Reading Topo Maps
Contributors to this thread:Whitetail Deer
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
19-Aug-23
Lookin to chat with someone over an area in lookin at not far from our NY house… I can’t resist the temptation of 4500+ acres to explore..
From: Zbone
20-Aug-23
A good tip, the tighter the lines, the steeper the climb...
From: WV Mountaineer
20-Aug-23
Post a pic or pm if you need to send it privately. I’ll get you on course.
From: Mule Power
21-Aug-23
There ya go
From: Jaquomo
21-Aug-23
Plastic surgeons have similar graphs..
From: WV Mountaineer
21-Aug-23
Awesome stuff mule.
From: rattling_junkie
21-Aug-23
Thanks for the laugh Lou!
From: Lawdog
21-Aug-23
Lawdog's Link
I guess I kind of take map reading for granted. I learned in the Boy Scouts over 50 years ago. I have an early edition of this book that I used as a refresher-you know before smartphones and wide use of internet. I have another book that is specifically geared towards using a topo map to locate hunting spots. I'll need to post the title later.
From: molsonarcher
21-Aug-23
The bottom one is my favorite ;)
From: Cheesehead Mike
21-Aug-23
I was a land surveyor for over 40 years and worked with topo maps a lot including working on numerous topography projects gathering the field data used to prepare the maps and actually drawing them by hand back in the days before the contour lines were computer generated. That experience and knowledge allows me to see a 3D image of the terrain when I look at a topo map. I believe this ability has really helped in a lot of my hunting.
From: Tilzbow
21-Aug-23
Lou started it! This is a real place in some of the best trophy elk country in the U.S. just south of Ely Nevada.
From: Will
21-Aug-23
MAPA - lets have coffee in the next week or two. The pic's / info above works. Figured you were dialed in with topos... but happy to share anything I know.
From: Jaquomo
21-Aug-23
I uses to hunt on Granny's Nipple in CO...
From: luckychucky
21-Aug-23
Grande Tetons
From: Who Cares
21-Aug-23
I know where Grannys Nipple is in Colorado. Wonder how those contour lines look Jaq??
From: Teeton
21-Aug-23
What kinda info you looking for Nick. I'm pretty good at it. I spend hours looking over maps when I'm planning a hunt.
From: Meat Grinder
21-Aug-23
Now that you know how to read topo maps, you might check out "Mapping Trophy Bucks" by Brad Herndon.
From: Lawdog
21-Aug-23
Yeah, that's the book I couldn't remember. The full title is Mapping Trophy Bucks: Using Topographical Maps to Find Deer. I got mine at Barnes and Noble, but that was in 2007.
From: BUCKeye
21-Aug-23
Gotta look at contour elevatios too...could be exact opposite of Mule Powers graphic if you are in sinkhole country
From: fuzzy
26-Aug-23
Jaquomo, I'm picturing "Granny's Nipples " as two long, steep parallel slopes with rock spurs closely overhanging a brushy draw
From: Old Reb
27-Aug-23
^^^^ Lol. Thanks for the morning chuckle.
From: Teeton
27-Aug-23
Ma-Pa, how you making out with your mapping?
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
27-Aug-23
Great! Thanks to all. Got some points marked and did about 4 miles today. Found some good sign. Some old sign. Definately deer around. Jumped a decent buck and a few does thru the morning!
From: nchunter
27-Aug-23
Third one down is my type of hunting. I love a shallow saddle between two hills. Good picture there sir.
