Map Software

[jager]

I was curious if anyone is using any mapping software?

I've had my Garmin 530hcx and just purchased the Topo US 24k west dvd.
I like the idea of transferring detailed information back and forth between computer and gps as well as incorporating google earth. Lots of good stuff.
I'm not seeing land ownership on these maps....although I haven't got too deep into them yet..... I want "super detail"

I was wondering what you use and why?

[jbeaumont21]

I just purchased the hunting GPS maps http://www.huntinggpsmaps.com/states/washingtondownloads.html which looks pretty cool so far.  It shows all the land boundaries and even who owns the land.  It even shows that I own the lot my house sits on here in the couv.  With that said I am not sure that it is any better then the free topo map that you can download from http://www.huntinggpsmaps.com/states/washingtondownloads.html  The free map shows all the same topo detail and river/creek names. None of the maps I have seen so far show all the road detail that you get with some of the forest maps.  One of my buddies download a topo map onto his phone that shows more roads then any of the Garmin downloadable maps that I have seen so far. If there is anything out there please let us know!

[billythekidrock]

How often do you have to purchase new maps to get updated ownership information?

For that I usually look on the county assessor sites.

[jager]

Wow, private ownership that's crazy....I was talking like, WDFW, National forest, state land. I'm going to check those out right now.
I use the assessors website but only after I know about where I want to hunt. It would be nice to be in the field and see the info on your gps.
Ya that's unfortunate about the road detail...I don't know why anyone can't make a complete map.    You could trace the road out in google earth and transfer it,
but that sounds like a pain.

According to the website they update 1x per year free if you buy the cd and $20 if you have the sd card.

[jbeaumont21]

I bought the SD card from Hunting GPS Maps, plugged in the back, turned on the Rino and it loaded right up and worked perfect.  I went back and forth on wether or not to purchase the map download or buy the SD card since you get free updates every year with the downloaded version versus having to spend $20 per year and mail your SD card in for updates.  I ended up going with the SD card because of how easy it is to use and it was $30 bucks cheaper, plus I'm not sure if you will really need to update it every single year.  I guess it depends on where you hunt. Another thing I wanted to share with you guys is that the support staff at Hunting GPS Maps is top notch compared to Garmin.  I emailed their support staff with some questions because I was having trouble viewing the SD card on Garmin BaseCamp and they were very quick to respond with help.  They ended up sending me a map with the unlock code so that I can now view it on Basecamp. I can see how the public/private land info can be very useful but the actual topo detail of the free map you can download is no different IMO. 

[Bob33]

Hunt GPS maps are great.  Here are a couple sample images from Mapsource:
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[smg id=10364]

[gasman]

I have found tha tyou can't beat the National Geographics TOPO to be the best. I got a program with it to show GMU's, wich is help ful. The TOPO is the best out there.

Yes it would be nice to have private property boundrtys, but oh well 

[Bob33]

I have personally found it extremely helpful to look at my GPS and know exactly where I am with respect to public/private boundaries.

[Special T]

Has anyone used that enhanced google viewer that guy wash sharing on here? I'be been doing some survey work for our archery club and have just been using google earth..  I've tied to figure it out but couldn't..

[jbeaumont21]

Do you have a link to it??

[Special T]

http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html
Its free, and they guys story is pretty cool..

[True Sportsman]

Has anyone used that enhanced google viewer that guy wash sharing on here? I'be been doing some survey work for our archery club and have just been using google earth..  I've tied to figure it out but couldn't..

I have used that program, and I really like it. If you want to print detailed topo maps for anywhere in the state, it is great. I would recommend using it.

[jbeaumont21]

Wow!  That Gmap4 is awesome!!  I wish I could download a map with that kind of detail onto my Rino.  It shows all the back roads with the double dashes just like a USGS map.  Sure would be nice if someone would make one like that for all of us Garmin Rino owners.

[jbeaumont21]

I have found tha tyou can't beat the National Geographics TOPO to be the best. I got a program with it to show GMU's, wich is help ful. The TOPO is the best out there.

Yes it would be nice to have private property boundrtys, but oh well 

Can you get the NG map for a newer Garmin Rino 530?

[halflife65]

I have found tha tyou can't beat the National Geographics TOPO to be the best. I got a program with it to show GMU's, wich is help ful. The TOPO is the best out there.

Yes it would be nice to have private property boundrtys, but oh well 

  I use it A LOT, actually.  I take GPS points wherever something interesting happens and, not only do you have exactly where parking areas, gates, etc. are if you hunt the same area a lot and GPS wherever you see elk/deer you can sometimes sort of figure out a pattern, or at least figure out likely holes where they always seem to be.

I've also used it to plan hunts - hunt from one side one time and then another side the next time, connect the dots and change your hunt plan the third time. 

Combined with land ownership maps, this is great.  I'm definitely going to look into getting some of those, too.  I do my best not to trespass and I think that I might actually be limiting myself when I don't know where private land ends and state begins, for instance, and end up passing up legal hunting areas to go elsewhere.