Mapping!

[RedExer]

Been looking through a lot of my maps lately in preparation for the hunt this year.
Any tips for what to look on maps?
How about using google earth?
-I've been looking at google earth a lot, and it seems like a great resource, I can see rivers, valleys, saddles, draws, bedding spots...Thoughts?
Any stories about success with mapping?

[Sooner elk hunter]

For me when looking at the timber using google earth. If it looks thick on the computer. It's really thick when you get boots on the ground.

[powderhogg01]

topos are excellent if hunting thick timber. it will show you where the draws and fingers are. those are the spots I look for, next I look for any hidden saddles that elk may use to slip from one side of the mountain to the next. I will often follow streams up until they disappear, these tend to be good locations to find wallows and small water holes. it can also show you spots which may face different directions, elk seem to love that north or east facing stuff during the mid day.

[chiledog]

I use the USGS topo maps and Google Earth. The topos help to spot the springs and do great at showing elevations, streams and roads.
Google helps show the forested areas and even more 'old and closed' roads and if you get an angled view, about 20-25 degrees from horizontal and spin your view, (hold shift key + left mouse button) then it can show you benches and slopes that you may not have noticed plus give some idea of overall terrain. Google Earth may show a steep slope but it is twice that when you are on the ground.
Great resources.

[Vanish]

Google Earth may show a steep slope but it is twice that when you are on the ground.

There is a setting for "Elevation Exaggeration" - I usually up mine to about 1.8, as that makes the slopes seem more realistic to me. Without doing that, there are slopes that don't look too bad on GE, but when I get to them in real life there's simply no way I would scale them.

https://support.google.com/earth/answer/148070?hl=en

[StartMyHunt]

RedExer,

You may be interested in checking out my maps from my website below. They show security habitat, primary forage areas, and hot spots for all USFS lands in CO.

Mike

[Indian Summer]

-I've been looking at google earth a lot, and it seems like a great resource, I can bedding spots...Thoughts?

Curious... how do you identify bedding spots on Google Earth?

I use GE too. But not until I have found something on a topo that is worth looing at. I like CalTopo because you can superimpose topos with satellite imagery. I know you can do that on GE too but I haven't taken the time to do it.

To answer your question as to hat I initially look for: In a word... benches. The one or three contour lines that are spaced a bit further apart than all the rest. Those are the shelves that elk live travel and bed on. In a given area you will likely find that the benches for miles around run at the same elevation. Lengthy subject so I'll stop there.

[RedExer]

Indian Summer...
I've just looked for places like small secluded valleys, or good grass, but I don't know exactly what to look for...I'm new to scouting with maps...I just wanted input, but your point of using the topos seems valid enough!

[Ponyboy_jonas]

The USGS topo maps on google earth are really helpful. Studying and getting to know the area will be benificial. I love looking at the different types of terrain in the area I'm thinking about hunting.

[slick trick]

I love my map I just got from Mike