MAPOUTKILLERSTANDLOCATIONSDURINGPUBLIC-LAND
HUNTSUSINGMAP-BASEDSCOUTINGANDHUNTINGTOOLS.
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BY DARRON MCDOUGAL
B
efore the advent of map-based smartphone apps, I relied heavily upon
hard-copy maps and info tidbits found sporadically across the world-
wide web to plan out-of-state whitetail hunts. This left so much to ques-
tion, and it made learning new public parcels a steep task. Scouting was laborious
and time-consuming, not to mention that it required extensive boot work — in-
creased human intrusion and scent dispersal into key hunting locations. Conse-
quently, success rates diminished with the introduction of these negative impacts.
Times have changed. A smartphone doesn’t give you superhuman powers, but
it has become one of the most beneficial tools for DIY whitetail hunting. Remotely,
we can learn much information on regions, properties, and even specific locations
that can ultimately taper the learning curve when we arrive to hunt. Used correct-
ly, map-based smartphone hunting apps can put you into key hunting locations
more quickly. That alone can improve your success rate during a weeklong bow-
hunt in a new area.