Indentifying funnels on a topo map

[mheichelbech]

Can someone please provide examples of what funnels look like on a topo map? I am familiar with saddles but not always so sure about what a good funnel would look like.

Thanks.

[cbigbear]

A couple I've hunted. Both have water barriers the deer prefer not to cross.

[mheichelbech]

That's great! I should be a little more clear, that is the kind of thing I was looking for....good funnels that aren't always obvious at first glance I guess, the tops of deep draws, transition lines, etc.

[Crazinamatese]

Here are some examples in hill country.

[lungpuncher1]

I'd love to see more. I can identify saddles quickly but as far as benches and other terrain funnels I sometimes struggle.

[ Post made via Android ]

[Dewey]

I prefer to look for funnels on aerials more than topos. Many times vegetation is not clearly marked on topos and this can make a huge difference if a deer uses that terrain feature or not.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[Crazinamatese]

I prefer to look for funnels on aerials more than topos. Many times vegetation is not clearly marked on topos and this can make a huge difference if a deer uses that terrain feature or not.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

For sure. Transition lines and such. Strips of timber, etc.

[Bucky]

Ridge points can act as funnels

Hubs can act as funnels... although when the "hub" is tighter it is better that the picture shown. (I killed my buck last year off a 3 pronged hub at the top of a drainage) see the rigdes goin off in 5 different directions... when a buck is cruizn he will pop over the top of the hub to get to the other ridge points

Inside corners... you can see in the topo the green is likely timber where as the lighter color is likely open... so a couple inside corners

I marked 4 spots on the big saddle when then opening between points is high you need to hunt it based on wind

A "SUPER" funnel is where more than one of these features come together... on this map that ridge point pushes down with the inside corner so that doubles the "fun" so to speak

I marked the tops of tighter rises in elevation... the tighter the line changes in elevation the more likely a cruizn or running deer has to cross over the top or bottom of that elevation change

There are even more than I marked on that map... but it was getting messy already

Hope that helps some

[BigHunt]

I prefer to look for funnels on aerials more than topos. Many times vegetation is not clearly marked on topos and this can make a huge difference if a deer uses that terrain feature or not.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

I do both to confirm

[dan]

I just want to show the simple most common (in my opinion) funnel for hill country... I just grabbed a random location I have no attachment too... With a west wind cruising bucks will tend to cruise the leeward side hills looking for does bedded on the points or near them. They are going to stay close to the thermal tunnel but may or may not cut corners. Purple lines represent the area I would expect bucks to cruise on a west wind. My ideal set up would be the top of a deep draw where all the deer trails would funnel together ( the red dot)

[Dewey]

I prefer to look for funnels on aerials more than topos. Many times vegetation is not clearly marked on topos and this can make a huge difference if a deer uses that terrain feature or not.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

I do both to confirm

Me too but much of the land I hunt is flat marsh with very little elevation change so aerials are much more useful.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[Crazinamatese]

What is a "hub"? All these civilian terms is very confusing.

[Bucky]

What is a "hub"? All these civilian terms is very confusing.

Where multiple ridges (in this case 5) come together like spokes on a wheel... the "hub" is the center

[Crazinamatese]

What is a "hub"? All these civilian terms is very confusing.

Where multiple ridges (in this case 5) come together like spokes on a wheel... the "hub" is the center

Okay, got it. Just another name for a hilltop.

[Bucky]

What is a "hub"? All these civilian terms is very confusing.

Where multiple ridges (in this case 5) come together like spokes on a wheel... the "hub" is the center

Okay, got it. Just another name for a hilltop.

It has to have multiple ridges though.. the more the better


The LEAST obvious funnels are the ones that Dan teaches in his videos... the thermal tunnel plus a terrain feature on a leeward side of the hill... those are often overlooked compared to in your face topo funnels that everyone can learn in a relative short period of time.