Reading Topo Maps

[jeb0217]

I will be hunting some new land in Lewis County KY. I am from NC, where the terrain is basically completely flat! I have very little experience with reading topographical maps. I will be taking a week in early August to do some scouting, bost most of my scouting will be done with aerials and topos. Does anyone here have experience using these, and if so any tips?

[Multidigits]

The elevation marks represent a change in elevation, either up or down. The scale determines how much up or down. The grids give you the coordinates which you can use to find the spot on aerials or a map server on the internet. You can also use Google Earth and see the lay of the land from different angles. Check the topo map for date at the bottom to see when it was mapped, some things could be different now.

I use topozone.com a lot with aerials from some other servers to see what your getting into. I took 125 mile float trip in Alaska a while back and had every stop preprogammed into a GPS before hand by marking the spot on the topo and seeing what the coordinates was.

[jeb0217]

what type features should I be looking for? From what I have read, definetely funnels, flat/bedding areas, any others?

[Al]

The closer the lines are the steeper it is.

[shaman]

I will be hunting some new land in Lewis County KY. I am from NC, where the terrain is basically completely flat! I have very little experience with reading topographical maps. I will be taking a week in early August to do some scouting, bost most of my scouting will be done with aerials and topos. Does anyone here have experience using these, and if so any tips?


1. Download USAPhotomaps (http://jdmcox.com/) and install it. It's free and it does both topo and aerial photos. It also interfaces with GPS units.
2. Use the software and print off some maps and photos of your house, the nearest county park, etc. Find things you know and download maps to compare the map with reality. This will get you the best understanding of what relates to what.
3. I used Finding Your Way in the Outdoors (http://www.amazon.com/Finding-your-way-outdoors-forecasting/dp/B0006D0D94/ref=sr_1_4/105-8967872-3801200?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186052053&sr=1-4) way back to teach myself how to read maps and use them to navigate. There may be better ones out there now.


Here are some more quick hints:

The closer the lines are the steeper the terrain
Purple stuff means new-- since the last update to the map
Black spots are usually buildings
Blue stuff is water

[Willie]

I like this one...

http://tinyurl.com/y5koq4

[bbamc]

buy be expert with map and compass by Bjorn Kjellstrom a must read for anybody who wants to learn how to use a map in the woods very informative and has a practice map in the back.

[wkyduckslayer]

Check out the book,

Mapping Trophy Whitetails, by Brad Herndon

You can get it at Barnes and Noble or the web. Its a great book with lots of info!

[mastin03]

just another spot to look at some topos and aerial photos.....

www.terraserver-usa.com