Pennsylvania Game News - August 2011 - 18

they didn’t offer a ride. We returned to the camp, snapped some photos, gathered our gear and headed for home. We had walked nearly 10 miles. I was too tired to smile. We were content because we had three grouse to show for the hunt, but it bothered us that we spent most of our time in areas of poor cover. If we were to revisit, we would need more information about the terrain. On Monday I returned to work teaching a computer class. I work with a program called Google Earth. It is a virtual map of the entire world with aerial photos, terrain and countless other options — including GPS imports. Something clicked. The second I returned home I connected my GPS to my laptop and dialed in on the spread of white pines. They seemed the center point of a woodlot covering half the state. Immediately, I zoomed out to look for other pine locations. I quickly found three other pine patches in the vicinity and waypointed them on my GPS. I also marked a few clearcuts. I called Kevin and we planned a return trip. Days after the first hunt I’d bought Kevin a new pair of boots. I borrowed the money from Clint’s “quail fund.” Our trio, now fully equipped, returned to the camp in January with some excellent weather conditions. We went

straight to the same pines where we had luck before. To our surprise, from beginning to end the flushes were constant. By the time we reached the end of the thicket our game bags jingled with 20-gauge empties. The GPS quickly guided us through the big woods to areas of dense cover shown on the Google Earth maps. This hunt was different, because we had the feeling a grouse could flush any second for most of the day. After we passed through all the pine stands there was still sufficient daylight for more hunting. We decided to hunt the clearcuts I’d located, where Clint learned some new techniques in the grouse game. The birds would not cooperate, and ran long distances before flushing. Clint had already learned that holding point on old tracks got him nowhere, but he knew they were useful if followed. The first time he followed ground scent through the nasty briars he was too caught up in tracking and bumped the bird. The next time, I watched carefully as he tracked the bird while lifting his head to catch the scent. When he finally locked, two birds went out. It was our first kill of the day. I brought my GPS system for a backup in case I lost my bearings. Kevin, Clint and I found out it can function in many other ways. My system included a CD that contained topographical maps and links to download more information, but aerial views are needed to see cover. Google Earth was the answer. The program is compatible with all major GPS brands and completely free to download. Linking a GPS unit to Google Earth is not difficult, most GPS systems come equipped with a USB cable for connection. To pattern my grouse spots, I started a GPS log of every flush, the weather conditions and time of year. Technology saved us time and energy and put us onto more grouse. Kevin bought one soon after. 
TODAY’S computer technology can be a big help in locating all sorts of new hunting spots.

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Pennsylvania Game News - August 2011

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