Aerial and Topo maps are an excellent tool in and out of the field. Using these maps before going to a new area is the best way to know where the deer will be moving whether it is on open country or heavy tracks of timber. Use the topo lines to see the lay of the land. Whether it is ditches, rolling hills or stream the map will make it easy to find the main deer trails in the area you will be hunting. Looking for the steep inclines and saddles where deer like to cross is invaluable information. Deer tend to naturally use the most accessible path of the land to seek cover as they cross through different terrain.

Before I go to a new piece of land, especially out west, the first thing I do is pull up aerial photos and topography maps on the area I plan to hunt. Looking at these maps I can always find the best ditches and creeks where I want to hunt or scout first upon arrival. Reading these elevation lines are easy for anyone to study the particular piece of land they wish to hunt. While studying for trips out west, the first things, I look for will be ditches and creeks. The creeks are usually marked very well while the ditches will be quite a bit more subtle on the maps. This is why I usually like to go to aerial photo shots on Google Earth to see where the ditches are in relation to the other topography of the land.

These maps are awesome tools showing roads, trails and the lay of the land like no regular map can. I am beginning to rely on these maps more and more even when I am hunting a piece of land I’ve hunted before. You never know what you might have missed in the past, which is the case while I was studying for a hunt out west this fall. While looking at aerial shots of the areas to the east of where we usually go I found numerous ditches and creeks that look even better than the areas we have hunted in the past. They were only a few miles away. This can really cut down on your drive time when getting to your area especially out in the wide-open country.

Looking for saddles on these maps are very important information for major deer crossing. These are where a pinch on a hill top or valley might be. While looking at a topo map look for an hour glass shape. Setting up on these saddles will usually pay off because they are natural funnels the deer follow. The most important thing to look for on any given piece of property is a very high percentage of areas like this. If you want to take it one step further use your GPS with these maps. The possibilities are endless as you read topography and mark GPS locations of the high traffic locations of wildlife you are hunting. So next time before you go out don’t forget to pull the maps and do a little studying. I think you will find your time will be well spent studying the area before you strike out on that next scouting or hunting trip.

Even if you are hunting public ground and do not have permission to hunt surrounding private ground the topo maps are valuable because you still need to know the lay of the outlying land. Adjacent to the land you will be hunting, you will want to look for such features as hedge rows, funnels, and creeks. This information will help you determine where deer may be coming onto the land that you are hunting. These features on the map will point you to the first places to begin your land based scouting for deer trails and wildlife sign.