Map Reading.

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944

Anybody still rely on a good old map printed on paper and a compass or has GPS taken over ?? Confused

Dimitri

george20042007 · Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:22 pm Post subject: Re: Map Reading.

I'm sorry, I gave up the map & compass in favor of the GPS method. Three years ago, I parked my car at the base of a foothill and went off hunting. A few hours later I tried to return to my car, but, too many hills and all looked familiar. Eventually, did find it, but, I was exhausted. Walmart had the Garmins on sale, bought one, never got lost again. It has more information than I'll ever need, but, one thing I like is what it saves: routes I took (tracks), way points, etc. It's easy to relocate someplace I've been. It shows most dirt roads & trails & I can view where they take you. Quite frankly, I don't go afield without it.
Keep it coming...

popgun · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:14 am Post subject: Re: Map Reading.

Well now, I still use the map and compass. They are lighter and more likely to go with me on a hunt. But, the GPS is a great tool and almost a necessity to navigate on your own out west in the wide open spaces with few landmarks or the landmarks all look alike like George said. I see no problem with taking all three items on a hunt on unfamiliar ground. The compass does not require batteries.

squirrelbait · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 5:20 am Post subject: Re: Map Reading.

It's a priority thing. If I have the money I would rather spend it on guns or reloading equipment. Just never get ahead enough. Confused

I've hunted and backpacked out west primarily Lake Tahoe area and south to Yosimaty (sp). Never need anything but the topo maps and compass......and a dose of common sense I would say. Smile

They sound great and .......well, some day, I may own one. Cool

SwampFox · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 8:21 am Post subject: Re: Map Reading.

I am an old surveyor, so the Topo map and compass go with me. I use a GPS on the boat to find the Xs I left out in the Gulf. Very Happy

By the by Squirrelbait, the worst lost I almost ever got was in Pittsburg, NH. Went down a logging trail about a mile, took off the trail about three miles, around a mountain, over several ridges, . Got into a little valley where the compas did a wiggly wobbly and round and round. Iron content of the hills I guess. Good thing the sun was shining, I might still be there.
Ed

squirrelbait · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 8:49 am Post subject: Re: Map Reading.

Swampfox, hell, you were probably in Canada at that point.......maybe why the compas went stange???
Really, a good point about the iron content etc. The other thing you need to watch for is declination changes. If you look at the map they are changing pretty quickly in some areas.
By the way, not to say I have never found myself sitting down and scratchiing.........where am I?, cause I have. But, as you said, there are always ways to get yourself re-orientated somewhat and find civilization.
But this is why I would say GPS is a good tool.......I just haven't put the money into it.

SwampFox · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 9:38 am Post subject: Re: Map Reading.

Yep, one would think in an area that was populated over 200 years ago, you could not get lost... Very Happy

But I do not recall ever talking to anyone that hunted in NH that had not gotten "directionally challenged" at one time or the other. Same for the Maine boys and the Alagash.....

I go to a place in the Gulf that is about the twice the size of my desktop, out about 9 miles. A GPS/chart plotter is very handy for such feets of navigation. I have also gone to 4th of July celebrations, by water, and found the night to be very dark on the return trip across the 7 mile wide bay. Just follow the little arrow right back down the path to grandpa's dock. Surprised

Ed

squirrelbait · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 9:44 am Post subject: Re: Map Reading.

Yea, some day I'll probably get one............still got kids at home and college. Hasn't snuck up the prioity list yet.

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

I like maps... and GoogleEarth.

For hunting in the mts around here, I simply cannot for the life of me figure out how one can get lost... honestly.

I used a GPS in alaska while Caribou hunting and I was shocked at how much I needed it. While I could find camp easy enough even miles away, we left a quartered caribou wrapped up in blue tarp to pack out the next day... when we returned the following day I could NOT for the life of me find it... I thought a bear might have gotten into it. Well I turned on the GPS and set it to point to the location of the meat and it said it was 60 yards away... I walked over and bingo, there it was.

Fairly intersting experience LOL.

Nah I mostly use maps to find roads into new areas and thats about it. I never pack a compass nor a GPS.

-DallanC

george20042007 · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:29 pm Post subject: Re: Map Reading.

Well Dimitri, there you have it. Pro's & con's. Since I use one all I can say is it's accurate, pin point accurate. I suspectsome are turned off by the initial cost, $100.00 to $300.00 and you have to learn to use one. But, if you have computer skills, it's easy. As for cost, you get what you pay for. & yes you need batteries, most often AAAs, and they come equipped to plug into a cigarette lighter, and battery life is in the neighborhood of 24 hours of continuous use (no need to keep it turned on), but when the batteries die, unsaved info is lost, so carry extra batteries. GPS units take up very little space and weigh ounces. Once you've mastered one, you won't go back. I know it's my opinion, but, I'm hooked. I like them so well, I even put a Megellan 360 in my car, I don't have to use a map anymore, just put in the address & this sexy voice prompts all my moves. What is this world coming to. My stress meter says I'm one relaxed dude anymore. Very Happy

Keep it coming...

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944

I use the map and compass routine as well as the "Identifying land marks" to navigate. Smile

Never used a GPS, the thought of depending on one scares me as electronics have a habit of failing on me when I need them. wtf

For example, the last time I needed a flashlight my flashlight's batteries died about right after I turned it on. Sad

Now I got a Solar powered flashlight. Shocked

Dimitri

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Dimitri wrote:

I use the map and compass routine as well as the "Identifying land marks" to navigate. Smile

Dimitri

... there are no landmarks out on the alaskan tundra ... Shocked

-DallanC

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944

DallanC wrote:

Dimitri wrote:

I use the map and compass routine as well as the "Identifying land marks" to navigate. Smile

Dimitri

... there are no landmarks out on the alaskan tundra ... Shocked

-DallanC

Dallan,

That gave me a good chuckle! Very Happy

Never been to the Tundra myself. Would like to sometime for some Bison. Cool

Still there is a reason the Inuits used Inuksuit's to navigate Smile

(Removed the picture as the webhost that had it seems to have changed it)

Dimitri

calsibley · Super Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 317

I still use topographic maps, but am a geographer by training and know how to read them. If you don't just remember the blue lines indicate water, usually rivers. Isolines close together idicate the steepness of the terrain is rather pronounced. If they are spaced out it's likely fairly flat ground. Boy did I ever learn about isolines the hard way. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

popgun · Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 3:56 pm Post subject: Re: Map Reading.

DallanC wrote:

Dimitri wrote:

I use the map and compass routine as well as the "Identifying land marks" to navigate. Smile

Dimitri

... there are no landmarks out on the Alaskan tundra ... Shocked

-DallanC

Well that depends on your view of the tundra. When I flew to Point Barrow, AK from Anaktuvuk Pass, AK it was all tundra but the aeronautical charts were dead on because they showed the shape of every patch of water we flew over. The secret was that the maps were made from satellite photographs. So it depends on the map you are using for a reference and your reference point. Very Happy

We had one of the early Magellan GPS units with us and it was a great check reference but it was our last method of navigation. Today the GPS units are the primary navigation unit but that does not excuse you from knowing dead reconing, and other electronic navaids when flying. This happened to me when flying from Tennessee to Georgia and I lost my electrical to the instruments. My only NavAid was the aircrafts compass, my chart, and my own two eyes to verify my location. Shocked