Internet scouting

[Tigger]

It is July 14. Time to start to get serious about scouting. For those lucky enough to be within driving range of their hunting spot, they can get boots on the ground. But for some (most?) of us, that isn't possible. So we are left with Google Earth, OnX maps, Caltopo and others. This thread is for tips and tricks to become better internet scouters. Hiking boots are not necessary when viewing this thread.

First, what tools do you use? I mentioned 3 above. What else is out there?

Second, what precisely do you look for? We will be going to a new area this fall it looks like, so I am starting from scratch. Things I plan on looking for: roadless areas. I want at least a mile between me and the nearest motorized trail. Next I will look for vantage points. Can I glass from somewhere? Saddles. Saddles attract elk I am convinced. It is a good place to start. Then benches on steep slopes. If I can find a barrier to getting to a drainage, that always intrigues me. But one thing I struggle with....what makes one drainage better than another? Seems to be plenty of water in our area, so that isn't it. Food...I am horrible at identifying what they eat. Seems to me the mountains are full of grass. how do I home in on feeding areas?

how about access points? How do you find a way to access your area?

Lets help each other out and throw out some ideas. It will at least keep elk fever to a minimum over then next month and a half or so.

[Elkhunttoo]

I was going to start a thread like this but this one will work for my question too ... what maps are out there on line for forest service and private land lines? I have an area that we drive by and there is some private property in the bottom a long the road but I'm pretty sure there is a small gap of forest between the private properties. If there is it opens up a nice mountain range that no one hunts because they don't hike out around the private property.

As far as internet I use it before I ever go to a new area (not much worse then hiking up a mountain and running into atv trail ) and when I get home from hunting I mark areas of interest, water, wallow, heavy sign, kill spot , etc

[Trumkin the Dwarf]

I do believe this has been covered here!

Go to the Gear/Weapons forum, and at the very top is a thread called map resources.

[Roosiebull]

I am super fortunate to live close to my hunting grounds (half hour is a long drive)

I am not a good Google earth scouter, around here there are 2 problems, first, habitat that you can see on Google earth changes fast (logging activity) and anything that isn't logged is impossible to see, it's all timber.

I use maps a bunch, I find drainages, benches, and other habitat on maps, looking at the elevation lines can tell a whole bunch too.

I find a couple very out of the way spots on maps and scout them in August, but truth be told, my best scouting is done during season.

Some times it's little habitat details that make a spot special, things you cannot see in a map, and you have to get lucky to stumble into... That usually happens with a tag in hand, while in pursuit.

[Old school]

I found this last year - I spent a ton of time researching on various map programs and combined it with Google Earth. I had at least a dozen good elky looking spots and had plans on how to hunt them morning/evening. These were all within 15 miles of my camp site. I was camping close to the truck so I could drive to the different locations and hunt as needed.

Here's what I found - hunting pressure trumps all "elky" spots. My spots had elk sign in them that was a month old, and a lot of it. But we had so much pressure, the elk had moved elsewhere. We couldn't get away from the people.

I still enjoy studying maps. As a matter of fact, I've done it again and found another place and researched and looked at it from every possible angle and I believe we will see less hunters here. Time will tell.

I'm looking for difficult access but also have to remember that what looks doable on Google Earth can be nearly impossible in real life :-/

--Mitch

[Rangerz]

In addition to the other map sources mentioned, here is another one: http://www.hillmap.com/.

It allows you to pull up two different maps side by side. My personal favorite is Cal Topo on the left and Google Earth on the right.

Also allows you to determine gradients so you can see how steep those hill are.

[Lefty]

I use IFG map center and toggle between different maps and use different layers.
USGS topos have those little springs and seeps that at times cant be seen on google. And google you get to see things that arent on topo, beaver dams and flow. I put a sAT pic on this site of a mineral lick. that satellite pic was incredible.
Ive confirmed a lot of trails from elk on google.
I selected my bear bait locations using google maps, looking for dense trees in dark timber

Year past I use to set up trap lines using travel road indexes. Trapped fox right in the road rightaways .

[Indian Summer]

For land ownership borders try our sponsor Game Planner Maps. On the left you can simply select land ownership to add that and bam..... there you have it. You can also add hunt unit borders and numbers and lots of other really helpful layers. I find it to be a great tool for online map viewing and scouting. I buy my maps from Ed too. I love having waterproof maps!