Compass and Topo Maps??

[Soilarch]

The other compass thread has me searching around and learning stuff. I'll have to break out my old lensatic and am going to purchase a cheaper baseplate model.

Here's my question.  How current can you get topo-maps? ALL of what I'm finding online is outdated, are the 'purchased' one current?  I know the area I hunt very well.  Never used a compass or a GPS back home and have grown up running around the same 600-800 acres... and these maps are showing woods where I KNOW there have been cleared fields for 40+ years!  One area I found is a 5 acre plot that the map shows as solid woods.  There's an old house foundation there now...maybe they overlooked 5 acres but there are several 30+ acres fields that are still shown as green.

This is scary to me. If I actually NEEDED a compass and map, the maps I'm finding online would have me so confused I'd be helpless.

[sagebrush]

A lot of the ones I've seen were made in the sixties. Some have been updated but if you look at them they say when they were updated. They are still pretty good in the Rockies, but you have to remember how old they are.

[Soilarch]

True, you probably don't have farmland expanding much up in the mountains! lol

Makes sense, my area's pretty darn flat so tree-lines and creeks are what you gotta go by.


(That, and radio towers at night...and the airport beacon if I'm in that neck of the woods and the sky is right.  Now that I think about no wonder I've gone so long without needing a compass!)

[Mallardstacker]

I have become a HUGE fan of the National Geograpic topo map series.  You can customize them to your liking, edit, mark trails, routes etc.
This mapping software also is designed to work with the Megellan Triton series GPS units - so you can upload all of your edits onto the unit!

The other source I've had excellent results with is mytopo.com - you can make and customize your own personal map, on the scale you desire and there are several options on how to have it printed (i.e. waterproof paper, folded, laminated, etc.). I have 3 or 4 maps from them and been happy with all of them.

One more thing - you may have already checked into this, but its worth repeating - don't overlook Google Earth - some of the areas are more up to date than the rest, but can lead to excellent ideas looking at your area like an aerial photo.  Best of all - its FREE.   :D

[Ron Haines]

I, like Mallardstacker, have used mytopo.com in the past to build maps.  I mostly use in Maine, extremely thick forest.  On the map is printed the date that the photo was taken.  For the most part have been within the last 7 years.

Google Earth is a great tool also.  The state of NJ has online topo maps of the hunting land that they own.  I usually pull up their map and google earth to get a real good picture in my head before heading out to scout new areas.

[dirtguy]

Unfortunatelyy UGSG maps don't get updated that often.  They have a revision date - usually in the lower right corner - and the may also say "Photo revised"  indicating that the revsion was done based only on air photos.  

I still find them useful becasue they have enough recognizable features - roads, streams topography - that you can place yourself on the map.  Sometimes it helps to print up to date air photos from one of the web sites mentioned above to use with the older USGS maps

[sj_lutz]

I'll third mytopo.com, fairly easy to get zeroed in to the area you need, and the printed maps are top notch.

Another option, tho a bit spendy, is Delorme Topo.  With this program, you can download (for a fee) aerial and atallite imagery for your areas.  The program lets you display the imagery and the programs topo maps at the same time, on the same screen, both in the same scale.  Much easier to get a feel for a piece of ground looking at both imagery and a topo at the same time IMHO.

[swp]

Hey Guys,

If anyone is looking to buy a topo you can also support Backcountry Hunters and Anglers as well and get a custom topo. Here is the information:

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers just teamed up with My Topo, an online topographical map company.  From now on, when you buy maps through the My Topo link at the bottom of the BHA website (www.backcountryhunters.org), 15% of every purchase will be used to further BHA’s mission and help ensure the future of your outdoor heritage.  You design the map online and it will be shipped in less than 24 hours.

[metsastaja]

Most of the topos are outdated or just revisions from older maps.

I happen to use a program called expertgps which is available on line. The program uses Microsoft Tera server maps for both topo and aerial maps. It interfaces with google earth too. Will interface with most popular GPS units so you can exchange , track routes and waypoints. You can easily print out the maps wiht your information on it.

Here is an example from trying to locate old trails, caves and formations in Acadia national park.
 

Here is the same information on a 1942 topo that I calibrated using the program. I depend on the 30 and 40 maps to find old and forgotten information
 

[melsdad]

I have a dozen different maps from mytopo.com. They are top quality. I get them with the UTM grids on them so I can precisely mark spots on the map after I gather waypoints in my GPS.

[metsastaja]

aerial map
 

then to google close in no tracks and much closer in.