Using a Map and a Compass!!

When hunting, using  a topographical map is essential.    A topographic map shows the detail of any landscape.  A topographic map will give you information about areas lakes, swamps, and provides details about distance and elevation.

The images to the left are simple examples of what the topographic map will look like. In the example provided there is a comparison between the markings on the map and the land mass itself.  The map will show land marks such as houses, roads, lakes, and hiking paths.   The most important thing the map will show you is  the elevation of the land masses. The map will help you visualize the landscape of the area.

To help you visualize the landscape, there are lines on the map called contour lines. These will show you the elevation.  Everything within one contour line are at the same elevation.  The space between two adjacent contour lines is called a contour interval.  The difference in elevation is typically given in the map ledger. A map ledger is at the bottom of the map and will tell you how many feet or meters are in an inch on the map.  The ledger also gives you information as to north and magnetic north, as well as the distance between contour intervals The difference between true north and magnetic north is that true north is at the top of the world where the center of the North Pole is.  Magnetic north is a land mass of iron located in the northern Canadian Tundra. Now that you know everything you need to know (and maybe more) about North, the contour interval  represents the vertical distance you would need  to climb or descend from one contour elevation to the next.   Looking at the image, you can see that  the hill will look  round with the contour lines showing the elevation. The closer the contour lines are to each other the steeper the landscape.  This is one of the most important details that the map can show a hunter.  A hunter can use this information to help find funnels, ravines, ledges and saddles.

I feel that the most important thing a topographic map can tell you is where a saddle is.  A saddle is where  two high points have a low point in between them.  It takes less effort to move through a saddle and this is why deer and other game will like it.  The saddles are like roads in the woods. Even if a hunter only uses a topographic map for nothing else than finding saddles, it will make them more successful.

A hunter will use a topographic map to find an area where the deer will want to go around  mountains, lakes, or streams instead of over or through them..  This is a funnel area and will make a good spot to set up in. Funnel areas can be hard to find at first glance. You will have to study the map to see all the details.  

Finding a saddle can be hard to find as well.  In the image to the left you can see that the saddles are very hard to find.  I have put together a map to test you.  To take the test click here to how many saddles you can find.

This topographic map has 11 saddles.  Saddles are not the only landscapes that we are looking for. We are also looking for funnels. A funnel is an area where the game will have to walk around something or along a ravine or ledge. This can be a place where you have very steep contours. We are also looking for places like ravines where deer can move without being seen. An island in a swamp is another place that we can find on a topographic map that would be a good spot to hunt. 

Before you go into the woods you should spend a little time studying the map. Using a topographic map can help you find good hunting spots.  This will make your scouting time more effective and give you a better chance of killing the buck of a lifetime.

Now get online and get your maps and go scouting.