satellite maps

[Ramsey]

Has anyone else used these to prescout hunting
areas.I have used gogle earth a few times and
found it to be rather useful at finding ponds
and likely funnels and I like having a idea
of were I'm at even thou it is a new area,if
you know what I mean

[killerelite13]

If you have used Google Earth..try MSN maps.  Try birds eye view.  IT is awesome.  I use it for work..police stuff..and more importantly for my hunting spots.

[Ramsey]

ON MY WAY TO CHECK IT OUT. THANKS FOR THE INPUT.  

[bowfiend]

I love that stuff for hunting because all the BLM topos are old and don't show cuts, burns, roads,etc. that are recent. Great technology.

[killerelite13]

If you try msn youll see that the pics are usually from early spring and later fall...so great to see detail under the green canopy.  my house is shown and as you use the little arrows on the left the view changes..this on my house shows different times or pictures.  It is so good you may be able to see the buck that eluded you last fall.  Good luck.

[hs6181]

that is so cool, I can see my house, my car and bike in the back yard   , I can even make out my mailbox  

[fyrfyter43]

I use a map software available from NJ's DEP called iMap. It has quite a few different features available to add to the map, including state-owned public land and roads (showing the names so you can easily find a piece of property that you might not be exactly sure how to get to.)

[Flinttim]

Try Yellow Pages .com and click on maps. You can get aerials there too.

[finger lakes bowhunter]

I do spatial analysis for a living using ArcGIS, I also guest lecture at Cornell on the same stuff.  The best mapping software is ArcGIS but it costs $2500 and each extension is $1500 and you need at least one extension to view raster based data.  Most counties have there own spatial data that goes past the orthographic images that are on google earth.  You can get elevation, landcover, species richness, lakes, streams, soil, tax parcels, ect... With this software I can give it a list of things to look for and to rank them, for example I can say show me all areas that are mostly oak, that are on a elevation over 20 degree and are at least 1/4 mile from water.  The analysis I am currently doing involves looking for 24 variables. I help land trusts create conservation plans. I have two state lands near me that are very large and I do a simple check of landcover and elevation before I go to hang tree stands.  In late summer when I pick mushrooms  (chantrells and black trumpets) I do a search for hemlocks and soil type.  The options are endless and there are tons of web pages out there that have lots of free data. There is probably free software out there that will allow you to view shapefiles but you need to fully understand how to project the data for it to work.

[Jim Jackson]

Terraserver-usa works good for me and it is free.  Doesn't have all the GIS layering capacity, but does have 1 meter resolution and the ability to download and manipulate images.

[Wildbronco4]

I use USA Photo Maps, it's a free software you can get at  http://jdmcox.com/  I like it because I can add or edit way points & routes and send it to my gps. All you have to do is click on the map at the location of the areas you want to check to make a way point then send it to the GPS unit.I have it on my lap top with the topo maps & photo of the areas I want to hunt download and saved. In the way points you can add notes that can come in handy on later hunts. It does take up a bit of hard drive space for the pic & maps but I thank it is a good trade off to have the Info. handy. Any way that my two cents worth., Chuck    

[PowDuck]

Am I missing something on MSN Maps?  http://mappoint.msn.com/
No satellite, no bird's eye view. No nuttin'. Am I at the right place?

[Ramsey]

I use that link and after downloading found birdseye Not sure why you did not  :confused:

[John Cooper]

PowDuck,

I missed it the first time, too.  The correct address is    http://maps.live com/

That'll get ya what you want.  It's pretty cool when you find an area that has the "bird's eye view."  I'd better stop pickin' my nose when mowing the lawn.  Them cameras in space are gettin' too durn good!    

~John

[fireman_3311]

Here's one we use in our neck of the woods!!! 2007 Aerial's even!!!

 http://maproom.missouri.edu/