Google Earth in the field

[scrotcaster]

Has anyone ever used or know if its possible to use google earth (offline) in the field? Going on a hunt in SD this year and would like to bring a tablet with me to help distinguish between public and private (yes i know i just need to buy a good GPS). I doubt ill be able to "hotspot" because of service in the area, just curious if anyone has ever did this or if its even a possible?

Thanks

 

[Tymurrey]

I've been using the OnXmaps app on my phone for hunting the last year. Worked excellent while bowhunting the badlands and for when I was elk hunting in Wyoming where there was lots of private and public mixed. I don't know what it shows for SD or if its available for there but in Wyoming it shows the units, state, federal, walk in access, and any other public ground. Also shows landowners for certain areas in Wyoming and North Dakota. It allows you to cache the maps for the area you plan to be in so that you don't have to worry about not having cell signal. I had absolutely no service where I was at in Wyoming and the app worked great. I always have my phone with me and I was able to mark waypoints and use it like a normal gps. Also has topo maps and many other layers. I've been looking at google earth on the computer and finding water holes for my upcoming antelope hunt and then finding them on onxmaps and placing waypoints there. Was something like $30 or $40 a year for each state.

 

[Nanky]

Never done it, but you can just download their free public hunting map to your GPS, works similar to the Trax. I'd rather have Trax, but that's a another story.

 

[Bri-guy]

It works through the gps in your phone if you have a smartphone. I used it the last 2 years in the badlands of ND and in SW ND. Obviously, it doesn't show anything other than the satellite view, so I prefer trax or something similar if I want to make sure I'm staying on a specific piece of land.

 

[ndbwhunter]

I've been using the OnXmaps app on my phone for hunting the last year. Worked excellent while bowhunting the badlands and for when I was elk hunting in Wyoming where there was lots of private and public mixed. I don't know what it shows for SD or if its available for there but in Wyoming it shows the units, state, federal, walk in access, and any other public ground. Also shows landowners for certain areas in Wyoming and North Dakota. It allows you to cache the maps for the area you plan to be in so that you don't have to worry about not having cell signal. I had absolutely no service where I was at in Wyoming and the app worked great. I always have my phone with me and I was able to mark waypoints and use it like a normal gps. Also has topo maps and many other layers. I've been looking at google earth on the computer and finding water holes for my upcoming antelope hunt and then finding them on onxmaps and placing waypoints there. Was something like $30 or $40 a year for each state.

^^^^This!

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Here is another great resource for aerial scouting

www.hillmap.com

 

[Bri-guy]

It really chews up the battery if you don't have any cell coverage at the time.

 

[ndbwhunter]

It really chews up the battery if you don't have any cell coverage at the time.

If you save the maps for your specific area, you can leave the phone on airplane mode so it doesn't eat up the battery.

 

[Nanky]

Does Onxmaps have landowner information? That's the biggest thing I miss from not having Trax in SD.

 

[ndbwhunter]

Does Onxmaps have landowner information? That's the biggest thing I miss from not having Trax in SD.

Yes sir.

 

[Nanky]

Yes sir.

Nice! I was looking at their website and it looks like the only option is for the Midwest States, there's no SD only map. Is that the one you have? I'd be looking to put it into my GPS.

 

[jdinny]

Does Onxmaps have landowner information? That's the biggest thing I miss from not having Trax in SD.

yes and no.

it depends which map you buy. for example if you buy a "regional" chip for instnace the "northern rockies series) includes wyoming, MT and idaho i beleive NO it does not give landowner names. the positives 99.99 you get 3 states, the negative you dont get landowners names.

the "premium chip" which you but state per state YES you get all updated landowners names. however reasearch the Plat coverage area as some places like ND they DO NOT have plat coverage to the entire state and it is hit and miss which i think SD is too but it seems with each update more and more counties are added. go onto their website for complete coverage

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Nice! I was looking at their website and it looks like the only option is for the Midwest States, there's no SD only map. Is that the one you have? I'd be looking to put it into my GPS.

dont quote me but if SD is in a regional chip you wont get prviate names thens

 

[Nanky]

yes and no.

it depends which map you buy. for example if you buy a "regional" chip for instnace the "northern rockies series) includes wyoming, MT and idaho i beleive NO it does not give landowner names. the positives 99.99 you get 3 states, the negative you dont get landowners names.

the "premium chip" which you but state per state YES you get all updated landowners names. however reasearch the Plat coverage area as some places like ND they DO NOT have plat coverage to the entire state and it is hit and miss which i think SD is too but it seems with each update more and more counties are added. go onto their website for complete coverage

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dont quote me but if SD is in a regional chip you wont get prviate names thens

From what I can tell you are correct. I don't see the individual state for SD on GPS, but they do have one for the phone. I think I'll go that route, seems like a great way to look up landowners. I've been missing my Trax product here in SD, and haven't wanted to spend a ton of money on Plat books for each county. Looks like most of the counties in the eastern part where I'd be needing names are fully covered.

Is the product pretty easy to use on the phone? I'd be looking to save offline maps, mark points of interest, etc.

 

[jdinny]

i have never used the phone version/app i use mine with any garmin device both handheld /and any traffic GPS(when goat hunting specifically)and they work very well.

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just need to have the SD/micro slot

 

[Kurtr]

From what I can tell you are correct. I don't see the individual state for SD on GPS, but they do have one for the phone. I think I'll go that route, seems like a great way to look up landowners. I've been missing my Trax product here in SD, and haven't wanted to spend a ton of money on Plat books for each county. Looks like most of the counties in the eastern part where I'd be needing names are fully covered.

Is the product pretty easy to use on the phone? I'd be looking to save offline maps, mark points of interest, etc.

Corson county in Sd is the only one that Onx has the land owners. There is a problem with counties and the state giving up that info even though it is public. I know the county commisioners here who have no clue wont let the company have that info so now it is in the state court i think. Problem with old people is they dont understand how this gps thingy really works and think this info is for tellemarketers. I have been using the gfp map when i have coverage and Onx free version when i dont i am buying the premium idaho one as it shows all the trails.

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guy i hunt with all the time has it and was pissed about no land owner and called Onx him self and i talked to a commisioner

 

[ndbwhunter]

Nice! I was looking at their website and it looks like the only option is for the Midwest States, there's no SD only map. Is that the one you have? I'd be looking to put it into my GPS.

jdinny is correct. I only have the MT chip. The regional chips are hit and miss, with some sections having ownership information and some not.

 

[Nanky]

It looks like more than just Corson county, but not many more than that.



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I forgot to post the legend.

 

[Kurtr]

Dont get your hopes up just saying i have looked at it my self with the chip and its not as good as you would think. Other states that dont have a bunch of dinks in charge of the counties it is awesome

 

[Nanky]

Sucks they label some counties that I need as "Full Coverage", which apparently is not the case. Guess I've have to do the 7 day trial and see if it would work.

 

[jdinny]

lemme know how that free trial works. my younger bro was asking me about it and i said idk i dont use my phone for everything under the sun like you millenial do. Thumbs Up

 

[Kurtr]

I used the free trial it just shows you all the options now if all the states would get on board it would be great. I use it with no service all the time in air plane mode and works really good.