Bowhunting Using Google Earth Coordinates

[LA Trapper]

Looking at the Google Earth coordinates, they seem to be 1/4 to 1/3 miles off when I lock them in on my GPS in my neighborhood.  When I hover over my house the coordinates are off.  The two GPS's I have give the same reading.

I have only used it to look at territory, not using the coordinates.  I have a weekend trip planned to a location away from my normal hunting and would like to maximize scouting time, but this has me questioning using the Google coordinates.

Any experience in this area and way to zoom in to better accuracy?

[DanielB89]

best advice I can give you is, if your gps is capable, download(purchase) a birdseye imagery subscription(unlimited downloads for 1 calender year) and use it to mark the spot.

What I always do is scout on google maps, find the location I want and then download the location in my gps and mark the spot using my gps and not rely on something else.  When you can see the terrain on your gps you can mark spots in the exact location you're looking at on google maps.

If you need any further assistance, please let me know.

[Jim Maes]

Your GPS is probably set to a different datum then Google Earth is using.

[the rifleman]

Try Boulter.com. They have a converter for coordinates that helps with this very issue.

[the rifleman]

Try Boulter.com. They have a converter for coordinates that helps with this very issue.

[Hummer3T]

you can check the meta data behind the Google image and see what datum it is in and apply it to your GPS in the same datum.  Sometime this may not work, this is due to the geo-correction of the file and may have been geo-corrected on a larger scale so that it would be off what ever datum you use.  I do not know if Bing imagery is better in this way but it some times has finer definition imagery.

[LA Trapper]

Sounds good.  Anyone know how to convert to the correct format.  This is my first attempt at using the coordinates.  I usually look at the territory and then walk it out, marking the waypoint manually.  I   am looking to shorten the learning curve and spend me time hunting instead of exploring!
 I am using a Garmin 60 CSx and I have a Garmin Etrex.

[John Scifres]

Use Garmin Basecamp software.  Download the free maps from gpsfiledepot and sync your device to the computer.  You can add waypoints and all kinds of data.  I usually go to Earth and find good looking spots on the aerials and then go to Basecamp and manually add stuff to the maps.  From there, I sync my device and then I can use the device from there.

[LA Trapper]

Thanks John.  Sounds like a deal.

I called Garmin.  They helped me set up my units correctly so i am pretty close now.

It is heck to be analog in a digital world!!!!!

[Hoyt]

I use gpsfiledepot for free Garmin maps and getting my Garmin set up like I wanted it. Mark my way points on GPS, download to Basecamp and then move them to Google Earth individually.

I don't use Google Earth for coordinates I use Basecamp for that.

[NoCams]

Using Google Earth to look on the computer for funnels and then use Cabelas Recon app on my Moto Droid X2 to walk them out and confirm exact stand tree. This is the bum cheesy and works very well for me......  

[wtpops]

Originally posted by Jim Maes:
Your GPS is probably set to a different datum then Google Earth is using.

X2  you can change Google earth to match you gps

[old_goat2]

I don't know all the terms but are you sure tour coordinates are setup in your GPS in the same format as Google Earth gives them in. I never did my street address but have done points in the woods and I never had trouble finding them however they may have been off but they were major enough landmarks that I found them without noticing a difference.