Why You Need a Topographic Map App for Stand Locations (and More)

If you’re getting ready to hunt a new piece of property this fall, do yourself a favor and don’t go in blind. One of the first things they teach about scouting is how to navigate and use a map.

Most of us don't think about it with our fancy phones, but you will have a much easier time finding success if your app of choice has a map with layers and topographical features. Otherwise, you're just walking around hoping to stumble onto deer sign — and this is a great way to waste time and spook deer.

Let's talk about how a hunting app with a topographical map helps you plot stand locations and strategize your hunt around deer movement (and which one you should use).

A Topographic Map App Can Be "The" Difference In Your Success

What’s made a huge difference for me, especially on new hunting ground, is using a topographic map before the weekend. I’m telling you, once you learn how to read a topographic map for deer hunting and layer in tools like weather, wind, and terrain features, you start seeing the woods differently.

You can basically predict where deer want to go.

There is always room to improve how you scout and learn about land, so I hope I can bring some ideas to light as you refresh between seasons.

I'm preparing for a couple of hunts out west this fall, so I'm sharpening up, too. Let me walk you through how I use topo maps to find stand spots, scout smarter, and avoid blowing up a good area before I even get a shot.

First Things First: Learn to Read the Map

I’ll be honest: topo maps looked confusing to me at first. But once it clicks, it’s like flipping a light switch.

Those squiggly lines? They show elevation.

• When the lines are close together, that means it’s steep.
• When they’re spread out, it’s flat.

And when you start noticing patterns — like a dip between two ridges (that’s a saddle) or a flat spot halfway up a hill (a bench) — that’s when the good stuff happens.

Deer Don't Just "Wander"

Deer don’t just wander around randomly. They use the terrain to move efficiently and stay hidden.

They bed on certain slopes, travel through draws, and feed in low-pressure areas. Once you learn how to read a topographic map for deer hunting, you can start figuring out where those spots are — before you ever set foot on the land.

I use HuntWise for this because they’ve got terrain layers that make all those features pop out instantly. You can highlight saddles, ridges, and benches without having to squint at contour lines all day.

Find Your Stand Spots Before the First Scout

I like to do a bunch of digital scouting a couple of weeks before I physically go check out a place. I’ll pull up the topo map in HuntWise, layer in the satellite view, and start looking for terrain features that create funnels and pinch points — areas where deer naturally get pushed together.

Saddles are money. So are spots where a ridge tapers down near a creek crossing or where thick cover meets open hardwoods. I’ll drop custom markers in HuntWise at all these potential stand locations so I can check them out in person later.

The cool part is, once you drop those pins, you can tag them with wind direction, notes, trail cam photos, and more. It’s like building your own playbook for the season.

Play the Wind Like It’s Life or Death (Because It Is)

Here’s the deal: you can have the best stand in the world, but if the wind’s wrong, that deer is gone before you even know he was there.

This is where a topographic map app really comes in clutch. Wind and thermals don’t just blow straight — they interact with the terrain. Cold air sinks into valleys; warm air rises up hillsides. If you don’t factor that in, you’re just rolling the dice.

I always try to have at least one stand for every wind direction — and a backup spot, just in case.

Make Scouting Way More Efficient

Time is tight, especially if you’re working full-time and squeezing in hunts on the weekends. That’s why I try to do as much scouting on my phone as possible first.

Topo maps let you skip the dead zones and focus on spots with real potential.

Before I head out, I download offline maps in HuntWise, so I’m not stuck without service. Then, I can mark rub lines, scrapes, beds, and whatever I find right on the map and build my game plan from there.

I even use custom markers to label camera spots, access routes, and potential entry and exit paths. That way, I’m not stumbling around with a headlamp trying to remember where I’m going at 5 a.m.

Match Your Spots to the Season

One thing I didn’t think about much when I first started using topo maps was how the same spot can be hot or cold depending on the time of year.

For example:

• Early season? I focus on flat ground near food sources. Deer are on patterns and not moving much.
• Rut? That’s when you hit the saddles, ditches, and ridge crossings hard. Bucks are covering ground, and terrain funnels are gold.
• Late season? South-facing slopes and thicker bedding cover near food are where they’ll stack up.

The best part? With HuntWise, you can overlay weather, wind, and deer activity forecasts right on the map. So when a cold front rolls in, you can look at your spots and say, “Yep, that one’s gonna be hot.”

Don’t Get Lost (Seriously)

Let’s not forget the safety side of this.

New properties can be tough to navigate — especially if they’re big or you’re going in before daylight.

Topo maps show you where the tough stuff is — steep ridges, swamps, cliffs — so you can avoid burning yourself out or getting stuck in a nasty spot. I always map out access routes and exit plans ahead of time so I don’t ruin a good hunt by tromping through bedding areas.

And again, offline maps are a must, and HuntWise comes through big in this respect. Even if your phone loses signal, you’ll still have your pins, trails, and routes right there with you.

This has saved me from embarrassment a number of times when riding on large properties I’m unfamiliar with.

See the maps in action in the video below from FoxTrot Hunting!

Don’t Just Hunt! Hunt Smart with HuntWise Topo Maps

Look, I’m not saying topo maps are magic. You still have to put in the work and think a bit. But I am saying they’ll help you make better decisions and avoid a lot of frustration — especially when you’re hunting new ground.

I’m hunting a new unit in New Mexico this year and will be spending a lot of time this summer learning the terrain and tailoring my training routine so I can maximize my opportunities. Pair that topo knowledge with HuntWise’s tools: terrain analysis, weather overlays, wind tools, offline maps, and custom markers, and you’ve got everything you need to hunt smarter, not harder.

If you haven’t downloaded HuntWise yet, I’d do it now! It’s like packing a guide in your pocket and will give you an edge on your buddies.

Good luck out there, and enjoy your first week in the HuntWise app — free — to try out some of the tips we shared today. 
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