I've definitely used Google Maps and Virtual Earth for some scouting. The CO DOW has also put GMU maps up on their site with tons of extra data. Various vegetation layers, Elevation models, game migration routes and concentration areas, etc. Also includes air photos etc and facilitates export to our computer for printing or consideration offline.

Lots of very good stuff out there.

yes, i have used it, but i am not tech savy enough for all that you are saying.

tim

I've been a bit disappointed in the resolution offered by google earth. Mytopo.com and adventurestation.com are two additional sites that let you order photomaps for an area, although you really cannot pan around with the freedom of the previously mentioned sites. The Colorado DOW interactive maps are kind of nice for researching. I sometimes wonder what my late Grandfather would think of all these innovations we have in the hunter's toolbox these days, from the internet research opportunities to the GPS's...

I love Google Earth. Some places have poor resolution and/or do not have land ownership that I can overlay in google earth. Here is a big tip for everyone else though....
the NRCS runs a site called websoilsurvey. It has a very user friendly GIS system, and labels its creeks, which Google Earth does not do. I used to think Google Earth sucked, but it seems that recently they put much higher resolution photos in. Then I leard that you can tilt the view for a 3-D effect, which I absolutely love.

Please post a link to those special Google maps.

We are talking about using Google Earth which is a program you have to download to use: It's Free here: http://earth.google.com/

And you can use the terrain feature on google maps here:
http://maps.google.com/maps

The other place I was talking about is
websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov

Best for areas that have poor resolution photos in Google earth, and with the labeled creeks you can find areas on your topos a little easier.
But I still prefer Google Earth. Screw mytopo, just a pay version of websoilsurvey with the EXACT same maps and photos that the govt will give you for free.

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Or if you were talking about the statistics maps that allow you find & compare different hunting areas based on their trophy potential, harvest success, and draw odd data, then go to my website: www.kmlers.com

I finally checked out kmlers.com
That's very nice. I recently paid for the Colorado DOW version of the same idea, which allows you to overlay landownership and elk movement data, plus has the statistics.
I'll definitely keep an eye on those for other out of state hunts!

Where on the CO DOW site do you find Google Earth overlays?