Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

Hello all,
I had an epiphany this past gun season when I talked to a guy who pulled up with a monster buck in the back of his truck. I was showing everybody the biggest deer that I had ever killed at that time and it looked like a baby compared to this huge, old buck. I asked him where he got it and he said the local state forest. I was blown away by that! I mentioned that it sounded strange to me that he would kill such a large deer in a national forest where everybody and their brother hunts every year. He then stated that hunters are too lazy to go to the place where he shot that deer. He said he even saw one that was bigger than that the same day.

Therein came my epiphany. I always hunt in areas that are full of 4 wheeler trails and deer don't live to be too old in these well traveled areas. The national forests don't allow four wheeler traffic and most of it is just miles of land that is open only to foot traffic.

That being said, I want to hike way back into the places where most men are too lazy to go and hunt to find the really big bucks! But I really don't know how to do it. I know there are many maps available on the internet but I don't know where to start.

Here is my main question.....Which maps, tools etc. do I need to find the most remote places (away from roads, houses, trails) in national/state forests (George Washington national and kanawha state forest) and where do I find this information? Also, is there a book published that deals with this topic in a step by step manner?

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

You are right about hunters being lazy. Most people won't venture more than about 1/4 mile from vehicle access.

One place to start is the US Geological Survey topograhical maps. They are very helpful. They show conturols, forests, open areas, trails, roads etc. They are kind of out of date. They don't show all the logging roads in the forest where I hunt, but they do give a good indication of where the areas that don't have roads. Below is the link to their website. they have a list on the sight of where you can get them in each state, or I think you can order them directly from USGS.

http://topomaps.usgs.gov/index.html

Also, get some arial photos, those help when combined with the topo maps. I don't know where you are from, but lots of counties in WI have done arial photo flyovers in the last few years.

The thing to do is scoutthese areas out before the season, so you can find areas that are both remote and good deer habitat.Generally, as you go deeper in, you will find fewer other hunters, but be assured, you aren't the first person who has thought of this. As I scouted areas this fall, I waspretty deep in and I came across the best ground blind someone had made. It looked like alog cabin with walls, a bench seat log roof withpine branches and everything.

Once you plan to venture in so deep in the woods, a GPS would be handy to help you get your way back to the truck. I want to get one of those for next season.

The thing about getting so deep in the woods, is that its a long way to drag a deer.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

Well the deeper out you go the less people you'll see and the quality of bucks would have to go up. Where I hunt now looks like a pumpkin patch in gun season (all the orange vests!).

I'm one of the few people that enjoy dragging deer. I like the challenge. thanks for the tips.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

You can try www.topozone.com for maps and satelite pics. I would buy a GPS. Get one that can be used with the topo map software and you will be set. Just bring extra batteries and you will never get lost as long as your GPS is working. I usually hunt about a mile in and I don't mark any of my trails or stands it's all done by GPS. You can even upload all the points you marked to your PC and plot them on a map. This works great to plot out rub lines and really gives you an idea how the deer are traveling.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

Mufan

I grew up in up-state Vermont so I have been really influenced by the "Benoit" style of hunting which is what I think you are looking for. They have two books out that are great reading "How to bag the biggest buck of your life" and "Big bucks the Benoit way".

My advice is to get yourself a Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer for your state and start researching areas. Take time to scout in the early fall and learn the logging roads and trails, definately get a gps, and be prepared for changing weather conditions.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

Awesome idea! I like hunting this way. I'm not a believer in GPS though. When "going in deep", you want to travel light. Good, reasonably light boots, polyproplyene unerwear and wool outerwear. A light, scoped bolt action carbine, tag, knife, rope, sandwich and a liter of water. Also map, compass, waterproof supply of matches, flashlight. You have enough crap to carry as it is.

I use topozone, because I have access to good color lazer printers. Otherwise obtain a USGS 7.5 minute quad map. Google topozone or USGS. These resources will show you plenty of country.The 7.5 minute quad maps are amazingly accurate as far as terrain goes, and even if they're 30 years old, the terrain really doesn't change. Another important consideration is scale. If you learn how to use these maps, you can determine how far apart certain terrain features are, how far from roads, etc. Look on the map for saddles, swamp edges, creeks, "swamp islands", common sense type of terrain features. Spenda lot of time hiking and exploring with map in hand. This type of hunting takes a lot of scouting time. Best time to scout is during open season or right after. Spring is good too. Plan your hunts with wind direction being a primary consideration. Travel into the wind, and set up your blinds to take advantage of certain wind directions. Seek out some decent buck sign. It's only common sense. If you're going in that far, you want to have a good reason.

I've run into ground blinds also in some very remote locations, and some very good locations, you just have to tip your hat to the person that made them. I don't consider it reason to not hunt an area however. Check the location after season to see if the blind has been used.

Plan ahead for dragging considerations. Inform your hunting partners, or someone, of what you are doing and what you will do if you score. Personally, I would never leave a deer out overnight, unless I absolutely had to, ie: life or death situation.

Keep in shape. This is not the type of hunting for a fat old man who smokes. Good Luck

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

I'm in class right now, but I'm gonna have to read over this topic once I'm done for the day. Since I go to college 350 miles from home, pretty much the only scouting that I've been able to do this season was while small game hunting for a few days before deer hunting on break. I've been really dependent on Google Local (too lazy to bother with Google Earth) and the Division of Fish and Wildlife topo maps for picking out possible out of the way spots.

Edit: Never mind, just read it now! Too bad in Jersey there really aren't any places you can go that you can really get out of the way like what you guys are planning to do, but perhaps I can get an advantage for when I start hunting up at school in New York next season!

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

I use delorme topo usa, DNR maps and compasses. Someday I'll get a GPS unit but for now I use maps. With delorme you can download aerials and usgs overlays and then do 3D flyovers with the software. You can print out maps at all kinds of scales. It is great for doing extensive map recon before going in on foot. When I do get in on foot I mark the maps I have printed out with different things, rubs, scrapes, animal trails, etc. I also check out what look like natural funnels on the map and sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't. Remember though, the deeper you go in the farther you will have to drag out.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

I actually use this method to find fishing spots with little to no pressure. Nothing like catching a fat sunfish thats never seen a hook. I really like the USGS site and maps. I agree that there maps are outdated especially in areas that may have seen recent urban sprawl. I learned to use a Topo in the Army and would suggest a map reading class if you can find one in your area. You will be amazed at what you can learn from a topo and a compass once you learn all those little tricks to using one.

I was planning to use this method to find places to hunt. Allot of the advice i have been hearing from friends is to go deep further than most will to find areas with little or no pressure. Studying a Topo and an aerial will help with finding paths to get in and out. Scouting is good advice because you will never know what it really looks like untill your standing in it trying to figure out how to cross a creek, swamp, Etc.

Great topic you brought up i am intrested in hearing from more folks who practice this type of hunting.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

Why do you say that open season or right after is the best time? just curious

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

What is a short summary of the benoit style?

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

Delorme topo usa package is 295 bucks! It says it is a complete wireless gps package. Is this the same thing you are using?

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

Yeah, I really don't have the first clue about reading a topo map but am willing to learn. Any good books or sites that cover this?

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

If it was me I would only hunt in remote places like Northern Maine. I live on Cape Cod but have a cabin up by Jackman Maine with lots of access to remote hunting locations.

I spend about a week in september up there bird hunting and scouting out nice areas to hunt and by nice I mean remote mountains or swamps. When November hits I spend two weeks at camp and usually pretty successful. The deer densities are lower but so is the hunting pressure. I have gone days without seeing another hunter or pickup truck on the logging roads, especially during the weekdays.

I usually photo copy topo maps onto waterproof paper and carry them in my pocket along with a garmin etrex. You can always mark your truck or camp as a waypoint in a gps and get back to it eventually but more than likely you will be following a straight line gps (as the crow flies) way back. If you can plot gps coordinates such as Latitude and longitude on your topo map you will always know where you are at and what is the 'best' route back. If I am miles from my truck I usually locate an old logging road on my map and head for that especially if it is getting late.

My best advice is to know your area before starting out, if you are worried about getting lost in the woods then it will routine your hunt and trust your equipment. I got turned around once close to Mt Mooselauke in NH because I stayed in the woods to late following a deer that was always one step ahead of me. Luckily I had a small maglite and had to backtrack in the snow to where I had crossed an old logging road. I finally got back to my truck at around 9pm. I was pretty nervous but had matches for a fire if I needed it.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

the Benoits are tracker, they never sit in stands or drive deer and they are even very successful tracking without snow. It is pretty hard to sum up their style of hunting except to say that they are true woodsmen and they consistantly year after year shot deer over 200lbs that they have tracked and not shot over bait or from a stand.

I really suggest if you are an avid whitetail deer hunter then read "Big bucks the benoit way". You can most likely order it used through amazon relatively cheaply.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

The delorme atlas and gazeetter for each individual state runs about $20 and any good sporting good store should carry one. They show logging road, trails, elevations, streams, and what is accessible by truck and what isn't. You don't want to carry the whole atlas in the woods so photo copy your area on write in the rain paper and keep it with you. Also learn to plot your latitude and longitude. Latitude is north and south and longitude is east and west.. Also take a gps course but also carry a compass, using both of these together you will always know where your at and will never get lost.

And practice when you have free time. I bought my father an etrex last christmas and he loves it. His problem is that he sometimes forgets his glasses so he can't see the screen. Now he carries a cheap spare velcroed into his hunting jacket.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

i actually just got back from barnes and noble and was looking at the gazeteer. It looks like its got a bit of a learning curve to know what's going on with it. It was kind of confusing because all of the roads are in red. Hiking trails are dotted as well as four wheeler trails as well as interstate 64.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

Every hunter worth his salt should have maps of his hunting areas. I have maps of every square inch of ground I hunt. I hunt 100% public land and use the maps to find funnels and ridges that deer will use when pushed by the hunters that don't travel very far. I look at my maps all the time, I have a set in my house in my truck and at work, so if something pops into my head about an area I can check it out. I am always looking for something I may have missed before. I also use my GPS to track the trees I have setup in, when I get back I can upload the info to my PC and see on the map exactly where I was at.

Once you get good at reading topo's and picking out features on aerials you can almost pick out an exact spot without ever setting foot in the woods. There is still alot to be said for actual in the woods scouting. I personally like to scout this time of year, the leaves are off the trees and it is real easy to see major land features. You can also see trails, rubs and old scrapes very well, these will come in handy for the next year. It's a pretty good feeling when you find and area on the mapthat you thinkshould be a hot spot and then you go and kill in that spot.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

If you're not very skilled at reading maps and using a compass you are foolish not to use a GPS. You can pick up a cheap one for $100, it may not have map software butit will at least get you back to your truck. Even using a GPS you need to keep in mind that it might stop working. I've never had this happen in the 5 yrs I've used one but you never know. If I was going in several miles I would carry a Topo map compass and a bunch of extra batteries, and something to start a fire. Also the Benoit books are outstanding. I learned a lot from "How to bag the biggest buck of your life". They started printing it again recently so you can get it cheap. The original first run books go for a couple hundred dollars. Good luck.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

Mufan, reading topo maps can be relatively easy. I learned in the Army. There are good military manuals that can teach you. If I had not gotten out a little over a year ago, I would get you one. You could do a search on the internet to see if there are sellers of military manuals.
Always get on ground where you are debating/thinking about hunting as well in order to get the lay of the land. Terrain features change over time. Early spring time is the best time to scout, as once the snow clears, you have most of the deer sign left from the past fall.
Good luck and make it fun.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

I only hunt public land also and along with topo's I check out flashearth.com

check this out also
http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1845498&mpage=1&key=&#184981 7

topozone.com is great

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

also if you are wanting to get deep in the woods this firewood carrier can easily be made into a deer cart. Someone on this forum posted it a while back. Not bad for $40.00

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44599

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

Thanks Davs, I was going to work with my neighbor to make a game cart from scratch with used bike parts, but something like that wood hauler would be a better starting point.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

yeah I myself need to take trip down to harbor freight and see if they have it in the store. Best of luck to you

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

I use the topo east region and it is $50.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

Do topo maps measure "as a crow flies" or do they take into account the changing elevations when calculating distance. If it is as a crow flies then the mileage listed on the scale is most likely always shorter than it actually is if in a mountainous region, correct?

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

The delorme software I use measures actual distance. It will also give you a profile of your plotted trail detailing the changes in elevation that the trail makes. You can also measure as the crow flies. You can also print 3D renderings at different angles of elevation of a particular map so that you can "see" the changes in elevation.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

Yes, they are measured as the crow flies or in aerial miles. If you have to go up and down that is going to add to the distance you have to travel.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

which GPS unit do you have? aRe there any you would recomend or stay away from? I don't want to buy the most expensive one out there but I don't want to short myself of useful features either.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

The problem with many maps out there is that the USGS maps are outdated and don't show the public lands. Those that show public lands don't show any other valuable information for hunting. I'm currently working on maps that will have most information hunters/fisherman look for on the map. The upcoming maps will be in NY, NJ, PA area.

Here is a smaple of the Catskill Region map. The maps has countour lines as well as GPS grid so with GPS handheld, you will know where you are. It shows all lands open to hunting.

RE: Using maps, gps, etc. to find remote hunting spots
 

When you buy your GPS, look to get one (e.g. Garmin eTrex) or similar that you can download from CDs detailed topo maps on from your PC to the GPS. You still need to practice with it setting waypoints ahead of time you think will have the type of topography you'd like to check out and learn how to make it direct you to those point and back to starting point before you head of into "the wilderness". It's no time to learn how to use it once you're out hunting.
Get a good quality Topo map from place like mytopo.com and good compass. Know how to use them, too, before...

I don't know the area you speak of, but here in northern MN heading way back in the woods miles from nearest roads doesn't guarantee you'll see or get big bucks though. That's also where many of the packs of Timber Wolves hunt and deer sign is few and far between. It takes a lot of patience, walking, stopping, watching for sign and listening still.