TOPO info

[kodiak06]

I'm bored and almost 500 miles from my whitetail area. My topo question is, are there any 1 or 2 things you look for on a topo map that make you decide on a specific area to scout? I have some benches and saddles marked and a few hub areas but, some of you have a lot more mountain buck experience than myself. Hoping my bigger guys from last year make it to next year. TIA

[hunter399]

I started a topic last year about e-scouting onx.
Basically same as you. It bombed pretty hard,a lot of guys don't like to talk about it.
So I won't say too much ,as to not cause any hurt feelings.

Back to the basics.
Food
Water
Cover.

[pd]

I will respond, but not what you want.  I don't use topo maps (or OnX) in advance.  I do use satellite imagery (Google Earth) quite a bit.  Whenever I am looking at new areas I will use the Google Earth for 90% of my desktop research, and glance at the topo maps.

But, to be very honest, I rely a lot more on what I find when I actually get to the proposed area.  My desktop scouting is really limited to finding 3 or 4 places to go, and then I do the actual scouting when I get there.

[kodiak06]

I will respond, but not what you want.  I don't use topo maps (or OnX) in advance.  I do use satellite imagery (Google Earth) quite a bit.  Whenever I am looking at new areas I will use the Google Earth for 90% of my desktop research, and glance at the topo maps.

But, to be very honest, I rely a lot more on what I find when I actually get to the proposed area.  My desktop scouting is really limited to finding 3 or 4 places to go, and then I do the actual scouting when I get there.

I use topo and google earth as well. OnX topo map basically does similar to LiDAR so I can specifically see things G-earth won't show. I typically rule out specific areas like side spur roads since all of them end up with a bait pile near the end. I've narrowed down spots the same as you mention and will go look for the sign when the snow first melts

[kodiak06]

I started a topic last year about e-scouting onx.
Basically same as you. It bombed pretty hard,a lot of guys don't like to talk about it.
So I won't say too much ,as to not cause any hurt feelings.

Back to the basics.
Food
Water
Cover.

LOL, some get offended at the smallest things. I just marks specific spots and will hit them I'm guessing late May/early June. Went too early last year and deep snow prevented some scouting. It's not an issue finding deer was just curious if any one has a specific feature they look for.

[follow maggie]

Topo is a good start but it won’t get you what you want. It needs to be put together with satellite to look for cover, food & water. I use Topo to get a lay of the land and most Topo maps show water. I’ll mark them on my OnX or BaseMap. But, you eventually have to get feet on the ground. If the hunting area is a long ways from home, I’ll get there a couple days early & hike around to all the points I marked. Some water sources, like springs, have gone dry, so delete them from the map. Some are wet in the spring but dry in the fall so delete them, too. Even as I’m hunting, I still do this process. Hope this is helpful.

[walt]

I like http://www.hillmap.com/ It let's you view topo and satellite (or other maps) side by side.  Someone posted a link on here years ago and I've been using it since. 

[kodiak06]

Topo is a good start but it won’t get you what you want. It needs to be put together with satellite to look for cover, food & water. I use Topo to get a lay of the land and most Topo maps show water. I’ll mark them on my OnX or BaseMap. But, you eventually have to get feet on the ground. If the hunting area is a long ways from home, I’ll get there a couple days early & hike around to all the points I marked. Some water sources, like springs, have gone dry, so delete them from the map. Some are wet in the spring but dry in the fall so delete them, too. Even as I’m hunting, I still do this process. Hope this is helpful.

TOPO gets you exactly what you want if you're looking for a specific Feature. All of the other stuff is part of scouting

[kodiak06]

I like http://www.hillmap.com/ It let's you view topo and satellite (or other maps) side by side.  Someone posted a link on here years ago and I've been using it since.

Links pretty cool. I typically have onx with the satelite/topo line layer added. The split views neat where I would usually have 2 screen minimized