Using GPS and Maps for Big Game Scouting

Smarter Big-Game Scouting With GPS & Digital Mapping

Modern hunters have more scouting tools than ever before—and GPS devices, phone-based mapping apps, and satellite imagery have become essential for anyone chasing big game. Whether you’re hunting elk in rugged backcountry or whitetails on mixed private and public parcels, digital mapping helps you locate habitat, plan access, avoid pressure, and navigate safely.

This guide breaks down the best ways to use GPS, topographic maps, aerial layers, and e-scouting strategy to get ahead before the season begins. If you're looking for outfitters who specialize in tech-forward scouting and efficient access routes, explore options through Find A Hunt.

Why GPS and Maps Matter for Big-Game Hunters

Digital mapping tools offer a level of detail and efficiency that paper maps and old-school scouting alone can’t match.

Key Advantages

• Confident navigation: Prevents getting turned around in big country.

• Boundary accuracy: Ensures you stay legal on public, private, or mixed-ownership land.

• E-scouting from home: Identify habitat and travel routes before boots hit the ground.

• Waypoint marking: Track rub lines, wallows, bedding zones, water sources, and glassing knobs.

• Pressure avoidance: Spot access points, roads, and likely hunter travel corridors.

• Safety: Track your route, drop pins on camp, and share coordinates when needed.

Essential GPS Tools for Big-Game Scouting

Different hunters prefer different setups. Here are the most common and effective tools for serious scouting:

1. Handheld GPS Units

Rugged, reliable, and long-battery devices ideal for deep wilderness hunts.
Use them for:

• Accurate tracking

• Preloaded maps without cell service

• Cold-weather durability

2. Smartphone GPS Apps

Options like onX, HuntStand, and BaseMap give real-time mapping with detailed layers.
Popular for:

• Land ownership boundaries

• Satellite + topo layering

• Offline downloads

• Wind and weather integration

3. Digital Mapping Software (Desktop E-Scouting)

Google Earth, onX Web, and similar platforms allow hunters to analyze large landscapes before stepping foot in the field.
Best for:

• Studying elevation changes

• Comparing seasonal imagery

• Identifying remote pockets and escape cover

How to E-Scout Using GPS & Maps

Effective digital scouting follows a structured process. Here’s how experienced hunters break down big-game habitat:

Step 1: Identify Core Habitat

Use aerial and topo layers to locate:

• Bedding cover (north-facing slopes, thick conifer pockets)

• Feeding areas (ag fields, mast trees, meadows, benches)

• Water sources (springs, seeps, ponds, rivers)

Step 2: Analyze Elevation and Terrain

Big game uses terrain predictably. Look for:

• Saddles and natural funnels

• Ridge systems and benches

• Steep terrain that funnels travel routes

• Hidden pockets far from easy access

Step 3: Map Access & Pressure Points

Use layers to pinpoint:

• Trailheads

• ATV routes

• Forest roads

• Private-land boundaries

• Gated access

Animals relocate when pressure increases—knowing where hunters can and can’t go helps you predict animal movement.

Step 4: Drop Waypoints & Plan Routes

Mark important locations:

• Glassing ridges

• Trail intersections

• Rub lines, wallows, and fresh sign

• Potential stand/blind sites

• Camp locations

• Navigation hazards (cliffs, swamp edges, dense blowdown)

Field Scouting With GPS: Putting the Map to Work

Once you’re boots-on-the-ground, use your GPS or phone to verify and refine your map predictions.

What to Confirm in the Field

• Trails and game sign

• Feeding and bedding edges

• Fresh tracks, scat, rubs, and scrapes

• Wallows and active water sources

• Travel routes between elevation features

• Real-world difficulty of terrain

Marking Information Correctly

Use different waypoint icons for:

• Sign (tracks, scat, rubs)

• Travel corridors

• Camp / access routes

• Stand locations

• Property lines
  This structure keeps your data organized and hunt-ready.

Best Map Layers for Big-Game Hunting

To maximize accuracy, toggle through the right layers:

Topographic Maps

Reveal travel corridors, ridges, bowls, benches, saddles, escape routes.

Aerial/Satellite Imagery

Shows vegetation types, feeding zones, timber cuts, fields, clearings.

Slope & Elevation Shading

Helpful for understanding elk and mule deer movement in steep terrain.

Public/Private Boundary Layers

Keeps you legal and helps identify overlooked access routes.

Roads, Trails, and Motor-Vehicle Layers

Useful for predicting pressure and planning where to glass from.

GPS Tactics by Species

Whitetail Deer

• Focus on edge habitat, funnels, creek crossings, river bottoms, and mast zones.

• Use tracklogs to find the most efficient entry routes that avoid bumping deer.

Mule Deer

• Analyze high-country basins, benches, and escape terrain.

• Mark glassing knobs and midday bedding areas.

Elk

• Use of ridge systems and benches is critical; elk often travel predictable elevation bands.

• Mark wallows, water, and dark timber pockets.

Pronghorn

• Map water, fence crossings, and large-scale travel routes in open country.

• Use GPS to mark terrain dips for spot-and-stalk cover.

Black Bear

• Mark berry patches, hardwood ridges, cuts, stands of mast trees, and thick bedding cover.

Safety: An Overlooked Benefit

Smart GPS use keeps hunters safe and accountable.

• Download offline maps before entering remote terrain.

• Track your route so you can return in low visibility.

• Share your map/track with someone at home.

• Carry a backup battery or solar charger.

Why GPS Matters on Guided Hunts

Even when hunting with outfitters, GPS tools help you:

• Understand the terrain faster

• Review stand/blind location options

• Track animal movement patterns during multi-day hunts

• Communicate clearly with guides using shared waypoints

Whether you're DIY or guided, combining GPS tools with expert local knowledge creates a huge advantage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do GPS apps work without cell service?

Yes. Download offline maps before entering the field.

Are handheld GPS units still useful?

Absolutely—battery life and durability make them valuable in remote hunts.

Can GPS show real-time animal movement?

No, but it helps predict movement by analyzing terrain, habitat, and sign.

How accurate are public/private boundaries?

Modern apps are very accurate, but always verify with posted signs and local regulations.

Should I bring both a GPS and smartphone?

Many hunters do—backup navigation is crucial in remote terrain.

If you want, I can tailor this article to a specific species, state, or terrain type—or rewrite any older Find A Hunt page using this framework.