Mapping Trophy Bucks [Paperback]

Brad Herndon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 17, 2003

Using Topographic Maps to Find Deer

Topographic maps and aerial photos can lead you right to the biggest bucks you've ever seen. You just have to know how to use them.

Brad Herndon takes the mystery out of finding deer with maps. Through years of dedicated hunting and careful study of maps and photos, Herndon has perfected the use of maps to find the routes deer travel. And once you know where the deer will be headed you can establish the perfect ambush site.

Maps are often the forgotten link in scouting prime deer habitat. Yet because they show you all the hills, gullies, rivers and ridges, you can learn the lay of the land without walking mile after unproductive mile. Maps won't eliminate the need to get in the woods, but they will tell the best places to start your search for the buck of your dreams.

Herndon also shows hunters how to use the latest Internet and computer technology to personalize any map. Mark your stand locations, the locations of deer sign, even note the best possible wind direction to make your hunt a success.

If you hunt deer, let Mapping Trophy Bucks lead you right to where the big boys hide. The rest is up to you.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brad Herndon, published since 1987, writes several articles appearing in a number of popular outdoor publications, including Deer & Deer Hunting, Turkey & Turkey Hunting, Outdoor Life, Peterson’s Hunting, North American Whitetail, and more.Plus, Brad and his wife are outdoor photographers for Realtree and Advantage camouflage’s national ads. Brad and his wife live in Brownstown, Indiana.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Krause Publications; 2 edition (September 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873495039
• ISBN-13: 978-0873495035
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 10.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stop Spending Unproductive Time In The Woods, October 16, 2005

By 

David H. (Springville, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mapping Trophy Bucks (Paperback)

Many whitetail deer hunters take a leisurely stroll through the woods, find a rub or scrape, and climb the nearest tree. Then they wonder why they hunt day in and day out only to see nothing. Brad Herndon reveals the secrets of using various terrain features to your advantage in order to maximize your chances of taking a whitetailed deer -- be it a doe for the freezer or a trophy buck.

Deer are creatures of habit, and just like humans, they prefer to take the easiest route from Point A to Point B. Sure deer visit areas where you find sign, but how often? Perhaps they visit these areas outside of legal hunting hours. Your best bet is to locate certain terrain features that deer prefer in order to best spend your time in the woods. Topographical maps are the key to locating these hotspots.

Now let me speak from personal experience, as I have been a fan of Brad Herndon's work for many years. I started following his monthly terrain articles in Whitetail Hunting Strategies magazine and followed his advice. The hunting locations that I chose based on his information lacked deer sign and I actually had hunting partners scoff at my chosen locations at times. But they aren't laughing anymore. I've taken 7 mature bucks in the last 9 seasons by following Brad's advice.

Brad Herndon is a wildlife photographer by trade, and this expertise shows in this book. Excellent color photos are found on virtually every page. His illustrations show that the average guy (and gal) can take trophy bucks. Even his wife has taken some bruiser bucks -- and these weren't harvested on managed ranches or large food plots as is commonly seen on televised hunting shows. No, the Herndons hunt public and private land near their home, picking their stand locations from topographical maps from the comfort of their log home.

If you honestly want to increase your deer sightings, then you need to check out this book. You'll be amazed at the results.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some sound knowledge., July 15, 2004

By 

Uncle M (The Old North State, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mapping Trophy Bucks (Paperback)

I am not the worlds greatest whitetail hunter by any stretch. But I very much enjoy reading books about hunting and trying to improve my skills as a deer hunter. When I saw the description of this book I knew I had to have it.

Let me start out by saying that I like Herndon's style. He condenses pertinent information and uses good examples. After reading the topography information I can pinpoint reasons I saw or didn't see deer at a particular stand location. The material on wind is simply outstanding and makes me realize how many times I screwed up.

Besides finding deer trails and the like, Herndon does not put too much stock in sign. As a matter of fact he basically states that rubs and scrapes will not get you as far as the method of finding good terrain funnels. This is very much a contrast to the likes of Greg Miller who almost exclusively use sign, especially rub lines, when finding stand sites. I don't fault Herdon for this, but don't totally agree either.

Being from Indiana I enjoyed this book even more since I recognized many of the specific features Herndon writes about. I also appreciated his honesty regarding lost opportunities and hunts that didn't work out so well. Particularly the story about a bow shot that perhaps should not have been taken.

The only knock I have on this book is a personal one: I get tired of feeling like everything is an advertisement. What I mean is that many of the pictures seem staged and of course, everybody is 'Team Realtree' or what not.

Pick this book up...

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lots of FULL page pictures of hunters, September 7, 2005

By 

William C. Ruff "billruff" (Plymouth, Mn United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mapping Trophy Bucks (Paperback)

This book is OK, it is pretty basic unless you are a complete novice at deer hunting. If you know anything about deer you will find the information a little lacking in details. Most of the illustrations are a little oversimplified. For example, in one instance he tells how to approach your stand. Of course the drawing has an arrow showing entry into the woods so as not to cross a deer trail. Well, it generally isn't that simple. A lot of the pages are full page full color pictures of the author and his wife with their deer.
I give it a three because if nothing else it makes you aware of another tool to use to find deer. But as an experienced hunter I have been using GPS, TOPO, satellite images for years. As soon as GOOGLE Earth gets more detailed for my hunting area this should make scouting all the easier. If you are new to hunting get the book. If you've been at it awhile, it's ok. Nothing really new.