Might be an old or easy question but I could use some help. When looking over a topo map of your hunting location what are you looking for to key in on?

Topo's usually show propertyboundries, roads/trails, fields, wooded areas,creeks/rivers/lakes/ponds, steep drop off's, or the lack there of. I don't know of much more info that they provide. You can pick up a topo key that shows what each and every symbol means.

1 word: FUNNELS

Right on Rory!!


Good pointers there Early in.

I pretty much only use the satalite maps now and I look for the thick stuff.

Oh man.. like a hundred different things.

Funnels of course.. saddles that create funnels.. benches.. a good ridgeline that extends over a great distance.. pay attention to creeks and river crossing where the slope of the shore lines will help determining deer movement.. saddles in open fields... points extending into swamp and marsh... WOW what a general question.

One more thing.. my BELOVED cubbies were down 9-1.. and now lead 10-9 after a DeRosa 2 run homer... Go Cubs..!!

YEAH,MAN

LOTS of structures will/can produce funnels (including topo changes). A true topo only gives you topographical/slope/elevation details (I work with site/grading plans every day). If you can get the topo with an aerial overlay....it'll start to make more sense to you (as a hunter). As a builder.....it makes little difference to me to see the aerial.

Ditches, creeks, anything like that that would act as a travel area for deer.

All of the above! If you can get ahold of, or make a map like GMMAT described, topo/aerial overlay, you have gold! They are awesome. You can use photoshop to make them yourself. Just make sure you have a couple reference points to line up and make sure they overlpa correctly.