Reading Topo Maps for Deer Stand Strategies
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
- The best way to read a topo map for planning your next great deer stand location, is by actually getting out in the hills and using a topo map. However, the concepts for using topography and topo maps to hunt, can be learned from your living room. Elevation change is a blessing when it comes to great deer herds that include big bucks. If you follow any of my thermal and hills videos, you can also learn to cheat the wind in habitat that features major topographical change. Using many of my stand locations as examples on a very hilly small parcel that I am extremely fortunate to hunt, I hope to offer and even greater glimpse into the topo map strategies that I personally use every single season.
You folks all see the eagle at 1:30? 🙂 Really cool drone shot!
for sure it is!
Yes I noticed. That’s what we call awesome up here in Ontario Canada.
@@draganarc0131 so awesome for sure...
I wonder out loud, how in the hell did he manage that?!
Yes that was majestic
Stinks trying to learn all the skills to be proficient in the woods as an adult. However with people like you spreading your knowledge it makes it a little easier. Jeff you truly have helped me learn for myself and also in teaching my son. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
John that really means a lot to me, and especially hearing that you can share the journey with your son....wow, that is awesome! Keep up the great times with your son...and I appreciate being able to be a small part of the process!
@John Jones. You took the words right out of my mouth! Except it for my daughter. Almost bring a tear to me when I see the joy it brings to her face teaching her. And a large amount of skills I am passing along were brought to the for front because of and by Jeff's teaching. Directly.
@@Bamamike223 love to hear that feedback RT... appreciate it!
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Absolutely Jeff. But not as much as I appreciate you Coach! Now stop it. Got me all in my emotions! 😂 Mike
@@Bamamike223 ha, good to hear RT, I will stop 🙂
Love the videos, young hunter teaching himself. Couldn't do it without your videos
I love you hear Jerry...I will try to keep em coming!
I just wanted to take a minute and thank you for all your very informative videos. I haven't hunted in over 20 years and just got back to it this season with my sons encouragement. We are very fortunate to have a 78 acre farm in sw PA to hunt all to ourselves. Makes for a very safe place to teach him. We haven't managed to find that elusive buck yet, but did harvest 2 nice doe. I feel we keep getting closer with all your wonderful videos. Thanks again Jeff.
I love hearing those kind of stories, congrats on getting back into hunting! And I really appreciate your feedback. Comments like yours really add fuel to the fire and congrats in the does too! I am sure that buck is right around the corner...
Yeah that buck is always around the corner, just not in front of us. Haha. The things my son & I have learned and the stories we have from just this one season are priceless. Looking forward to many years ahead of us and eventually taking trips with him to hunt in a few more years. With not having a father in my life or anyone in my family that hunts, your teachings are more valuable to us than you would ever know. Thanks again.
@@payakadventures haha, around the corner but hopefully very close. Great adventures with your son..."memories to last a lifetime" I always say. I am very fortunate to enjoy all of this with my wife now too....and the boys! The memories are priceless...enjoy the time, for sure!
Love watching all of your videos. U have taught me so much and I look at hunting in a totally different way now. Got big plans on my 86 acres for next year because of u. Thank u.
Love your videos! All the tips and tricks to better know your land. With food plots and simple set ups I have had more pictures of bucks than ever before. I’m only 16 but eager to learn! I like how the videos aren’t just about killing a monster but how to better understand stand deer and grow healthier deer, true management! I appreciate all your videos and hope I can implement your strategies on my land for better hunting and healthier deer. It’s tough in New York but hardwork and patience pays off
Tanner...great to hear from you in NY! I truly believe that hunters have more potential than they could ever believe. Work hard and you will find a Lot of whitetail success!
Thank you so much for your feedback! Good luck this season...
Thanks for another fantastic education session. My heart skipped a few beats every time you panned over the hills. I’m extremely fortunate to be able to hunt some “hills” here in Meaford Ontario Canada. Google earth the area, the hills aren’t big but they’re awesome. The areas we have permission on have these ridges and creeks that come together in several different spots and exactly like you said we hunt the benches and saddles and they ALWAYS produce.
P.S. we never leave the truck before legal shooting time and have often harvested deer, some exceptional, in the ag fields and fence rows on the way in. Some have been within a 100 yards of where we park the truck in the barn yard.
Man you are very welcome! I love these hills...sounds like a beautiful spot where you are hunting. I travel through some incredible bluffs when driving into Canada West of Thunder Bay. Then it is pretty flat when I travel further North...
Sounds like you guys have a great system for hunting too! Thanks for commenting and I will try to keep the info coming as best as possible...
Excellent vid again.. I was fortunate in that my grandpa and my dad taught me to understand and read topos before I was 10 yrs old. My topo is like a mastercard, I never leave home without it. It is one of if not the most important tool for hunting, at least it is in my eyes..
Thank you very much for what you do for us. I live in western Massachusetts where it is mountainous. I'm a archery hunting nut. Your information truly helps me untangle alot of confusion. please keep your information coming. Thanks Joe
Thank you very much Joe...man, I love to hear that because sometimes I'm not sure how the information and video translates. Happy it makes sense!
Joe Warger what zone do you live in? I live in southern VT but hunt western mass shotgun and muzzleloader
@@Newenglandwhitetail I hear great hunting out that way! I've had clients all around Massachusetts...but not actually IN Massachusetts
Jake Lyon I hunt zone 4N. You?
Whitetail Habitat Solutions I t can be pretty good hunting. There isn't the big agriculture land. Some hay fields, red oak stands and some wild apples. Tough hunting. I'm in the woods most all year long. Scouting and trying to figure out how the deer use the topography.
Thank you Jeff! I know I asked you this specific question weeks back! And I greatly appreciate that you made this video. It helps so much!
That's outstanding Matthew...really appreciate hearing that and I remember. A few others asked too and I figure if a few are asking...many want the same info. Really happy it helps you!
This is a great video. I'm obsessed with looking at Topo maps. I love OnXMaps hybrid map. I got into hunting a few years ago, and this stuff is like refresher course of the stuff I learned in boy scouts and the Marines, but it's more fun now haha
Thanks for the info on topo maps. I'm still getting my feet wet learning to read them and applying that info to the woods. I'm sure it will assist me in looking at new areas to hunt.
Thanks for the feedback Ron! I think I will have to put together another video more strictly hardcore on reading a map while in the field, using the GPS dot in the topo. But it's a start and I hope it helps you scout!
I have been hunting our property here in south central/western WI for a number of years and have quite a few nice bucks and a lot of elevation changes but my problem is I am unsure where to put stands and to get into them with out myself or my kids being seen as both ridges run nw to south east and my entry is not the easiest. Hopefully you will do a series on this with more tips on stand placement as I have a difficult property and can use all the help I can get. Thank you for posting these videos though we have just recently started target specific bucks as we have let most of the little ones go and have wound up with a few whoppers but just dont' know how to get em lol. looking forward to watching some more.
Thanks Jeff! Isn’t that why we got into hunting as kids,? to go up and down ledges, up and down elevation, and get squirrels... All that walking in the hills may make our heart tickers go longer, and we may get more hunting seasons... wouldn’t that be something?
For sure...man I hope it takes me to many more seasons. Great memories...AND great for the heart. Good points!
Love hunting tha Mtns. here in North Carolina. Your videos really help.
That's great hear Shawn! Not exactly mountains around here, but 400-500' changes in elevation can make for a tough hike...good luck scouting!
Thank you for this one. I struggle with topo maps but wanna learn badly
Great info Jeff!! Hope you enjoy your busy season, I’m sure your going to make a lot of clients happy with your designs!!
Thanks a lot Brian, that really means a lot! Have had two great clients and lands so far...Chris and his crew and then Lewi yesterday. Been a great client trip so far...I always love to see the trail cams and hunting pics that follow. Hope you are enjoying the Holidays!
It been perfect weather, for working on plans. Great time of year to do habitate improvements.. worked on the property all day yesterday. I just love being in the woods..
@@brianlenneman5032 it was an outstanding day yesterday...almost felt like Spring! I was up West of Rice Lake. Must have been close to 40? Never got even chilled...GREAT 40 acre parcel!
The ridgeline and saddle areas are the best. We have access to a small small property but have taken the biggest bucks of our life on the same ridge in a 50yd area. Deer get pressured off the big piece of land and always travel the same ridge. When you find the X it's a better pay off then any treasure hunt!
So true...I also like benches below points or side benches. Probably where is shoot 80% of my deer, mostly in the morning...
Jeff, during the warmer early season hunts, I know you use watering hole setups.. I'm in a club and a watering hole would be greatly pressured especially once everyone found out about it somehow. I tend to focus on creek bottoms and where the deer usually cross at the middle of a "S" turn in the creek. As you know, they like crossing here because of the shallow creek banks.
And during the rut, I love those benches and saddles, even midday. I've also noticed a lot more action in funnels heading towards the afternoon food source with the last stand of the thickest cover. Once I started focusing on terrain instead of how the land looked to me, I definitely got one more advantage on the elusive old bucks.
Finally a good explanation with pictures for us visual learners 😉And awesome drone footage of what looked like a bald eagle!! Always good info jeff thanks
Thanks a lot Jamb,glad that helps! And yes...really dang cool drone footage if that eagle! Good catch for sure. Appreciate the feedback!
Whitetail Habitat Solutions the Bald Eagle was the topper on the cake!!😁
@@rickparshall pretty dang cool!
Nice to see the maps while you explain!! Thanks!! I learned just like you said by walking the terrain.. however these apps now days with location service and a nice blue dot where you stand is nice😁nearly cheating...😂.. BTW... if any of the bucks in your videos walked near my stand my knees would be shaking so much I would fall out of stand and find out how good those hunter safety systems really are😂😝 AND undoubtedly spook that buck from that spot for life.. he he
Ha...there were a couple I passed that were tweeners for sure, lol! Great that you like the maps and I hope that this all makes sense. I would bet the HSS works...but I really don't want to test it! Heck, I get those shakes with those bucks too 😉
"Cheating" was exactly the word I was thinking too 🙂 But man, so dang convenient...so much use of a phone it is hard to believe!
Good video this is one of my favorite videos beacuse this is one of the things I have had trouble with finding spots on a topo thank you for the tips
You are very welcome Rob and that is great to hear that it helps! I will create some more in the near future...at least to help before Winter scouting runs out
Yeah I've already been scouting and planning on next week starting to get things ready for next year going to cut some trails in the thickest stuff I've ever seen and there's some old grown in logging roads going to set it up to make next year my best hunting season every
Once again, excellent video!
Thank you very much Jonathan! Always great to hear and I always appreciate your feedback!
This video taught me alot! Before this video to me, Topo graph maps looked like hieroglyphics😅 Looking forward to using this new found knowledge going forward starting with the flintlock tomorrow here in PA. Great video!! Subscribed
Man Cory that sounds great! Get out there...topos are great tools and that is outstanding if the video helps you enjoy them. Merry Christmas!
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Thank you Bud! Merry Christmas!! to you as well. I'm hunting a new 1000 acre plot of public land, the bucks are THERE...They were on my cams all throughout archery and rifle but gave me the slip. This is definitely going to help!
@@cmd1846 that's great to hear Cory...good luck and have fun!
Thanks again Jeff for the very informative video. Eagle @1:30, VERY cool! ♥️🇺🇸👍🏼
This is amazing! Loving it.
Appreciate the video, but I really didn't see much guidance on how to read a topo map. Would be nice to be able to look at some areas on a topo map, see the lines then immediately cut to the real image of that area so you can correlate topo lines to real land layout. Thank you for your video!
Thanks Mark you are very welcome! It's tough...I wanted to show the hunting strategy in relation to the topography. I see a lot of comments where the video helped a lot of folks read maps better. You have to blend the real world visual with the topo map and it isn't easy. I may follow up later but I fear it will end up being boring a a low-view video that doesn't reach a lot of folks...and therefore wouldn't help a lot of folks. My goal is to help as many hunters as possible, and of course my time is very limited. For example I am shooting 4-6 vids today with my wife and have roughly 2 hours to don't all in...
I hope it at least helped a little though!
This is great information, especially for a guy like myself who hunts central Pennsylvania
That is great to hear Mark...really appreciate the feedback! It was a very tough one to put together...really need to do a series on it. Most of all I hope that it helps!
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 it certainly does help. I was a forward observer in the Army so I'm pretty good at reading topos, but combing that with how deer use the terrain is a valuable piece of knowledge!
@@markspringer3628 very cool Mark and thank you for your service! Honored to have you offer the feedback that you have, your feedback means a lot to me
Mark Springer thank you for your service!!!🇺🇸
@@rickparshall Thank you sir. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.
I'm trying to help my buddy best develop his 50 acres of which nearly half is almost so steep as to be non climbable, the rest, I see a huge potential, one major problem I see, is there's only one way into the central, most walkable area, can I send you a topo map of his property and get your thoughts? Thanks and thank you for all the work put into these videos. From NW N.C.
Topos are invaluable in these mts. Got most of the WMA I hunt framed and on a wall so I can study it easily anytime.
Great video. Had me glued the whole time. Awesome way to start the mapping series. Lol (wink)
Ha, that is great to hear MH, really appreciate that feedback! Mapping series...I guess that is coming now, lol Looking forward to it...
Draw what you’re talking about. Especially when you are showing a topo map
What is your personal favorite topography feature to hunt? Such as a saddle, point, bench, etc. Here in PA they are plentiful, so it can become painstaking to decide. I know it’s a difficult question to answer with no context such as food plots, and fields dictating movement, but I’d appreciate any answer. Thanks.
Jeff. Great info. I'm in pa. I've read and took notes reading MAPPING TROPHY BUCKS by Brad Herndon. Reading about wind direction, low n high pressures, thermals, funnels,saddles n benches. What do you think of hunting inside corners? I saw inside corners during bow n rifle n noticed droppings and a bench which dropped to a saddle. How n when during the day can I hunt inside corners. Where I hunt is new to me, but swampy. I see plenty of trails, tracks and bedding but no rubs or scrapes. I'm thinking they went to feed somewhere else around the sgl since the acorns I saw are eaten up. I don't see any deer or hear many shots during rifle. I'm 65 n haven't seen a deer. I hunt alone.
Sounds like you probably enjoy the peace and solitude Peter! And I miss PA. I hunt inside corners a lot...in particular any benches and obvious crossing routes.
Right now I look for heavy stem count areas...clearcuts on public land, a blowdowns areas, and where the hardwood edges meet this swamps.
Hope that helps and thanks a lot for the comments!
With all the buck sign I'm missing something. With a field food plot, will deer only visit at evening? How long do u sit if there's no sightings?
@@peterbergeris6510 if a food plot is unpressured and has consistent forage all season long, it will typically attract deer about an hour before dark. If over pressured...at dark or after. Sometimes well after dark. I usually sit for about 3 hours in the afternoon...typically right until dark. There are a lot of areas where deer leave a lot of sign after dark...fewer areas where bucks leave sign during the daylight.i hope that helps? A hunter needs to know of the sign they are hunting is during the daylight or darkness...
Do you hunt alone by choice or lack of people that still want to hunt I'm 63 and find I hunt alone too but would a lot of time s prefer to have someone with me.
@@johnkendall6962 I have a lease partner for 2/3 lands in WI...I actually like to hunt with 1-2 others on public land, but I have such a tight window to hunt usually, meaning I only hunt the weather or opening days...sometimes drive all night. I also sat with my wife 8-10 times this year...with my son Sam a couple of times. Seems like someone is always around but with small parcels we rarely can hunt 2 people at once on 1 parcel.
On public land tho, I like when someone is with me...although going into spots a mile apart or more.
I don't blame you though, I prefer someone else around too
Thanks for another Awesome video!!!
You are very welcome Rob, I really appreciate that! I am filming another 8-10 next Tuesday...can't wait to bring them to everyone!! Mostly I hope that they help...
Thank you for the great information, your channel and content is excellent! You mentioned using triangulation to figure out your location using a map and compass. Do you have any recommendations on how to get paper topo maps that you can navigate with? Something like a 1:50,000 scale. I have a DeLorme's Atlas for my state but the scale is 1:110,000 and I'm not familiar with how to triangulate at that scale.
Great video as alway brother GOD BLESS
Thanks Randle!
I've learned to read maps n elevation contour lines.
That's great...something I read all of the time but I know a lot of food haven't learned yet. Hope the video helps!
Awesome vid! Can you maybe make a video on how to hunt in wooded areas
Thank you! I have a lot of public land videos...you talking about that kind of big woods hunting?
If the deer are bedded on the sides of that hill/mountain, how are you getting up to that food plot while they are bedded? You have to work your way up somehow, or do you just know where the bedding is and have access that avoids them? Seems harder on big public
Amazon has one of your books at $506 as new! Plus shipping!
Ha, that's pretty funny, lol! Personally I'd wait until we restock next week on Amazon 🙂 or just order from our site, ha
Hey Jeff, Curious if you do any type of virtual consulting? I just got approval to hunt a 1000 acre piece of property and would love some feedback on where you think to setup. I understand if there is a fee for this obviously.
I know this video is two years old, but I sure could use some help understanding the TOPO in south Mississippi. We have very small hills maybe the biggest change in elevation is 40-50’. I have walked ridges and created tracks while walking and then get back to the computer and it still doesn’t add up. Not sure what I’m missing?
I’m just about to hit the woods, wouldn’t mind having a nice whitetail sweater. Is your merchandise for sale Jeff?
He doesn't have much on his site...yet?? You probably mistook the Sitka logo for his like I did a while back. I'm waiting for some of his stuff to hit the website too!
If you’re struggling to read a topo map, you can get printouts with raised elevations still. The map maker makes an effort to make that flat piece of paper three dimensional. It’s not a true representation, but that bumpy piece of paper will help you to figure out what you’re looking at.
speaking of a compass, the "old" way. do you find yourself able to harvest more deer now with GPS? or does it not entirely matter?
I'm in the Wasatch front, Utah.
Does not entirely matter. Just more convenient for myself personally. Coming from a time I cut out cards of a topo and laminated while using a compass, I think it was a great way to start. I also used a compass in heavy semi wilderness cover up North where the GPS wouldn't come in. I leaned to trust the compass in total darkness when my mind told me to go another way. More game...no, and really thankful for the early compass days. But also very thankful for the efficiency of GPS tracking dots or arrows, topo apps and Google Earth.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 thank you for the response and information. to be honest this is my first year and I'm leaning more towards the laminated cards for several day hunts deep in away from skiddish deer. I'm an archery only hunter.
I'm really digging your channel. I appreciate what you're doing.
I'd love to get your advice on public land I hunt on the eastern shore of Maryland call Pocomoke State Park it is completely flat and very Piney only thing we have to work with are some clear Cuts here and swamp lines around the river.. other than that its majority pines although there are private crp fields in and around the public land. when it comes to looking on maps I can't put nothing together all my work is from just boots on the ground I just wish I could read or know how to read this flatland a little better. Any advice ?
How can you get topo maps for certain area online or is there away to get em from Court House or something for your county
You can get them online
Jeff, what part of PA have you hunted? I live in the midst of the Allegheny National Forest.
what topo program/website do you use to get these zoomed maps?
I use the free US Topo app...works great used it for years! Also includes a GPS arrow too.
How do I deal with no elevation? Where I hunt is completely flat.
Do you use hunting apps such as scout look of HuntWise
Not at all...not sure you would think it's a good thing but I don't even have them on my phone. I use Google Earth for the most up to date and best aerial pics with a highly accurate GPS dot, and then I use the free version of US Topo...outstanding Topo map with GPS/Compass tracking arrow. And I still use a compass at times as a backup.
I might be interested in a property evaluation. Would like to know how to get more info on how to contact u
Hi Scott I would love to help you out if it's a good fit for you. I have a pretty set schedule as to where I am at each month thru September, and my wife, Diane, takes care of all scheduling. The process starts by emailing to info@whitetailhabitatsolutions.com. Or you can call 608-452-2632. Either way Diane will get back to you and we can see if it is a good fit. There is more info on my website in the services area too... www.whitetailhabitatsolutions.com. Thanks for asking and have a Merry Christmas!
Weve got a lot of hunting pressure round here that the biggest prob here.
Same here Randle, lol. A common problem unless you live in much of Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakota's, Oklahoma, KY, etc. Although you can find low pressure public land in just about any state 😉
Whitetail Habitat Solutions true brother
@@randlerichardson5826 for sure...
Whitetail Habitat Solutions round this time in the season there’s a lot of road hunting goes on. If for say I’m hunting a deer somewhere and he crosses the road somebody could kill him from the road and I’d never know it. What does a feller do????? One day at a time I guess. LORD willing I’m hitting the woods tomorrow. It’s supposed to be sunny tomorrow. Good luck brother and GOD BLESS you Amen.
@@randlerichardson5826 great thoughts Randle!
Hey brother.
Morning Randle, you get out to hunt!?
I've killed most of my deer in saddles and gaps in the cliffs of the Mountains
For sure...
Casually mentions 214” buck... pics or it didn’t happen! 👍
Look back on my Facebook pics ☺️
the comments are a book
Ha, so true...I do try to put time into them! And so do a lot of viewers...highly enjoyable to me!
Your fingers are not helping your description.
Watch a different channel then. As the first person to mention that...you win a special prize 😁 Especially the first out of 60,000 views! Must have helped someone...
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 just letting u know for next time. Maybe more time on the physical map instead of trying to imagine it. I enjoy the subject and channel, just a little constructive criticism.
Its not ToPo! It TOPO, I'm an army vet who reads alot of maps. Its short for topographical... TOPO. Lol good video though