Are paper maps a dying breed??

[SWOHTR]

FWIW, a few years back the Navy decided it would go “all paperless” and rely on electronic systems for navigation, with “paper charts being unauthorized for use.” (Yes, you can still put manual inputs into the nav system).

Guess what crashes and is unreliable? Our electronic charting system.

Guess what most ships have elected to retain and what is now being re-taught/reinforced at schools? Non-electronic navigation and paper charts.

You might say we began to realize the error of our ways. There’s always a place for paper and compass.

 

[LaHunter]

I don't go hunting anywhere without at least one map in my pack. But I'm a map guy.

same here. I usually order a custom paper map from mytopo and keep that with me.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I'm a fan of topo maps. I use my GPS a lot, but it is much easier to get an overall view of everything from the topo.

 

[Maverick940]

I've got boxes and boxes and boxes of them. Probably several hundred. I read them like most people read novels or magazines (lol). In fact, one of my clients made reference to that when talking with someone who called him as a reference. Anyway …….

 

[Mcmahonff]

Love a good map. Always keep one with me. Google maps is good, but sometimes "roads" are barely more than a game trail or are blocked off.

 

[bitbckt]

I always carry a paper map - usually a USGS 1:24000 - for each quad I expect to spend time in. I use the OnX and such only for "e-scouting", and markup my paper maps for use in the field.

Get some proper tools from maptools.com and land nav in style.

 

[Grundy53]

Love paper maps. First thing I buy if I draw a new unit.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[fngTony]

No, until we have phones with an endless battery and projection screens I’ll always have paper maps.

 

[DenverCountryBoy]

Always pack a paper map in a ziploc and my compass and whistle lanyard. I get the NatGeo maps from Basspro. Basspro also has unit maps, but the quality is not as good.

 

[oldskool67]

I love maps, but I’m old. And I agree with who said that they are easier to see the big picture instead of the screen on your phone / gps. I usually get my top in 1:25000, because I’m weird and am more comfortable using MGRS. And lastly technology and batteries can fail but with a little practice a map and compass are a sure thing. Don’t get me wrong I love my gps / iPhone, but I like to reference the map as well to see more of the area at once

 

[5MilesBack]

FWIW, a few years back the Navy decided it would go “all paperless” and rely on electronic systems for navigation, with “paper charts being unauthorized for use.” (Yes, you can still put manual inputs into the nav system).

Guess what crashes and is unreliable? Our electronic charting system.

Guess what most ships have elected to retain and what is now being re-taught/reinforced at schools? Non-electronic navigation and paper charts.

You might say we began to realize the error of our ways. There’s always a place for paper and compass.

What about sextants......did they get rid of those too? I loved celestial navigation, maneuvering board, and piloting. Redundancy used to be of prime importance, hard to believe they'd make charts unauthorized.

 

[Oregon]

Love paper maps. First thing I buy if I draw a new unit.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

I’m pretty sure I own a BLM or USFS map of every unit I’ve ever hunted. Maybe I’m crazy, but laying that map out over the kitchen table and staring for hours is what I call a great time!

 

[Newtosavage]

I’m pretty sure I own a BLM or USFS map of every unit I’ve ever hunted. Maybe I’m crazy, but laying that map out over the kitchen table and staring for hours is what I call a great time!

You aren't crazy in my book. I do the same thing, and have found myself getting pretty sentimental when going over old maps, thinking of hunts I made in some of those lines and penciled in notes.

Paper maps are to me what books are to my wife. I pull open a map and it brings back so many memories of trips I've made.

And while I feel naked without a paper map, I'm gradually making the transition to more electronics. I added a GPS two years ago and used it a lot more than I expected to. Last year I had OnX on my phone after seeing a guy use it two years ago. That was pretty darn nice to have. For years I've used Google Earth to get 3D views of places I'm expecting to go. Several times I've used oblique 3D views to determine glassing points before I ever set foot on a place. And that has saved me a ton of time.

So I'll always have a soft spot for paper maps, but I'm evolving too.

 

[Pendleton]

Paper topo with a color print of satellite of the area as backup. I really only care for the off trail stuff. I can navigate "home" without a map or device. If I were Alaskan I might see this differently.

 

[SWOHTR]

What about sextants......did they get rid of those too? I loved celestial navigation, maneuvering board, and piloting. Redundancy used to be of prime importance, hard to believe they'd make charts unauthorized.

They did for a while. Now we are re-teaching/learning CELNAV. Moboards won’t go away (as they shouldn’t). Most COs (and NAVs) insist on keeping paper charts of at least home waters.

VMS, our electronic nav system, leaves a lot to be desired. We can really thank our acquisitions programs for that. We do carry backup emergency nav laptops as well.

You can change inputs on VMS - fwd/aft gyro, INS1/2, manual (ie manual LOPs, celestial inputs, handheld GPS inputs). The system idea is great, but the execution of the concept is lacking.

Bringing this back full circle...it’s always a good idea to carry paper. What if the Chinese deny us GPS? How will you navigate your hunting unit?

 

[Fatcamp]

New map day.

 

[ccsmith2]

Haven't used paper maps in years and I dont even carry a GPS anymore. OnX on the iphone is all I need anymore.

 

[Billinsd]

Until there are foldable/unfoldable monitor screens that fold out to the size of a 7 1/2 topo quad, I'm keeping my paper, trees be damned!!!

 

[kmbrewcrew]

Haven't used paper maps in years and I dont even carry a GPS anymore. OnX on the iphone is all I need anymore.

I find myself doing this more and more...my only concern has been shorter battery life, but downloading all the maps I’m going to use, and then putting the phone in airplane mode seems to give me plenty of battery for a day or two!

 

[LongWayAround]

I like the national geographic maps but they don't always cover an entire unit.

It's much nicer to study a paper map of a large area, the delve into the details on Google Earth or OnX.