Mapping Trophy Bucks

by Brad Herndon

Using Topographic Maps to Find Deer

Topographic maps and aerial photos can lead you right to the biggest bucks you've ever seen. You just have to know how to use them.

Brad Herndon takes the mystery out of finding deer with maps. Through years of dedicated hunting and careful study of maps and photos, Herndon has perfected the use of maps to find the routes deer travel. And once you know where the deer will be headed you can establish the perfect ambush site.

Maps are often the forgotten link in scouting prime deer habitat. Yet because they show you all the hills, gullies, rivers and ridges, you can learn the lay of the land without walking mile after unproductive mile. Maps won't eliminate the need to get in the woods, but they will tell the best places to start your search for the buck of your dreams.

Herndon also shows hunters how to use the latest Internet and computer technology to personalize any map. Mark your stand locations, the locations of deer sign, even note the best possible wind direction to make your hunt a success.

If you hunt deer, let Mapping Trophy Bucks lead you right to where the big boys hide. The rest is up to you.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 2003

Reviews

[Michael Giuliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sometimes struggled to interpret the illustrations, but I found the book wonderfully informative. I especially enjoyed the advice about finding natural funnels. I will be reading this one again come fall.

[Jack Gyurina · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the information about deer habits themselves is great. However, since this book was published in 2003 and there are a good amount of chapters about the internet, some of the information is outdated.

[Thebookiemonster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This will definitely change the way I do my pre-scouting using topo maps. I enjoyed the few illustrations the author provided, the information on deers' mindsets and habits, and the fun hunting stories mixed throughout. I also think Carol and Brad's relationship is really cute.

For a book with "mapping" in the title, I expected more explicit, practical instruction on how to use topo maps and identify the key features the author talks about. When illustrated examples are given, text explaining how to use the features is often on the next page. This forces the reader to flip back and forth between the image and the text. Further, the text explaining the features is vague.

For example, "I like the spot just to the east of the 830 contour line" refers to a map a page flip away. So you flip back the page to get to the map. The map labels several contour lines, all at 800. So you flip back to the text and confirm he's talking about the 830 contour line in the southeast. Since he said he liked the 830 contour line, and that's not labeled on the map AND he didn't feel like simply putting a star or cirlce on the line he's talking about, you then find the 830 line. Aha, eureka! Then he continues "Look at the double inside corner on the south field under the 830 line" and the entire, unnecessary, painful process begins again. Bro, you're putting maps and illustrations in your book already. Just put a damn circle on where you're talkng about and have it on the same page as your text.

Every chapter starts with text overlaid on a camoflauge or woodsy pattern. At times, those first few pages were difficult to read. The chapter salivating over P&Y scoring and the parts talking about inch spread and overall score were not interesting to me, since I'm only here for the meat. But it totally makes sense for trophy hunters, so I'm not complaining.

After reading my own review, I kind of want to give this a 2 star. Hmm. I do think there's valuable information in here. Considering the price of this book ($30+), I think most people would be better served by the following:

Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails
Bowhunting Public Land Whitetails

[Wyatt Hone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: This book starts out telling you how to hunt monster bucks and the places that you will be able to find them. It shows some pretty key points that will help you harvest a big buck such as telling you to sit in saddles and to wait for the deer to come to you instead of going to them. Another key place that it told you to do is to sit where the deer will be funneled into a area, such as sitting some rivens that come together . It tells you that you need to watch the deer and learn them to be able to hunt them and i really think that is a good thing to learn. Word: one word word i didn't understand was when they said topo, i didn't know what it meant but when it was talking about maps i figured that it was a map like from the top. Gullies: i didn't know what they were talking about when they said to "follow gullies" but after a little bit of reading i figured out that gullies is kind of like a little canyon. Aerial: i was a little confused about this word at first but when there was more talk about it i believe that it is just a sky view of something. Theme: Just because you don't succeed the first time doesn't mean its time to quit. The quote that i liked that went with this them was "Just keep hunting" i really liked how it tells you not to quit and to just keep going. This can be used in more than one areas in life, it can be used in everything you do. Even though it might be hard and you might not succeed you still need to just keep going. Opinion: My opinion of this book is that it is a very good enjoyable book. It was fun to read and offered some great information to help me when i am out hunting. I really liked how he explained everything in depth and helped me really get to know how the deer work and live. I know the next time i go hunting i will definitely use the tips and tricks i learned from this book.

[Rye Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the most comprehensive book about deer hunting and terrain features that you can find. Brad lists personal stories and pictures explaining terrain features from ridges to inside corners. Every serious hunter should have this book in his library. Once you read it, you can re-read it later on and probably pick up something else that's useful. Great book on the terrain and how it affects whitetail deer.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for beginners and experts alike. Some of the items he lists as essential are all on the iphone now, but the wisdom of reading and adapting topo maps and windage will stand the test of time.

[East To · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most practical, useful deer hunting books out there. Its timeless.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tons of good information. Intended to be a reference, each chapter stands on its own

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource and intro into scoutng strategy and tactics. Includes large color photos explaining each setup, and real life examples from a skilled woodsman with many notches on his belt and trophies on his (and his wife's) walls.

[Andrew W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. Pair this with your OnX app and you’re cooking with gas.