Google Maps......MyMaps

[fishin_musician]

Do it your self isn't always about using some leftover material to make something useful. Sometimes even the most innovative recycler has to admit the someone has done it better using technology. Google Maps are a boon to outdoorsmen giving us access to satelite views of most of the planet. Google maps has a built in application called My Maps. One of our members is visiting the Wyoming Valley from Long Island, NY this weekend. He want to do some wet wading for smallies and has some experience doing it in the Susky here on past visits. Being a friendly sort I offered to share a few spots for him to try but was having trouble communicating how to find and access these locations. Enter Google Maps, My Maps. I used the My Maps app to place my own blue balloons and add my own notes. I was able to draw in paths, trails and unmarked access roads using a draw tool and add notes to these. I did this for selected spots up the susky from West Pittston to Mehoopany. I gave our friend about 8 locations to check out. I selected the private option so that no one can find this map w/o the specific url. I sent the member in question a link to the map and he can view it just like a normal Google Map. One caution remember to make your maps private other wise someone searching smallie fishing hotspots might find it, and be sure to tell anyone you give your digital map to not to share. I can envision lots of other uses of this feature, like marking scenic spots, exotic species locations, or camp sites.
Enjoy

[Nemo]

You can't beat these types of maps I'm always using them. It's amazing what you can see and do with them. I use BING.com they have a 3D feature where you actually zoom in to street level. Just type in the location where you want to go and your there! These are a must for any outdoorsmen.

[Carpy]

Google maps is a good tool to get an overview of spots you are going to.
But, unless you are willing to pay $70 a month to a cell phone company for a data plan (I'm not), you still need to print them out and refer to them as you travel.

Call me an old school, out of touch dinosaur, but my trusty Delorme Atlases work just fine.

Besides, I'm never in a hurry and sometimes getting lost is an adventure in itself.

[LUNGBUSTER]

It is a great tool. I use it for locating and placing my archery stands. You can easily locate pinch points, funnels and once you get very familiar with the map you can also locate timbered/thick areas that appear red. They are very thick areas and great bedding areas for deer. Also use it for turkey and bear hunting...great system all around for everyone.

[HenryDavid]

I'm always using the yahoo & google maps, I usually save a document with directions, maps and comments, etc.

[Carpy]

It is a great tool. I use it for locating and placing my archery stands. You can easily locate pinch points, funnels and once you get very familiar with the map you can also locate timbered/thick areas that appear red. They are very thick areas and great bedding areas for deer. Also use it for turkey and bear hunting...great system all around for everyone.

Don't mean to pick on you Lungbuster, but in the "old days" finding pinch points, funnels, bedding areas, and game trails was done via a method called "scouting"...

I realize that you probably scout the area too and just google for pre-planning, but I could not resist making a wisecrack.

p.s. - One of my pet peeves is the amount of glowpins stuck in trees and pieces of orange surveyor tape hung on branches I find littered everywhere. In some areas it looks like the remants of a ticker-tape parade.
IMO, they trash up the woods and are as distasteful as a pile of empty beer cans. I make a habit of removing them and disposing of them properly. I'm not anti-hunter, but I am anti-litterer.
     

[zziipp]

i agree carpy about the million pins and marker tape.i use very few pins because i am familar with my areas.i use only a couple for turns and treestand placement in thick areas and when i am done with that area i pull my pins.i have found some good spots by using other peoples pins and have had two lockon treestands stolen by having a spot over pinned and led other people right to my spot.

[HenryDavid]

The modern technology is just a gift, nothing beats being familiar with your territory, I'm not a hunter but am a backpacker and hiker, been "almost" lost numerous times.  GPS is one thing that we are lucky to have in this modern age, knowing which way the sun sets is good too, lol.

[LUNGBUSTER]

I dont mind the wisecrack Carpy, wont take it to heart. I scout all my areas on foot and probably spend 90% of time scouting and 10% hunting. It's just nice to have a birdseye view of the area...you get to see some things that you cant see or miss while you are in the woods. Also helps me to see fields, food plots etc on neighboring lands that I cant go on that have me wondering why the deer are going to or coming from a certain area.

Def. agree with you on the tacks and tape, but have to thank the trespassers that put them on my property, it usually leads to a new free treestand and an easy trespassing ticket to the scumbag.

[zziipp]

i hunt public lands.but a buddy of mine had a guy treaspassing on his property and built a treestand on it.it was funny he went to the store and got a wind up alarm clock(a really loud one).they wound it up the night b-4 and set the alarm for daylight and posted about 100 yds away from the spot.the next morning the guy showed up and about 7 am that alarm clock fired off and my buddy laughed his tilt off then went and escorted the guy off his property.public land is hard to keep a lockon on a tree so i switched to a climber.no worries about asswipes who steal stands.now if someone puts one on your property i aggree its free for the taking.

[LUNGBUSTER]

I used to leave a nice polite note on the trespassers tree stands maybe thinking they thought they were on land they thought they were allowed to be on. But when they just ignored the notes and the posters I just got tired of it, so now I dont even give them a chance. I take the stand (because 9 times out of 10 when you get them in or near the stand they say its not theirs) and they leave with a $400 dollar fine.

You cant beat a climber either zziipp, easily relocate to where the deer are moving without getting all sweated up putting in steps, making ungodly noise etc.

[Carpy]

You are right about the overview thing Lung. I found a few small ponds on state gamelands that I never would have known were there if it were not for messing around with Google.

It really sucks to hear that you have trespassers that are so brazen. I never understood why people don't understand what a posted sign means. In addition to the fine, they should have their guns and vehicle confiscated. That would make them think twice.   

[zziipp]

i hear ya lb the climber is stealthy and quiet and mine is easily adjustable.and without a doubt comfortable.the lockons are nice for odd trees in areas where straight trees are hard to find.and sometimes i like to take a nap in the afternoon before the evening hunt.work third shift,go to the woods,hunt in the morning,nap in the afternoon,and hunt the evening.you cant fall asleep in a lock on.at least i wouldn't.and i was told a property does not have to be posted.you are supposed to know where you are hunting.all game lands and co-ops are posted for hunting and listed.my one buddy has steps that strap to the tree.he can put his steps up pretty fast and take them off fast and reduce the risk of somebody having easy access to your stand.plus when you are on game lands you are not supposed to drill holes in trees or inflict damage that could kill the tree and make bug infestation more applicable.

[LUNGBUSTER]

Yes zziipp that is true that a property does not have to be posted for you to be charged with trespassing....but a judge usually finds the guy not guilty if it isnt posted, especially if the guy lives in his voting district. And it all depends on the judge to...some are so liberal its disgusting and if you get a judge that hunts and owns/leases land its usually a slam dunk no questions asked guilty.

[HenryDavid]

We have some excellent judges in Luzerne county, I hope they all get the chair!