Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: BigTines on August 07, 2011, 07:14:20 AM

Title: Finding topo maps near federal way, wa
Post by: BigTines on August 07, 2011, 07:14:20 AM: Hey guys,

Im new to the state of washington and would like to find some topo maps so I can begin some hunting. I live in federal way so I was hoping to find a place not too far away so I can begin printing off some maps.

Also, is there any type of maps that show where public/private land is at? This would be very helpful so I know where I can go.
Title: Re: Finding topo maps near federal way, wa
Post by: CAMPMEAT on August 07, 2011, 08:48:40 PM: Google them. It will show you topos. I don't know about landownership though.
Title: Re: Finding topo maps near federal way, wa
Post by: bobcat on August 07, 2011, 09:20:32 PM: For public lands, you will want the DNR Public Land maps, which are available by mail order from the Department of Printing in Tumwater. Look on the DNR website and you'll find a link that will take you to the Dept. of Printing site where you can order the maps you need. They are $8 each last time I looked.

The DNR site is www.dnr.wa.gov (http://www.dnr.wa.gov)
Title: Re: Finding topo maps near federal way, wa
Post by: Snapshot on August 11, 2011, 08:05:01 PM: REI in Seattle (probably Tacoma, too) has some topo maps. Any that they don't have can be purchased online from the USGS in Denver.
Title: Re: Finding topo maps near federal way, wa
Post by: stickbuck on August 13, 2011, 08:39:55 AM: I'd recommend buying the TOPO cd's from REI. The set comes with all of the different discs for the different regions of the state. Makes it nice so you can print your own maps on smaller paper. Is more convenient when you are hunting an area that is right on the edges of two different green trails maps.
Title: Re: Finding topo maps near federal way, wa
Post by: Snapshot on August 13, 2011, 11:51:45 AM: Quote from: stickbuck on August 13, 2011, 08:39:55 AM
I'd recommend buying the TOPO cd's from REI. The set comes with all of the different discs for the different regions of the state. Makes it nice so you can print your own maps on smaller paper. Is more convenient when you are hunting an area that is right on the edges of two different green trails maps.
If the money is not an object that is a fine way to go, too.

REI used to have (and may still have) a machine for printing custom topographical maps. So if your hunting area was at the edges of two different maps you could select the exact area you want to print and get it all on one sheet. They were waterproof, the GMU numbers/borders could be toggled to print on the map and the scale could be adjusted, too. The cost of one of them was rougly the same as buying two of the 7-1/2 minute-series maps.
Title: Re: Finding topo maps near federal way, wa
Post by: Snapshot on August 13, 2011, 12:06:47 PM: Quote from: bobcat on August 07, 2011, 09:20:32 PM
For public lands, you will want the DNR Public Land maps, which are available by mail order from the Department of Printing in Tumwater. Look on the DNR website and you'll find a link that will take you to the Dept. of Printing site where you can order the maps you need. They are $8 each last time I looked.

The DNR site is www.dnr.wa.gov (http://www.dnr.wa.gov/)

...and the National Forest Service maps will come in handy of course... Various retailers, including REI, sells them and they can be purchased at ranger stations, too.
Title: Re: Finding topo maps near federal way, wa
Post by: hike2hunt on August 21, 2011, 08:28:17 AM: If you have or use a garmin gps, you can go to gpsfiledepot.com and download topo maps for free.
Title: Re: Finding topo maps near federal way, wa
Post by: losdaddy7 on August 22, 2011, 05:47:12 PM: The Wa state wdfw site has a GOHUNT application with maps, ariels, etc... The topos are decent and you can layer the maps however you like. Printing is a bit tricky through the application, so what I do is build the map, use the print map full extent button, then in the print preview, right click the image and save it. Then you can print the image full size on 8x11 paper.