Topo maps and Aerial photos

So how many of you use aerial photos and topo maps to scout new areas? What do you look for? I look for areas away from roads and water sources. I also try to get an idea of vegetation in the area. Anything that might be helpful when looking at aerial photos that I haven't thought of?

"It is better to rule than serve"

They are an integral part of my research on new locations to hunt, particularly aerial/satellite photos. Vegetation is always a very critical concern as it shows what available food sources are available to your quarry. I look for funnels that concentrate movement, this is a key aspect as nearly all animals that tend to stay in cover while moving from area to area; if you can locate a funnel area which compresses this movement in between food sources and/or bedding areas, you are much more likely to harvest your animal. If hunting in very hilly or mountainous areas, I keep very aware of air movement, particularly when the air is still, cool air (morning/evening) flows downward and as the day progresses the warmer air will rise. Of course be very careful of the scent you take in the woods with you as it has a big impact +/- on the area you are hunting in.

just my .02

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

I never thought of "funnels" but I do look for saddles between one drainage and another. I guess you could call these funnels as they are the easiest way to cross the ridge. I have learned one thing already and that is to figure out different terminology might mean the same thing. I also look for bowls when using sat photos as you can find these much easier from the air than on the ground. I hunt mainly forest and BLM land so that is why I look for water sources. Food sources you have to get out and scoure the ground as there are not any agricultual fields nearby. I just pulled up a sat and topo map of an area I want to check out and with the sat I found a nice bowl that has heavy cover about 1/2 mile from where the road ends. After looking at the topo map and sat photo I figured out the road ends there because there is a windmill. Now it is time to put in some leg work on the ground.

"It is better to rule than serve"

Let us know how that area worked out for you.

Good luck,

Martin

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

I use google earth to get started and since it gives me GPS coord's, I can just put them into my GPS and go right to them. I also print them off so I can put dots in possible stand locations, possible food plots and so on. They are one of the best things to come along in a long time, even though they have been here for yrs now.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Interesting find at my house today. My father gave me a set of state quadrangle maps about five to ten years ago. I am assuming these were from when he was a state trooper, early 70's, as it is a complete set by the state highway dept.. They are not true topos but it does show drainages and roads. I started looking at it today to find some radio towers that he told me about but I could not find on topo maps or aerial photos. I found hand drawn additions to the maps by him in areas he use to hunt during his college days and before he started taking me hunting. Since he doesn't hunt anymore I am thinking about checking these areas out and seeing if there are still deer there. There are about 10 dots in a square mile and he told me every dot was where he or a college buddy killed a deer.  It will be fun to walk and hunt where he once did, remembering the days we were in the woods together.

"It is better to rule than serve"

TWELCH:
 
How cool is that?  I hope you find some sweet spots!
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

I also use maps off the computer, but don't do too much in the way of aerial stuff.  I have a CD-ROM of Wyoming and if it wasn't for that we would not be having the success we are out there.  We print off our own maps and by marking various coordinates on them we eliminate trespassing problems and know right where we are when we hit the ground out there.  I think MNBOGBOY will tell you how handy they are if he reads this thread! 

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

What I have been doing is looking at topo maps on the computer and then switching to satellite images. I have two different windows open so I can switch back and forth between them. The only problem is I can not get the two windows in the same scale so have to get them as close as possible and then go from there. I am getting ready to go out Friday and check out a few areas I found to see if they look promising. I always do leg work on the ground but it seems like I can do a better job of ground work by limiting areas by satellite and topo maps.

"It is better to rule than serve"