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Ask Winke
Topo Maps and Aerial Photos
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  • Who do you recommend for printing aerial photos of my farm so I can have a before and after map?
    Phil from AK asks:
    Bill, can you recommend a website or company that does good quality aerial photos. I'd like to take a before and years later after photo of the property I just bought in Indiana. Some of the Google Earth photos from the last few years look great but I haven't figured out a way to print other than an standard 8.5 x 11. I'd like a small poster size to put on the wall. Phil in Alaska
    Winke Responds:
    Phil, I always use MyTopo.com for any printing I need done. Great quality maps. Their database is up to date so you will get very recent images. If you do extensive work, you will be able to see it in the maps from one year to the next. Good luck. (3-2-12)
  • Do you know of any books on reading maps for deer hunting?
    jeremy from OH asks:
    Bill i was woundering if you would sell the book that goes with scouting service you provide and also do you or do you know anyone that would offer a class on reading topo maps for deer hunting, i have read mapping trophy bucks but i am looking for more if i can, i have a great intrest in maps for hunting
    Winke Responds:
    Jeremy, That is not really a book. It is actually a custom document I was creating to present to the landowner when I completed the land analysis. I have a couple more of those left to do from last year, but I am not going to do any more of them any time soon. I don't know of any other books like that. I may produce a DVD on the subject that I would sell through the site. I think people would benefit from that. I am not sure on that, but if I do I will make some kind of promotion on it. Sorry I can't be of more good. Happy Thanksgiving. (11-23-11)
  • Where did you get the aerial maps you use when hunting your farm?
    Ray from PA asks:
    Where do you get the hunting maps you use when hunting your farm. The aereil photos you used for the episode named late season. Thank You
    Winke Responds:
    Ray, I purchase those from www.mytopo.com. You can create your own custom maps. It works really slick. Good luck. (11-20-11)
  • Where do you get the small aerial photos I see on the show?
    Ray from PA asks:
    I just watched your show about late season and my question is where do you get the small hunting map you showed in the begining of the show. Would like to get some with my hunting areas to add to my log book Thank you Love the show
    Winke Responds:
    Ray, I think I just printed that off from the MyTopo.com website, right on my printer. You have the option to print from their site or download the map and print it later. Good luck. (10-26-11)
  • Where did you tet the map of your property you were using on the last show?
    Tim from MI asks:
    Like the webshows and the TV show, Where did you get the map of your property that you hunt that was on the last show? And how much did it cost. I have been looking for a map like that of my properties in southern Michigan to hang on the wall. Also is there a search function for the question? Maybe this question has already been asked but I couldn't find it. Thanks
    Winke Responds:
    Tim, I got that from Mytopo.com. I can't remember how much it cost, but I think it was something like $70, maybe. It is a huge laminated map. Perfect for what we do. Good luck.
  • What is the number one feature you look for on an aerial photo if all you want to do is put meat in the freezer?
    josh from OK asks:
    hey Bill, i know that there are certain things you look for in aerial photos such as ridges and creeks and funnels. So here is the question, If you were to be absolutly pressed for time and you had a good aerial photo what is the 1 thing you would look for the most? i know it is not the best thing to do to put yourself in a do or die situation but i am sure you know things happen. Just so you know i am not talking about killing the biggest deer in the woods just which spot will give you the best chance to put meat on the table. Also i would like to say that i enjoy you web show very much, it really gets me excited to watch and listen to your strategy for getting some nice bucks. thanks josh
    Winke Responds:
    Josh, I always start wtih creek crossings and ditch crossings. Second priority are saddles. If there aren't any, I look for sidehill trails, about 30 yards down from the top of most ridges. If none of them, I look for brushy fencelines between two large blocks of cover, next look for the thin patch of cover on the outside bend of river or creek between two inside bends. There are lots of other things to look for, of course, but those the quick easy and usually productive features I look for. Good luck.
  • Do you know of a good mapping service that I could use to mark up aerial photos to share with my friends?
    Bob from PA asks:
    Bill, Do you have any recommendations for good photo/map editing software that would allow aerial photos to be marked up -- to show useful things like treestand locations, travel corridors, food plot locations & types, etc, etc. Something that could either be downloaded from Web or even upload a picture, but then Saved back to computer & further edited from time to time. There have to be programs out there, but I haven't been able to locate any that seem good to use. Would be great for sending maps back/forth with friends, etc. Thanks for any suggestions.....
    Winke Responds:
    Bob, Not sure it is exactly what you are looking for, but I use MapCard.com. I have also used Photoshop to mark up photos I have downloaded off the aerial photo databases online. Mapcard.com might work fine for what you are wanting to do. You have a log in and could download the image and e-mail or I guess you could share the log in with you friends to see your images (if legal). Good luck.
  • Do you use GPS to chart deer sign when scouting. Would that be useful when go to study a topo map of the area?
    Todd Lambotte from KS asks:
    Bill, do you ever use a hand held GPS unit while scouting in the field. I have acquired permission to hunt more ground here in Kansas approximately 800 acres.If you do , does this help in going over topo maps to identify rub lines,pinch points etc.and make notes on your maps for the following year's hunt ? Thanks for all that you do. Take care, Todd Lambotte
    Winke Responds:
    Todd, It would help especially if you log the points and then go online to a mapping service like MapCard to place the points on the map before printing it out. Those mapping services allow you to place points based on GPS coordinates, which is very useful. Good luck.
  • What service do you recommend for getting topo maps for hunting? What should I look for on these maps?
    Andy from WI asks:
    Mr. Winke- I understand that using Topo Maps is a great way to scout new hunting locations. Do you know of any good resources for free or very affordable Topo Maps? Then also, what characteristics do you look for in those Topo maps, and how do you read them?
    Winke Responds:
    Andy, I am only going to answer your first question here as the second half would take too long. Brad Herndon wrote a book called "Mapping Trophy Whitetails". I would suggest getting your hands on that one. I believe it is still on Amazon. For the first half, I use MapCard (mapcard.com) to allow me to find and print lots of topo maps and aerial photos of the areas I hunt. Good luck.
  • How do I get an aerial photo of my hunting area?
    Chuck from IL asks:
    I hunt in Williamson County,Illinios and the closes town is Creo Springs . My question is how do I go about getting an aireo map of the public land that is south west of town.........Thanks Chuck
    Winke Responds:
    Chuck, My favorite source is Mytopo.com. You can select the area and then order it from them. If you want to view it online only, you can go to Google Earth (and Bing Maps) to look at the area from above. Good luck.
  • Where do you get your aerial photos and topo maps?
    Jake from IA asks:
    Bill, Just curious to where you get your topo maps from? Do you order them through an internet site or have someone custom make them for you? God Bless! Thanks,
    Winke Responds:
    Jake, I get all mine from Mytopo.com and their sister company, mapcard.com. They have a lot of good options for adding notes to the maps, etc. It is very powerful software with a very current database.
  • Wants more aerial photo information. Any signs of the Great 8 yet?
    Marcus from GA asks:
    Hello again, Bill! I hope you and family are well. I sure am looking forward to following the show once again this fall. I really like on this latest episode how you've shown us the aerial photos of where you've placed stands and where you've seen certain deer. Would you mind also showing your travel routes to/from your stands? That is always very helpful for me! Any signs of the Great 8 this year yet?
    Winke Responds:
    Marcus, No signs of the Great 8 yet. I will start running trail cameras toward mid to late September (give them time to disperse into their fall ranges) and hopefully I can pick him up then. We'll definitely spend more time detailing the hunt strategies for you this year. That is a common request. Thanks for your support of the shows.
  • Any good resources for learning more about how to use topo maps?
    Daniel from AL asks:
    I have just recently discovered how useful a topo map can be, especialy since I began hunting a new track of public land, which is a little diffferent than what I was hunting. The area is the Black Warrior WMA, Sypsey Wilderness, and Bankhead National Forest which combine to be 180,000 acres here in Alabama. I have been trying to learn how to use topo maps and I'am slowly learning. I'am reading everything I can, but though I reconize terain features offfered in books I read, its seams to be a lot harder when applying that, to my area. I was wondering if there where any books other than( Mapping Trophy Whitetail's) I already read that one, that u would recomend and also if u thought that the 3d mapping software was worth the price? It appears to me that it might be based on advertisment's on the websites, but I do not no if it would be as revealing as it appears on my hunting ground? Thank's for your time and I love al your articles and the show's. Best of luck this fall!
    Winke Responds:
    Daniel, That is the only book I am aware of. A good friend of mine, Brad Herndon, wrote that book. I have considered writing one myself at some point. But for now, Brad's is the only really good book on the subject. 3D software is pretty cool and is especially beneficial for those who have a hard time visualizing what they are seeing on the 2D maps. Personally, I have looked at maps for so long that the 2D maps appear 3D to me. But if that is not the case, and you are always trying to figure out what a certain feature would actually look like, I would recommend the 3-D software. If the area you hunt has limited terrain changes, the 3-D feature won't help you much. Thanks for the support.
  • How do I find maps of the Mississippi River that show the names of islands?
    Chris from TN asks:
    Bill,Would you have any idea where I could find a map of the Mississippi River showing and nameing the many Island's on it.I would like to be able to contact someone to get info on these island's.THANKS for any help!
    Winke Responds:
    Chris, I used to see them when I was a boy, so I am sure they are out there. Not all the islands have names, but the sloughs all do, at least the navigable ones. My guess is that a good topo map might have this. Try MyTopo.com to see if their maps have this feature. If not, you may need a true navigational map. Do a Google search under "Mississippi River Navigation Charts" and you will hit the Army Corp of Engineers' website. There are links there to charts (maps showing the names of the islands). Some of the islands just have numbers for names. Take a look.
  • Where can I find an article you wrote about reading topo maps?
    jeremy from OH asks:
    Bill, i was told you put an artical in a mag that showed how to read a topo maps, do you know where i can get a copy of that. thanks Jeremy
    Winke Responds:
    Jeremy, I think it was September 2005 issue of American Hunter. I am not sure if they sell back issues, but you can try them (maybe locate their website online - it is a division of the NRA). Also, my friend Brad Herndon wrote a good book on using maps and photos to find stand locations. You may want to look for that one on Amazon. com. It is called, "Mapping Trophy Whitetails". Good luck
  • My hunting spot has lots of trails but no patterns; what can I do or should I find a new spot?
    jeremy from OH asks:
    back to me problem earlyier about topo maaps and the deer, i also wanted to say that i have been trying to patteren these deer for 7 or 8 years now and i have come up short everytime, the place where i hunt is close to a power plant and i am thinking this is what cuasing it, there is no patteren that i can see, the maybe hear today and out at a different spot the next, there is trails everywhere it looks like all they do is walk around but i never see it, this year there is more rubs than ever, i have seen many deer though and a few smaller bucks, i can send you a copy of my topo map and see what you think, i have saying for years that i need to find another spot but i keep coming back trying something else, this place is tuff, let know your thoughts Jeremy E
    Winke Responds:
    Jeremy, Whitetails are not strictly patternable. All you can do is find their tendencies. So just because you find a trail or see a buck do something once doesn't mean they will do again anytime soon. The best way to hunt them is to play the odds. I look for funnels that bring as many trails within range as possible and then make sure I can get to and from the stand without alerting deer with scent, sound or sight and then finally I make sure there is a wind that will keep my scent from the deer while I'm on stand. Then it is just a matter of putting in the time. When you scout there next time, look for that kind of situation and I think you'll find success finally.
  • Your terrain tips helped me shoot a nice 8 pointer!
    sean from FL asks:
    Used your tactic of hunting geographic features (funnel of hardwoods thru thick stand of pines). First time hunting the stand saw 3 bucks within bow range and shot a nice 8 pt at 11 yards. Thanks for the tips. They work.
    Winke Responds:
    Sean, Glad I could help. Congratulations.
  • Can you give me some tips for using topo maps?
    jeremy from OH asks:
    Winke, I have just be learning my way around topo maps, and i was woundering what would you look for on the map to find a good buck travel, it is a hilly land where i hunt and it is very hard to hunt, i have been at this place for 7 years and i can not figure it out, any input would greatly help Thanks Jeremy E.
    Winke Responds:
    Jeremy, I look for creeks (the S curve is usually a crossing), ditches, saddles, steep bluffs (which they avoid traversing), ridges (the deer usually have a trail about 30 yards down from the top on both sides). That is just a starting point. Then I look for funnels between two areas where I think the does might be bedding (the ridges). The travel routes might be ditch crossings, creek crossings, bluff edges, saddles. Those are the very basics. You can stare at these things for days and not soak it all in. Aerial photos and topo maps are great tools.
  • I lost my hunting spot and now will be hunting a large public area; any tips on how to get started?
    Charlie from MO asks:
    I have lost the property I used to hunt on and will be hunting a 13,000 acre piece of govt land in s. central missouri. The land is mostly forested with several food plots scattered about.Without having much notice and opportunity to scout the land, how would you approach hunting for the first time? Thanks for any help you can offer!
    Winke Responds:
    Charlie, Start by trying to figure out where the other hunters are least likely to be and then focus on how you can get into those areas. Look at topo maps of the area and try to find obvious stand locations such as creek crossings, saddles, the ends of a ditch, bluff edges. Then when scouting, I would focus on finding the more subtle funnels in areas near acorn producing oak trees. Maybe it is a creek crossing, the head of a draw, etc. Anything that concentrates traveling deer is worth hunting. The first year is likely to be a learning experience, but you may get lucky and take a good buck. You will learn from the things you do right and the things you do wrong. It is part of the fun of deer hunting. Good luck.
  • Are you still doing the aerial photo analysis for other people's hunting areas?
    JOE from NJ asks:
    Hi Bill, I recently dug out an old copy of American Hunter magazine from September 2005 in which you wrote an article entitled "Follow The Contours To Your Buck". At the end of the article, it was stated that you have teamed with My Topo to provide a service to hunters called "My Topo Scout" in which you analyze aerial photos and/or topo maps of the hunter's designated hunt area and recommend stand locations. I would like to know if this service is still available, and if so , how do I go about obtaining said service. Please email me back, my name is Joe.
    Winke Responds:
    Joe, I haven't been doing that recently because it takes so much time and is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle every day (my brain gets fried), but I think it would be good to do that. I am setting up a small shopping cart on the site that allows me to take credit card numbers so I may offer a limited service then. I think most of the people I have done them for (about 30 or 40) liked the service. I just need to make sure I have the time to do it. Thanks for your support and keep an eye back here on the site from time to time. If I start that back up, I'll post something. Good luck this season. Have a great day.
  • How do you read aerial photos and topo maps to find stand sites?
    Marc Schoenfeld from MO asks:
    Just read your article in American Hunter and maybe you can answer this question: You say you look at aerial photos and determine funnels and natural travel routes. Could you post some photos and tell us how you see a funnel or travel route. I have never been able to figure out by looking. I just don't see it. Can you educate me on this? The farm I hunt has 80% wods, 20% fields but darn if I can figure it out.
    Winke Responds:
    Marc, Maybe I'll do an interactive segment on a future show about this. It is really too hard to present that kind of information with photos and written words. It would take too long for me to detail all that stuff on the photos and maps. However, I could probably do a pretty good job of it with a three minute video segment. Look for that in the future. Thanks for the idea.
  • Can you help me figure out how to find a stand site from looking at maps and photos?
    Rob from AL asks:
    hey, my dad and i have 1000 acres to hunt, we have topo and arial maps to try and figure deer movement... but it seems to be a little harder than it seems, maybe you can help me out, cause a i really want a crack at some of the bucks we have on camera... you are more than welcome to come and check everything out and even hunt here with us if you want...
    Winke Responds:
    Rob, Thanks for the invite. I may take you up on that sometime. Working through those maps and photos is a huge job. I can't attempt to even tell you where to place a stand without several hours of study. A good starting point for you is a book written by Brad Herndon called "Mapping Trophy Whitetails". I think you can find it on Amazon.com. Brad is a friend of mine and a great guy and his book is a classic on the subject. Good luck.
  • Where do I get detailed aerial photos?
    Wayne from PA asks:
    On some of your videos you shown some detailed arial maps, were can i buy these? awesome videos! Thanks Wayne
    Winke Responds:
    Wayne, I get mine through MyTopo.com. You can customize the maps to fit your property perfectly. It is a good company.
  • Can you offer tips on reading aerial photos and topo maps?
    Ben from VA asks:
    Hi Bill- I was wondering if you could shed some light on how to better read aerial photography to pinpoint areas to hunt that are a combination of fields and timber. I grew up hunting in large hardwood ridges throughout western PA, but since I have moved to Virginia, there is alot more open farmland here than I am used to seeing or hunting. I have a background in geospatial analysis and cartography, and would like to be able to use some aerial photos to pinpoint places around my area that I can start approaching people to hunt on their land. Therefor, I want to be able to hone in on what I actually should be looking for in good deer habitat—from the air. I know you have some expertise in this, and are a big proponent of using maps to your advantage when it comes to zeroing in on how deer like to travel in field/timber habitats. Would appreciate any feedback you may have. Thanks Bill, really looking forward to the '09 show! -Ben-
    Winke Responds:
    Ben, I appreciate the support. I could write a book on that. In fact, a good friend of mine named Brad Herndon actually did write such a book. You can get it on Amazon still called "Mapping Trophy Whitetails". It will show you many of the topo and aerial features to look for when studying the maps. On aerials, I look for narrow patches of cover that connect bigger blocks - perfect funnels. On topo maps I look for ridges where deer likely bed, I look for saddles and benches that indicate travel routes and I look for ditches and ravines that likely have crossings that also funnel deer. Those are just a few of the basics, but like I said, Brad's book does a good job of covering all this in more detail.
  • Can you help me analyze my hunting area by looking at my aerial photos?
    Lance from IA asks:
    Bill, I'm not sure if you do this or not, but if I were to send you an aerial map of my hunting property, would you be able to help me determine better stand locations and paths to and from my stands? I've been hunting this farm for about 3 years now. It has some great deer, but I've never been able to close the deal on one of them. I think my biggest problem, is no matter which stand I hunt, depending on the wind, I always seem to bump deer going to and from stand. But, I really don't know of any other way I can access my stand locations. Would you be willing to give me a few tips? Thanks, Lance.
    Winke Responds:
    Lance, I used to do that as part of my business and may again some day. If I do, I'll advertise it here on the site. It takes a lot of time to do that right - and a lot of thought and research. It isn't something I can just do in a few minutes because there are too many variables to consider. In fact, the whole of success and failure is wrapped up in that analysis. To give you some help, however, it is possible that you are probably hunting too deep in the cover. Hunt the fringes a bit more and focus only on hunting stands where the deer are not near the stand when you are on the move. I like travel routes where they pass through and you don't have to worry about them lingering around in the dark. Or arrange a diversion to push them away so you can climb down at dark. My favorite diversion is to shoot a doe shortly before it is time to climb down. That generally clears the field and I enjoy doing it. I carry plenty of tags!
  • How do I find bedding areas on aerial photos?
    Jason from IA asks:
    How do you pick out bedding areas from and aireal photo. What do you look for.
    Winke Responds:
    Jason, You have to know the standard places where deer bed in the cover and terrain types found where you live. For example, deer like to bed on the ends of ridges - or on ridges in general. In flat areas with limited cover, you can assume that just about any area of cover will be a bedding area. In flat areas with lots of cover, it can be very tough to determine. Then you will actually have to rely on scouting because the bedding areas will often revolve around the cover. They generally bed right on the edge of thick cover. So look for ridges and isolated areas of cover in most parts of the Midwest and you will be pretty close. You can see these easily on aerial photos if you study them for a while. Topographical maps will help you see the terrain features (ridges) better. Good luck.
  • What is a good book to explain Topo Maps and Aerial Photos?
    mike from LA asks:
    Bill, first of all, let me say i love the show. no. 1 reason, informative!! great job...hope it never gets old for you guys.. we look forward to each episode and blog. my question today is, im looking for a book to help me better understand aerial and topo maps. any recommendations? thanks for your time, god bless and good huntin, mike
    Winke Responds:
    Mike, The best one on the market right now is from Brad Herndon called Mappting Trophy Whitetails. Krause Publications puts it out but you can find it on Amazon.com. Brad is a good friend of mine, but even if he wasn't I would still be recommending this book. Good luck. Bill
  • Where can I get aerial photos?
    doug from MO asks:
    Bill, Love the web site an look forward to seeing you back next year. This is by far the best produced web site and show that I have seen and would like to see it on the Outdoor channel. My question is, what program or site are you getting your aerial photos from. I have been using yellow pages and terraserver, but like the looks of the maps that you have. I can't seem to get full pages on my printouts. Thanks for taking the time to answer and best of luck next season, Doug
    Winke Responds:
    Doug, I use a site administered by the NRCS and Iowa State University here in Iowa. I have used one in MO that was pretty decent. Here it is: http://ims.missouri.edu/moims/step1.AOI/countylist.asp. You will have to copy and paste it to your browser address bar. I appreciate your support and look forward to bringing you the show again next year. I had a few offers to host TV shows on Outdoor Channel and others but like the Web better because I am not bound by a bunch of production standards. We can show what we want to show when we want to show it. Thanks for your support. Bill