Google Earth Scouting

[sffar]

I've been using it as a starting place to plot out an archery course at a sportsmen's club I belong to. Provides a great overview.

[JamesV]

I used it for the first time this year. Great stuff, now I see how I got lost in the BIG woods.

[Mike Vines]

Originally posted by jfelkins:



   

Now I'm not as tricky as some guys, I haven't figured out how to electronically overlay the tax map onto Google earth (because it's not a .kml) but I can go back and forth between the two maps and see who owns adjoining lands. But I have created a file of the WMA that I'm going to hunt that will open in Google Earth so you can see it.  

Next up we can start talking about how to but all this whiz bang to work for us.

I too am not computer savy at all, but to make things easier on myself, and you too, if you have Windows 7, you can open 2 windows side by side so you don't need to go back and forth.  Just open 2 windows, then press the circle button on the keyboard below the Z and X keys and then press either the left or right arrow depending on which side you want that window opened up on, then do the same with the next window, then press the opposite arrow.  Now you will have both pages side by side. To go back to normal, click on the maximize tab up top.  

Wow, reading back on that, I can't believe I actually am able to do this, not to mention tell others how it's done.  I guess miracles do happen on Christmas.

[metsastaja]

you can get topo overlays for the US at.
  http://www.gelib.com/usgs-topographic-maps-2.htm  

Will show in MY PLACES.  Check mark it to make active.

You will need to download the but program is free.
Zoom in until you see blue out line. Click on name. Will ask if you want to view. Internet speed will dictate how fast they download.

[carbonflyr]

south ms bowhunter...tell me more about bing maps!!

[rbdover]

Love Google Earth and hard copy topos too.

[Follower]

here's a helpful trick i learned.  with Google Earth up, go to Tools, Options and then change the Elevation Exageration to 3 (3 is max).  This will help the terrain features stand out a little more.  Then instead of a straight down birdseye view, I rotate the view so you are looking across the sattelite view - kinda puts you in a perspective that you are standing atop a nearby mountain looking at the area of interest.

[DRR324]

I like Bing maps, they provide better images for my area than google.  I do like the GPS function of google, I can pinpoint a spot to cehck out, load the coordinates into my 60cx garmin and head out.  Been using both for a number of years now.  I also open two tabs, one with topo features to compare terrain.  Good post!

[RusD]

I agree with South MS Bowhunter; the bird's eye view in Bing is pretty sweet.  I used to use another program that is exactly the same to scout backpacking trips.  Check it out if you get a chance.  When you first start out in bird's eye the picture isn't very good, but center your location and just keep zooming in.  You can even rotate the image, but it is a little tricky when you do.  Sometimes when you rotate you have to zoom back out, rotate, then zoom back in.

[raideranch]

I use it.

[Arwin]

LOVE IT!!!!

 I will not step into a new are without checking it first. Saves lots of boot leather.  

[onewhohasfun]

Bing Maps is da Bomb.!

[luv2bowhunt]

Google earth is excellent. I agree with someone earlier who posted that if your county has GIS mapping it is even better. I use that all the time, the arial photo resolution is incredible and seeing property ownership and boundries is fantastic. Some will even have a terrain feature that will show shaded elevation.

I do use Google Earth quite a bit though. I like being able to download all of my GPS coordinates to the My Places and viewing them on there, and using the History option allows for changing the arials, works for me because I can switch in my area from Black/White photos taken when the foliage was gone, to color photos with the mast on the trees.

There is some really cool stuff that you can do with Google Earth. Great topic!

[reddogge]

I use it however one of the areas I hunt for Sika hasn't been updated since 2007 and a neighboring outfitter has crisscrossed the area with trails through some public land.  These don't show up on a 2007 shot.

[Tajue17]

I use maps live but same thing really,,,, honestly its priceless for fine tuning my stand placement on some new spots I found.  I'll print the pictures and save them in my binder and then with each location I write down what wind directions are best based on how I have the stand in there (or where on the ground I'll be hiding)

awesome tool.

[Bodork]

I've used it for a few years. I like to look at a new area before ever setting foot on the place. After I've been there in person, I find myself back on google earth looking at the places I've spotted game and trying to give myself some insight as to why it was in a particular place. Next time I go out, I have an even better understanding of what's going on in that area.

[azhunter]

I USE IT AND IT IS FANTASTIC.

[xtrema312]

just started using it a little.  I have gotten maps at the county offices and on line when available in the past, but this looks like a great tool to look at a lot more areas fast.  This would also be a great way to scout homes for sale with property.

[Jack Whitmire Jr]

It's Ok I use it at work alot but much ,much prefer Terrain Navigator topos . I use the 3D feature to see how steep the terrain is in an  area, not a problem if you are in the flat land but here some places are 45 degrees .

[razorsharptokill]

awesome tool.