Tips for hunting

Using powerful and free online mapping services to narrow your search for a hunting spot. Figuring out where to hunt is one of the biggest hurdles new hunters face, and Fish and Game departments everywhere have produced tutorials to help guide hunters through the process of finding a place to hunt big game. Here are some tips from Fish and Game official Brian Pearson.

He teaches you which habitats are ideal for deer and elk; shows you how to identify those habitat types using topographic and satellite imagery maps; how to identify terrain to aid in efficient hiking, determine where to drive, and where to search for animals; and how to use Google Earth and Google maps for digital scouting.

How to use Fish and Game resources and data to select a hunting unit for deer and elk; how to find and understand the rules, regulations and seasons for the unit or zone you choose; and how to use the Hunt Planner to identify public land access, roads, and trails in your unit.