk so there's only so much you can learn from maps etc and the rest is boots on the ground to see what the heck they are actually up to.

[Brendan]

You can't do that on GE. A map that has aerial images, contour lines, and blue water is priceless!

Actually - you can download Topo Maps, or Topo relief maps from CalTopo and import them into Google Earth. A switch of a button has you switching back and forth between the satellite view, and pure topo (or Aerial Topo Hybrid, Hybrid Satellite with Topo overlay, Slope Angle Shading). It also takes the topo, and overlays it on the 3D terrain you see in GE. Check out the options here - Adjustable Relief, Slope Shading, Fire History, pretty cool.

http://www.caltopo.com

The reason I like doing it this way - I can use the combination of maps right in GE to create waypoints, mark trails/tracks, and then export from GE right to my Garmin.

[Dr. Rx]

Thank you all for your contribution.

Kris

[CurlyTail]

Check out the Game Planner Website. Pick you area of interest, and change the base map to "Google Physical". This is basically a contour map, with shading to make a very intuitive 3D relief map. Study the contour lines and the shape of the terrain to learn how to read Contours.

One tip on Contour lines, when a contour line points in a certain direction like an arrow pointer, that is always "upstream", or "uphill". When contour lines become widely spaced, you are at a flatter spot. A subtle widening of contours, on an otherwise closely spaced steep slope, is a potential bench and or bedding spot.

[ishy]

Little youtube tutorial. There's several parts that will pop up with this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYDXqZZ ... XWt8Z0jVs-

[Lefty]

Military cartographers use to get secret training.

being able to look at contour lines on topo maps and envisioning of the lay of the land you don't need another perspective.

some will pick up what they are looking at easier,.. however most dont
I use to teach blueprint reading , but knowing what you are going to be looking at for a finished project eventually( or quickly) become apparent.
With google comparing topo maps, is the green on topo. is it fir trees? or quakies, does that spring dry in the fall or is it a seep that is elk wallow hot-spot.
and yes you can spot wallows, trails even elk on google