Master Topography for Hunting | SEE How to Read a Topo Map in 20 Minutes!, by The Everyday Bow Hunter on YouTube. 26 min 46 s.
- Video length
- 26 min 46 s
- Time to do it
- 25 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Lay out your paper map and find the legend. It explains the scale, the contour interval and the symbols used for roads, water and buildings.
Check whether the map uses meters or yards for elevation and distance. Mixing the two up will throw off your climb estimates.
Read the contour lines. Each line joins points of equal elevation, and the interval tells you how much height each line adds.
Find hills by looking for closed loops of contour lines that shrink toward the center. The smallest ring marks the top.
Spot saddles as low points between two higher areas, often shaped like a stretched hourglass. They make natural travel routes for game.
Trace ridges as long, narrow high ground with contour lines running down both sides. Look for the ridgeline that connects the high points.
Find valleys where contour lines form a V or U pointing uphill, and draws as smaller folds that feed into them.
Mark spurs and points as fingers of high ground that stick out from a ridge, and cliffs as tight clusters of lines or hachure marks.
Compare steep ground and benches. Lines packed close mean steep slopes, while wide gaps mean flat benches where animals bed.
Use the map colors and water symbols last. Blue marks water, green marks vegetation, and brown marks elevation.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep the map oriented with north up and check it against your compass before you start walking.
Contour lines that cross a stream always point uphill, which helps you confirm the direction of a valley.
Mark your planned route and a backup exit before you leave, and carry the map even if you use a phone app.
Questions
What does the contour interval mean?
It is the height difference between two neighbouring contour lines. If the interval is 10 meters, every line you cross means you climbed or dropped 10 meters.
How do I tell a ridge from a valley on a topo map?
Look at the shape of the contour lines. A valley forms a V pointing uphill, while a ridge is high ground with lines falling away on both sides.
Can I use a phone app instead of a paper map?
Yes. Most hunting and hiking apps show the same contour lines and colors. Download the map area before you go in case you lose signal.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
