Online aerial scouting tips

[cnelk]

Just wanted to share some info I found now that its time to start doing some aerial scouting.

I like to to use a mix of aerial views - GE, Flashearth, and Bing Maps [Bird\'s Eye View] If you use Bing Birds Eye View, be sure to look at a spot from ALL directions

A few years ago I was researching a unit for elk hunting.

As I was looking at different water holes, I noticed this one tree that looked like it had a few branches cut out for a tree stand.





I entered the coordinates into my GPS and when I went to scout, I walked up to this tree




So I hung a tree stand over that water hole.





I never shot an elk from that tree stand, but I did see plenty of elk

 

[Buglemaster]

I\'ve been to that exact tree as well. Brad shared those coordinates & we checked it out a couple years after he was there. Not only was it occupied by another hunters stand but the larger tree at 10 o\'clock also had one. We planned on setting it that evening & were settled in nicely when two guys showed up to claim \"their\" water hole. Bulls were bugling like crazy not to far off, so we let the guys claim their water & went after the vocal bulls. We\'re within 100 yds of the herd when the wind shifted. A great bull to boot! Planning on checking it out again this fall as one of our buddies should draw that unit this year. Can\'t wait!

 

[Ucsdryder]

I\'m still looking for my first elk on google earth!

 

[cnelk]

Gian

See this thread. This is what elk look like on GE

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Fun stuff for sure!

 

[VTHOKEE]

I just started looking at using gameplannermaps.com. I messed with it a little this morning and it has a lot of good info that I wasn\'t able to tell from Google maps or Bing maps. Being able to look at all of them has already given me a better idea of a game plan for this year.

 

[Billy Goat]

I\'m still looking for my first elk on google earth!

I found a herd of about 50 last year on GE. pretty cool. looked like maggots on the screen, and I couldn\'t figure out what it was.

unfortunately, they didn\'t hang around to see me in September. =(

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Here\'s another lounge chair scouting tip for those that want to or do bivy hunt. This spot is a very elky place and we\'ve always wanted to bivy in. Why? because it\'s extremely rough to access and even if we leave at 3:00 AM we are still about an hour past light when we arrive. So looking closely at Google Maps, I\'ve discovered a nice spring that is centered in the honey hole. A summer trip will be planned. :upthumb:

And how easy is it to spot zoomed out? Make sure to zoom in and check the area thoroughly.

 

[KHNC]

I just started looking at using gameplannermaps.com. I messed with it a little this morning and it has a lot of good info that I wasn\'t able to tell from Google maps or Bing maps. Being able to look at all of them has already given me a better idea of a game plan for this year.

I just purchased a digital map from gameplannermaps.com Very detailed. Trying to access a large format printer so I can print it. No luck so far tho.

 

[cohunter14]

Nice find JF! Anxious to hear what it looks like.