GPS: Establishing game boundaries

GPS technology is great for driving directions and hiking expeditions, but there's another practical way to use it on your acreage. Upwards of half of small acreage owners who buy a GPS unit use it for hunting and backyard conservation. First, use the unit to create a map featuring landmarks like rock formations, creeks, and timber. Then add coordinates for places you've seen animal tracks or scat. Compare those sightings with the surrounding landscape to see where else on your property the animals may be likely to appear. If you plan to hunt deer or other wildlife on your acreage, using GPS units that communicate with each other lets you see where other members of your hunting party are at any given time.

Radio interview source: Jennifer Dubindorf, Natural Resources Conservation Service

For more information, we suggest visiting the following helpful Web sites:

GPS for hunting: Smart hunters have been using topographic maps for years to predict the positions of game animals. Using GPS is a logical next step.

How Does GPS Work?: A brief look at the science behind GPS technology.

Make GPS Work: An overview of how GPS can be useful for baseline mapping, field surveys, and other land stewardship activities.