TOPO MAP 101

Reading a topographical map can be confusing, But, by identifying a few
basic terrain terrains features and understanding how deer use those
features you can quickly find some good hunting locations without leaving
your kitchen table.
Contour lines on a topo map show different elevations. On a standard 7.5
minute series topo map, the lines are spaced at 10 foot intervals….the
closer the lines the steeper the terrain.
To assist you in getting a better understanding of a flat topo map, I’d
like to introduce you to a 3D topo map that you can take anywhere. Make a
fist and cock your wrist like you’re looking at your watch. Now follow
along.

A (Hilltop) – The most easily identifiable terrain feature on a topo map.
Excellent points of reference for orienteering oneself in the field. On
your 3D topo map, each of your knuckles represents a hilltop.
B (Ridge) – Formed by a series of adjoined hilltops. Whitetails love
ridges. Look for bucks to bed about two-thirds of the way up. Pay attention
to morning and evening thermals when hunting sides of ridges. Your line of
knuckles form a ridge.
C (Saddle) - The area between two adjoining hilltops. They are lower in
elevation than the hilltops and can serve as a travel route for deer to get
from one side of the ridge to the other. This is the area between two
knuckles.
D (Incline/Decline) - The closer the contour lines are to each other on the
topo map, the steeper the terrain. This information can be invaluable for
determining easy travel routes to and from a hunting location. On the map
below, notice how steep that hill is coming down to the lake from the
north. The area on the back of your hand going from your knuckles to your
watch is a good example of a steep hill.
E (Draw) – A slightly depressed and elongated terrain feature that usually
comes up from a low area to a saddle between two hilltops. Deer will use
draws as travel routes to get on the ridge in the morning to bed and off
the ridge in the evening to feed. This is the crease between your fingers
that points to the area between your knuckles.
F (Spur or Point) – A slightly elevated and elongated terrain feature that
usually goes down from a hilltop to a low-lying area. Bucks especially will
use spurs as bedding areas. This is the back of your finger that runs down
from your knuckle.



Combine a topo map with an aerial photo (all available for free online) and
you have a potent combination of hunting tools at your disposal for quickly
finding hot ambush sites.

And don’t forget to check out my instructional archery videos at
www.youtube.com/archery64.

DEFINITIONS

Definitions for common archery and hunting terms….sort of.

ARCHERY – a primitive hunting method conducted in the early fall by rifle
hunters who are tired of freezing their butts off in November.

DEER STAND – an elevated napping location.

DRAG ROPE – an important hunting article usually remembered when standing
over a downed deer five miles from the nearest road.

KNIFE – see Drag Rope.

BROADHEAD – an efficient instrument used to accidentally cut bow strings as
you get settled in your stand.

FLASHLIGHT (OR HEADLAMP) – one of the many items you drop as you climb into
your tree stand in the early morning darkness.

WIND DIRECTION – something which changes immediately after you’ve gotten
into your stand. Usually ignored until the next time you are on the ground.

ARROW TRAJECTORY – a calculation made by the bored archery hunter as he
stares down that loud-mouthed squirrel in the other tree.

DEER BLIND – usually the kind of deer I get.

BLAZE ORANGE – the first thing you see in another tree about 100 yards away
at daylight.

ELK BUGLE (OR TURKEY YELP) – the sound one makes when a pine tree decides
to release its load of snow down your neck.

RUB (OR SCRAPE) – what you must do to your eyes to wake up at 3 AM.

SCOUTING – a reason to get away from the house during late summer.

SNORT (OR WHEEZE) – what you sound like halfway up the mountain.

HEART/LUNG SHOT – what you feel halfway up the mountain

RELEASE – what your hunting partner just did to that branch that knocked
off your hat and broke your glasses.

NOISE DISCIPLINE – what you’re trying to do as you get out and open your
lunch sack. This also applies when you’re trying to open those little hand
warmer thingys that come in very noisy plastic wrap.


And don’t forget to check out my instructional archery videos at
www.youtube.com/archery64.

THE RESET

I love baseball. It’s great to settle down in front of the television to
watch a major league baseball game…especially if the Phillies are doing
well. But to many people, baseball is boring. They think all baseball
involves is pitch the ball, hit the ball, catch the ball, throw the ball,
etc. But there are many little things going on within the game that make it
interesting.

One of the things I enjoy watching are the rituals that some hitters go
through before they are ready to receive a pitch. They go through all kinds
of manipulations with the dirt, the bat, their batting gloves, their
helmet, everything. AND THEN….most back out of the box and do it all
again….after each pitch!!!!

However, what these professional baseball players are doing is nothing less
than what we should be doing as archers. In reality, they are adjusting to
the right stance, getting the proper body alignment, achieving the correct
grip, and mentally preparing for the next pitch.

After that arrow is gone and we’ve followed through properly (see blog
entry from 12/7), our body is not in the proper position to immediately
shoot another arrow. While our stance should not change, our posture needs
to be reset, the next arrow needs to be reset, our bow needs to be reset,
our grip needs to be reset, our string hand needs to be reset, and most
importantly, our mind must be reset.

I’m not saying to back completely off the line and start all over but
everyone should have a pre-shot routine that they go through before
shooting every arrow!!! At a minimum, that ritual should include a mental
check list of the following…

Stance and body posture
Nocking the arrow and hook the release
Grip the bow and bring it into position
Slow Draw and anchor the string hand
Aim! Aim! Aim!
Release
Follow through

AND THEN….RESET…and do it all over again.

If you develop a pre-shot routine, the process of repetition will soon
train your body. You will find that you no longer have to really think
about it and that your body will tell you when something isn’t right. And
listen to your body. If something just doesn’t feel right, let down, and
RESET.

And just like the major league baseball player, don’t dwell on what’s
already happened. You can’t get that bad shot back any more than a batter
can get that strike back.

And RESET your mind to focus COMPLETELY on the next shot. And by that, I
mean FOCUS ONLY ON AIMING when you come to full draw.

Remember…we don’t shoot three arrows at a time when practicing…we shoot one
at a time.

And don’t forget to check out my instructional archery videos at
www.youtube.com/archery64.