Scouting with Google

[jbrower115]

Unfortunately I'm not gonna have much time scouting for elk or mule deer this year but what can be done using the topos in google maps and the pictures in google earth? I have like a gazillion miles of ground that I could scout but how do I choose which little parcel?

[ridgetop]

It can help out quit a bit. I have found springs not on the maps. What is hard to tell is how deep the brush is. It may be 2 feet or 6 feet tall, it all looks the same on google earth. I've looked at some ridges that looked open and when I got there in person, I had to do some major bushwacking.

[Huge29]

For what it is worth, if you have a lot of PC time, but not much mountain time; many of the counties in the state now have their plat maps together with aerials. This can kill two birds with one stone in that you can see land owners, parcel lines and see the terrain. That may help you locate specific public spots on the fringes of private areas that may not be hit as much; assuming that there is public access to the public land. If interested, just look up the county's assessor' site or the GIS dept.

[silvertip-co]

Look for necks and saddles. Neck is where the trees pinch down to a narrow area leading to a wide r area. saddles between two adjacent riges are great places to watch. But stay out of the neck or saddle, watch them from higher ground. They act as funnels sort of for game.

[The Ox]

where ya hunting someone may give ya a good area to start

[jbrower115]

CO GMU 51 for turkey, deer and elk. So far I've heard that Jackson Creek and Rampart Range might be worth while, kinda around that weird Shamballah Ashrama place I'm guessing. I know that some of the pictures are way outdated cause the things that have changed on our property since they were taken. So I'm relying more on topography and not so much the trees etc. Those assessor's maps take absolutely forever to load!! They do help though.

[Huge29]

Those assessor's maps take absolutely forever to load!! They do help though.

That is true; you would have to have your area pretty much narrowed down for it to be useful, but some are much faster than others.