Tips on marking maps while scouting

Discuss the science of figuring out our prey through good detective work.
  • Advertisement

HB Store


maukings
Posts: 106
Joined: Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:13 am
Status: Offline

Tips on marking maps while scouting

Unread postby maukings » Mon Dec 12, 2016 2:05 pm

I have watched both Dan's videos as well as Eberhart's. I'm going to scout a pretty large piece of public. I have a GPS and I need some ideas on how to note trails, bedding, primary scrapes andn rub lines most efficiently. Everhart suggests walking the perimeter and following runways into the woods. He also says to wait for snow to thaw as snow bedding will be different than prerut /rut bedding.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image


User avatar
checkerfred
500 Club
Posts: 1950
Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2013 2:49 am
Location: Alabama
Status: Offline

Re: Tips on marking maps while scouting

Unread postby checkerfred » Mon Dec 12, 2016 2:11 pm

I mark everything...beds, scrapes, rubs, creek crossings, any bluff accesses, trails, old logging roads etc. On rubs and trails I'll mark direction. I don't necessarily walk them all off. I mostly hunt ridges so I'm walking the 1/3 elevation a lot too. I also keep a track going for each area to see exactly where I walked.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
maukings
Posts: 106
Joined: Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:13 am
Status: Offline

Re: Tips on marking maps while scouting

Unread postby maukings » Mon Dec 12, 2016 4:04 pm

Do you bring a printed aerial map to write on?

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
Swampbuck
Posts: 2434
Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2013 6:29 am
Location: S LA Swamps
Status: Offline

Re: Tips on marking maps while scouting

Unread postby Swampbuck » Mon Dec 12, 2016 4:18 pm

One thing that helps is to download a gps app for your phone, then you can mark trails, way points etc... and export it to g. earth if you want as well

[ Post made via Android ] Image
Make It Happen
User avatar
Motivated
500 Club
Posts: 1882
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2014 9:41 am
Location: All over Indiana
Status: Offline

Re: Tips on marking maps while scouting

Unread postby Motivated » Mon Dec 12, 2016 4:23 pm

Video camera notes for me.

[ Post made via Android ] Image
Work hard, stay humble, be kind.
User avatar
Southern Man
500 Club
Posts: 3827
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2010 7:04 am
Location: Extreme Western Kentucky
Status: Offline

Re: Tips on marking maps while scouting

Unread postby Southern Man » Tue Dec 13, 2016 3:25 am

maukings wrote:Do you bring a printed aerial map to write on?



I do... always.

I also use topo maps on my phone and a compass for knowing my location but do not use it for marking sign. all wind, sign, and other note worthy stuff is marked on a printed map and in a small notebook. When I get home I transfer that info onto PC maps for future use.
You Can't Argue With A Sick Mind
User avatar
Jonny
500 Club
Posts: 5754
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2016 3:11 am
Location: In a van down by the river
Status: Offline

Re: Tips on marking maps while scouting

Unread postby Jonny » Tue Dec 13, 2016 4:02 am

I use my gps to mark waypoints and read topos, phone for aerials and a pen and notebook for notes. Ill go home and export my waypoints onto an aerial, and then change my waypoints to either stand locations, trials, routes, etc on garmin basecamp. As for waiting for snow to thaw, I do if I can but usually I scout with snow simply because thats when I have the the time to do it. Yes snow beds could be and probably are different than prerut and rut beds. However, the snow gives you an idea on the amount of deer in the area and the areas they like. Use that to cover more ground and go back when thawed to confirm your findings and find specific things. Don't pass on scouting cause there is snow on the ground. Use the snow to your advantage.
You have a monkey Mr. Munson?
User avatar
checkerfred
500 Club
Posts: 1950
Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2013 2:49 am
Location: Alabama
Status: Offline

Re: Tips on marking maps while scouting

Unread postby checkerfred » Tue Dec 13, 2016 5:00 am

maukings wrote:Do you bring a printed aerial map to write on?

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image


No I don't. I have the OnX maps to show public land boundaries and topo but I don't like the topo on it. It's not as detailed as a USGS topo. So I carry my phone too and have topo maps + on the iPhone. It allows me to cache topos or aerials or whatever maps I want do I don't need cell signal...I sometimes put my phone into airplane mode to conserve battery and the gps still works.

With the Garmin at home, I download and organize my data and once that's done I can select whatever data and view it in google earth. This is handy for hunting flat terrain but not so much hills unless you just wanna see how your data relates to thicker cover. I also export my data from Garmin and import it into topo maps+ so I can see a good topo map with my marked sign while in the field.

There are some disadvantages of the phone app. The aerials while good are older so sometimes cover doesn't look like you think it will. It's not free. Well it is but the paid subscription gives you more detailed maps as well as some other benefits. It's not much per year for the middle version. There may be something better out there but my requirement was to cache maps to view without a cell signal. I also wanted the aerials to be winter maps to see transitions to hardwoods or other winter type transitions.

I do always carry a compass and make note of how the land lays when I leave my truck. There's usually a road within a mile so as long as you know the general direction, even if the phone and gps quit, walking back to that direction would get you to the road.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
User avatar
Dewey
Moderator
Posts: 36727
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2010 7:57 pm
Location: Wisconsin
Status: Offline

Re: Tips on marking maps while scouting

Unread postby Dewey » Tue Dec 13, 2016 5:49 am

I mark everything I find and also save my walking track on my GPS. I then download everything into Garmin Basecamp for viewing on topos and Google Earth for aerials. When viewing all of the info you input it's amazing how it all comes together and allows you to figure out specific patterns.
User avatar
hunter_mike
Moderator
Posts: 8294
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:24 pm
Location: south central WI
Status: Offline

Re: Tips on marking maps while scouting

Unread postby hunter_mike » Tue Dec 13, 2016 6:35 am

One thing that has helped me recently is differentiating size of sign. On my gps, I mark "small rubs" "medium rubs" and I reserve the "large rub" for the top 5% of rubs I see size wise. Same goes for beds and tracks.

I am pretty reliant on the electronics. I use my gps for marking locations and I also have my phone out for detailed aerial photos.
“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”
User avatar
Southern Man
500 Club
Posts: 3827
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2010 7:04 am
Location: Extreme Western Kentucky
Status: Offline

Re: Tips on marking maps while scouting

Unread postby Southern Man » Tue Dec 13, 2016 6:41 am

hunter_mike wrote:
I am pretty reliant on the electronics. I use my gps for marking locations and I also have my phone out for detailed aerial photos.


Ya know, that's probably an age thing for me. I can't seem to get away from a pencil, paper and a compass even though I use some electronics too. Old school I guess
You Can't Argue With A Sick Mind
sureshotscott
500 Club
Posts: 567
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2016 5:01 am
Location: SE MI
Status: Offline

Re: Tips on marking maps while scouting

Unread postby sureshotscott » Tue Dec 13, 2016 6:50 am

I have been using Backcountry Navigator lately on android and like it, but I'm open to looking at other programs. BN supports caching of map data so it can be used when there's no cell signal, and allows you to mark locations and tracks. The map source "USA Topo Maps - ARCGIS" gets used a lot. Have not found a way to figure out property ownership info yet in BN but I've heard it's possible.

[ Post made via Android ] Image
User avatar
hunter_mike
Moderator
Posts: 8294
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:24 pm
Location: south central WI
Status: Offline

Re: Tips on marking maps while scouting

Unread postby hunter_mike » Tue Dec 13, 2016 6:52 am

sureshotscott wrote:I have been using Backcountry Navigator lately on android and like it, but I'm open to looking at other programs. BN supports caching of map data so it can be used when there's no cell signal, and allows you to mark locations and tracks. The map source "USA Topo Maps - ARCGIS" gets used a lot. Have not found a way to figure out property ownership info yet in BN but I've heard it's possible.

[ Post made via Android ] Image


Do you use the free version of the app or the paid version? I am currently using the free one. I am on the verge of purchasing the app.
“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”
maukings
Posts: 106
Joined: Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:13 am
Status: Offline

Re: Tips on marking maps while scouting

Unread postby maukings » Tue Dec 13, 2016 6:58 am

I need to rely on a printed map ad gps as I have poor signal on my cel to use any map app.
User avatar
hunter_mike
Moderator
Posts: 8294
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:24 pm
Location: south central WI
Status: Offline

Re: Tips on marking maps while scouting

Unread postby hunter_mike » Tue Dec 13, 2016 7:01 am

maukings wrote:I need to rely on a printed map ad gps as I have poor signal on my cel to use any map app.


If you run the Back-country Navigator App on your phone, you can pre-load the aerial photos so that you can view them with your phone signal turned totally off.
“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”


  • Advertisement

Return to “Scouting”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 27 guests