Reading/Learning to read maps

[Mikeha33]

One of the first things that we, as elk hunters do, when thinking about hunting elk, whether it be a new spot, just getting into hunting, or talking to someone about their spot, is begin scouring GE and topo maps, looking endlessly for spots to spend our days in the field, and narrow our focus to certain "X's" on said maps. I had the fortunate happening of stumbling upon this awesome website before my first elk hunt, and it helped me immensely. BUT, not everybody is so lucky, or doesn't "surf the web" like most of us here, which brings me to my predicament. The guy that is going with me this fall, has never hunted elk before, but is excited as all get out. He's killed caribou, moose and bear hunted, and kills a big whitetail every year, but we all know that this is different, and much of the legwork is done beforehand these days, to help put the odds in our favor.

Because I still consider myself about as green as they come, only 1 elk hunt under my belt, and no real elk encounters, (hell, am I even an elk hunter, or just a backpacker that carried a bow through the forest for a week??? ) I am looking for ways to "teach" him how to read maps. I've sent him maps, and try to teach him what I know, but that is what I learn on here, that I absorb and remember pretty well. He isn't an online guy, he's a railroader that lives out of a 5th wheel, in as a remote of place as he can find where ever he is shipped to work. I'm not saying that he isn't able to learn, but I don't think I am the right person to teach him based on what limited knowledge I have, without having the ElkNut forums as common ground to cuss and discuss all the situations from here.

What advice do some of you experienced guys have, that I can share with him, that can help him get better familiarized with map reading? He was in the military, and has good map reading and compass skills, probably better than I, but as far as what draws elk to a certain area, an "X" per say, I need some help (heck, for me too!) helping to get him more motivated to study maps, rather that just looking at topo lines. I think this is something that a lot of rookies probably struggle with, I know I did, and a little general map reading/studying advice (not just "where would you hunt", but why would you be there, on a completely novice level) would be greatly appreciated by all!!!

[Indian Summer]

I think one thing that avid map addicts have is the ability to see a flat topo map in 3d. Even if someone gets the idea that lines are contours, and the fact that the closer together they are the steeper it is.... they still may not have that instant vision of the terrain. I think the best thing to do to help with that is start writing on the maps. Put lines in the bottoms of the draws. Put a different colored line on the ridge tops and be sure to link them together so the basic "framework" of the area becomes obvious. Then take a highlighter and shade in the benches where the gaps are further between lines. Now it is easier to get the big picture.

After that think basics such as where are the hunters coming from. Where do people commonly travel. Pretty soon you'll realize that those high benches you shaded in aren't in those lists. I think one thing that lots of beginners do, as have I, is simply ask themselves "where do I see a good way to put miles between me and the roads". While that CAN be helpful it's definitely full of holes. There are others doing the same thing and as you know we have all talked about elk that aren't hiding out a bazillion miles from roads but are even less than a mile away from the truck.

Once he has that map marked up sit it off to one side and get on Google Earth or CalTopo and start mixing that image of terrain with the one of cover and habitat. You've heard me say before to look for the highest water around. There is more than one reason for that. Elk like it up high. In September it means a nice breeze and less bugs. The feed around the water will be more desirable (nutritious) than the yellow stuff. And.... there will be less people there. The thermals up there are in their favor too. No question that if you go to places like that and there are elk anywhere around there will be trails and sign. After that it's a matter of real time scouting and legwork to pinpoint exactly where they are. No at home solution for that really. But as long as he has the place pictured in his head before he gets there it will be way better than stepping out of the truck and looking at a foreign mountain wondering where to begin. That's intimidating to anyone. By the time I arrive somewhere it's like I've been there already for the most part. For that reason I believe that it is way easier to come up with a game plan in mountain country than in say a Kansas or Texas flatland where there's no way to know what's going on until you get there because it's all the same terrain wise. Good luck to you guys!

[Lefty]

I use to teach print reading.
Work with and know the symbols on the topo maps,.. and what they look like from a satellite You don't need to be a cartographer. But you need to know how land lays and flows.

One basic thing I noticed with my HS students at school they didnt understand the north slopes on google , the dark side , and the sunny south slopes, when looking at google what was the bottom of the creek and the top of the mountain

Really nothing more than time spent

[Swede]

The only way I know to place elk on maps is to see the elk and mark on the map where it was. Since the elk are all over the area, it provides me little benefit. Maps to me are already cluttered, so I look at them and view the area on GE. I locate places I want to investigate bur rarely mark up the map. I suspect if you asked six old hunters to mark identical maps, to show areas to look for elk, you would get six individual recommendations on where to go. I do not want to discourage you at all, but I find that marking areas of significant finds is a lot different that just marking up maps. I would look at places I am interested in hunting, them mark special area or spots as I find them.
I do note the coordinates of attractive water holes and other features and put them on my GPS. I may number them on a map, so I can scout the springs effectively. Some may get deleted as I go and others will get special hand written notes for later storage on the computer. When I worked for the Forest Service, I reviewed their data including satellite photos. That kind of general information was only good as a place to start.

[BrentLaBere]

As a newbie, there is a point where you have to work harder than smarter. What I mean by that is: stay away from the pressure of other hunters. Yes, its true you can find elk near the road. And maybe even a nice water hole that you could hunt next to. But I wouldn't count on that my first or even my second year of hunting elk out west. That usually takes time, time spent in the field and not on maps. I wouldnt say you need to understand one type of map. I would use all the resources you can get your hands on. Knowing boundaries of public to private land and where you can access the public lands. Trails/trailheads. Are they ATV? Walking only? Some areas I scouted on maps would show closure dates for vehicle access. You can usually find these on the NF websites or which ones they belong to. Topo and GE along with these other ones all need to be tied together. So, understand where you want to access the area. Know what types of vehicles are allowed on them and what dates. Now you can understand the pressure for different areas, at certain times of year. Another thing I did was note the areas where they have designated camp grounds. I noted them so I could stay away from them! This all depends on the style of your hunt .....

[Elkduds]

The textbook for learning to scout remotely via topo/GE is in this forum. Every thread about map scouting is a separate chapter of the text. When reading threads, take notes RE what strikes you as reoccurring or useful, then apply it to your area. Maybe it is distance from roads, heads of creeks, benches, saddles, types of tree cover, or 20 other things (BTW, you can differentiate aspen groves from coniferous forest on GE, which is important in scouting). After I have map places in mind, I fly over w GE from many different directions and angles. I use map scouting to make a plan for where I want to be the first few mornings and evenings, some areas I want to check out for signs of elk activity, and places that look promising but aren't obvious w BOG. What I find on the ground revises that plan, almost every time.