Google Earth Scouting

[jfelkins]

Ok so how/where would you scout this area?    Yanahli WMA

Thanks. WE spent some time there yesterday. I'll try to link some pics also.

[NoCams]

Jeff, what did you ever find out about my area of TN ? Outdated maps, loggers, and big woods that are no longer there...... ?

Where are the latest date maps for us guys who live with loggers ? I have searched most of them, Google Earth, Terraserver, Mytopos, etc, etc and I think just about all of them use the same satelite imagery and in my area they simply are useless due to age. What you think is aawesome spot looks like an atomic bomb hit it when you get there after the loggers !

[jfelkins]

No cams, Looking now. It's Jasper TN right?

[jfelkins]

I'm seeing 2010 pics for area west of Jasper. Im looking on GOOGLE earth

[jfelkins]

I'm seeing 2010 pics on google earth just west of jasper tn. Is that the right spot?

John

[eidsvolling]

I've used Google Earth for years.  I also use this free GIS software:    Quantum GIS .  You'll need some computer skill for the GIS, but it's not quite as intimidating as it might seem.  Plan on spending some time to learn how to use it effectively.  Once you are proficient, you can build maps onto topographic base maps by adding free data layers from wildlife agencies, other natural resource managers, etc., that are extremely helpful for hunters.

Sometimes, however, you just can't find a data layer that can be added to Google Earth and or the GIS.  Maybe you need to add an image that's only available in printed form, for example, a trail map.  This is actually pretty easy on Google Earth, but it requires some time to get it done right.  Use the Google Earth    User guide > Importing your data > Importing Image Overlays   for step by step instructions.

Here's a plain English version of the instructions:

Scan the thing you want to add.  If you don't have a scanner, you can get this done at Kinko's, Staples, etc., or you can take a digital photograph (use a tripod if possible.)  Add the image to your computer system with whatever software you have to do that.  It has to be one of these formats:

BMP
DDS
GIF
JPG
PGM
PNG
PPM
TGA
TIFF

If you start storing such images systematically with a specific file location, it will help a lot down the road.

Now, open Google Earth.  Center your view on the place you want to add the image.  Try to adjust the scale so that what you see on the screen approximates what you know (or guess) is the scale of the image, but don't get too anxious about that.  

In the Google Earth top menu, click "Add>Image Overlay."  Click "Browse" to locate the image you want on your computer system and add it.

Now, at this point you will have something laying on top of the Google Earth image.  Over in the Google Earth Sidebar, right-click (Control-Click for some Mac users) on the name of that "something" under Places.  A popup appears showing some choices.  Click on "Get Info".  You'll see a green grid superimposed on your added image.  Don't fiddle with it yet.  

First, adjust the image transparency (using "Get Info" again) to make it about 50% opaque.  Now you can see the underlying Google Earth image.  

Now you can drag your image with that green grid and adjust its corners with the grid as well.  Move the image until it lines up approximately where it should be.  Use the corners to match it more closely with identifiable features on the Google Earth image.

Once the image is added as you want it, save it to your Google Earth Places.  

Now comes the amazing part:  Because the image is "draped" over the Google Earth image, it adopts the 3D contours from Google Earth.  In other words, you can see how a trail or boundary or whatever you've added follows the terrain in a 3D view.  And you can print  the whole shebang from Google Earth and carry it into the field.

[jfelkins]

Great info! Thanks for adding this.

[traditional beagle]

Checked out the Bing birdseye. I like Google earth better.

[NoCams]

Can you switch to topo view on Google Earth ? I like to look at both to see elevations as a big picture. I can see actual elevation at the bottom of the page in satelite view but still like to look at topo view. Old school I guess ?

[jfelkins]

Here's a great primer on land nav.


   Getting from here to there  

Gotta know this to put it all together.

[NoCams]

Tap,Tap,Tap....... well fellas.... ? Someone tell me how to switch to topo view in Google Earth ?

[Talondale]

Just to update this as I'm doing my scouting for this coming fall.  Just to clarify there's two different products and people seem to be confusing the two.  There's Google maps that has a satelite image which is on their website and there's Google Earth which is a download as jfelkins linked.

I'm going to do a little tutorial on some of Google Earth's features to show how  nice a scouting tool it can be.  First off, download the latest version as mentioned.  A good/fast internet connection is a plus because the program downloads a lot of image data.

When you start Google Earth you are in a satelite elevation looking at the globe.
 

Image is a little blurry because of shrinking it to meet the size requirements.

[awbowman]

Checking out the history option is one of the best features guys.  You can sometimes pinpoint how old clearcuts are or see creeks/low lying areas hidden from site in summertime photos.  Great tool.

[GreyGoose]

In addition to scouting funnels and paths for whitetails, I've used it to map holes for groundhogs with some success for varmint reduction.

[Talondale]

As I said it's hard to read the print because of shrinking but I'll point out a couple of features.  The left side bar has a list of info you've saved in the Places box.  It will save new data under Temporary Places folder by default unless you first select a different folder (by left clicking your mouse on the desired folder, highlighting it) before creating any new items (waypoints, paths, etc).  You can right click My Places and select ADD - Folder to create a folder under that Category.  I created a folder named Tradgang under the Temporary Folders instead.  When exiting Google Earth (GE from now on) you will be asked if you want to save that temp info into your My Places folder.  There's also a Layers box that allows you to check and uncheck "layers" you want to show up on the map.  This may be boundaries, water names, or all sorts of info available.  As mentioned different layers can be downloaded from various sources.  I have one from the USFS that shows trailheads, campgrounds, Forest Service Offices, Summits, and lots of other data.  These can be turned on and off, on-the-fly by simply checking and unchecking the box next to the feature listed in the layers box.  There's also some options you can chose at the top of the menu bar under tools - options but the default settings are a good place to start.

At the bottom left of the screen you'll see a scale bar as you zoom closer.  The bottom middle will show you Long/Lat and elevation of the position of the cursor/pointer.  The bottom right will tell you the elevation of the camera, or Eye.  
   
The right side has a series of navigation tools (zoom, direction, pan, pitch)

You really need a mouse with a wheel to easily use the program as the wheel adjusts elevation and camera angle.  There is a work-around for using a mouse without a wheel; you use the right mouse button while inside the top circle in the top right corner of your screen.  Scrolling the wheel up or down moves your elevation in and out.  Holding down the wheel while moving the mouse changes the tilt of the camera angle.  Play around with it a bit and you can get some great views.  Click on the section of America (or wherever) you want to view and then "zoom" in for a closer look.

[Talondale]

I'll zoom down to a random spot in South Central Colorado and assume I'm checking out a valley in my Unit and notice a small lake that may hold elk.
 
I can mark the spot by clicking the Yellow Push Pin button up top.  As long as the properties window is up I can move the pushpin around for more precise placement.  You can rename the point and change the type/color of pin, and enter a bit of note.  If you clicked the folder under Places (like I did on Temporary Places) it will show up under that folder.  My USFS layer names the water as Lily Pond.  Seems interesting.  I need to check that out.  Depressing the wheel I can tilt the camera view and get a better idea of the lay of the land.
 

[Talondale]

Now it gets interesting as I can use the pathing tool to see how difficult it would be to get there, or even compare two different routes.  The trick here is to make sure you have a perspective that allows you to see every area of the route before starting because you can't move the map around once you start tracing your route, you have to cancel out and adjust then restart.  So in my example I decide to go up that draw and check out the meadows along the way.  I select the Path button and the cursor turns into a crosshair.  I trace the path I want to take up to the lake.  The info window will give me the distance traveled.  1.49 miles.
 

[Talondale]

The path is now listed under my Tradgang folder.  If I right-click on it I can now chose to Show Elevation Profile.
 

I can move along the profile and an arrow moves on the map showing me where that point is.  There's also a lot of info on there; starting elevation, ending elevation, steepest grade, average grade.
 

[Talondale]

Here's another neat feature.  I zoom in on the pond and notice a picture icon next to it.
 
If I click on that icon it opens a picture (or series of pictures) that someone took of that region.  
 
Helps get a better feel for the area.

Also you can export these points of interest to your GPS.  You can also import your GPS info to see things you found while walking around or to look at your breadcrumb trail and get an idea of how well you're covering the area you're hunting.

[buckeye_hunter]

That is how I find/found a number of hunting spots! That includes my current favorite stand!