GOOGLE EARTH for finding hunting spots

[wapitimike1]

Try Bing maps with the birdseye option and 3d.

[metsastaja]

I like the way I can view all my gps waypoints track etc on google earth. Besides hunting and scouting I use it for finding old trails in Acadia National Park.

 

[xroadshunter]

metastaja,
How do you merge the files to show your tracks with google earth?  Thanks George

[metsastaja]

I use a program called expertgps which is available at  www.expertgps.com.  There is a 30day trail version.  I have been using expert since 1994 and it keeps getting better and better and is well supported. I use the program for all my gps data management.


It costs about $75 buck now. I happen to use the pro version which is now close to $200 because of stuff I do with shape files and other strange files.   Expertgps  allows me to view all my data on google earth or save my data in Google Earth format (kml) which is filename.klm.

If you can find another waypoint management system supporting KML and KMZ for google you should be able to do the same.  I like expert be cause I can view topos maps, areal maps black and white, google maps and it allow me to scan old maps and calibrate them for finding old logging roads and trails from the early 1900's.

Here is an example of a calibrated 1942 topo I recently used to track down some
old roads and trails. The second is a small portion in google earth

 

 

[razorsharptokill]

Very useful! I like the feature that lets you measure distances too.

[Hoyt]

I use most of the ones mentioned and I also use USAPhotoMaps. It's old and black and white, but has a lot of good tools and very GPS friendly. Also has topo that you can switch back and fourth to aerial and topo.

[wbyrd]

Google Earth is integrated with the mapping software I have for my Garmin. I don't see the exact software I have on their website anymore but it's just the Garmin topo CD's. I can upload all of my waypoints, tracks, and routes from the GPS and view them on my computer in both the mapping software and Google Earth. I can also use the software (which has an enormous amount of detail including stock tanks) to set up new waypoints and routes, view it all in Google Earth, and upload it to my GPS to go find when I'm in the field. It's pretty slick...

[NorthernCaliforniaHunter]

I love it! In some areas you can even make out the heavily used game trails. I also use a free program called "Easy GPS" that communicates with my Garmin GPS unit. I mark waypoints on Google Earth and then transfer them to Easy GPS which uploads them to the handheld unit. The reverse is true if you want to view waypoints you marked in the field.

A truly amazing tool, and with a little practice you can make out what types of vegetation are in what areas. It's awesome for locating large oak stands for the fall acorn drop!

Juan

[Shedrock]

I personally don't like it.

I now have other guys hunting springs that took me miles of driving and walking to find. Not to mention countless hours of scouting. These guys found my spots by sitting on their butt.

I won't ever use this high tech stuff.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

I had a valuable lesson in why you should use a topo map instead, or aswell-as, on the weekend. I hiked for many miles to what I thought was a floodplain, and wound-up in awful high and rocky country, on my own. The floodplain was actually a jumble of white rock atop a mountain.

[metsastaja]

That is why I refer to or carry a topo map also. Never just the high tech.

[Bob Morrison]

I prefer Google Earth. I can see trails on a lot of the areas I hunt.

[PAPA BEAR]

i use it a lot.i found a wallow in my hunting area in burns that i had no clue was there using google earth.

[getstonedprimitivebowhunt]

Its a great aid !