Maps

birdhunter · 04-07-2003, 03:57 PM

Looking for some good, really good, Oregon maps. Considering picking up a batch of USGS 7.5 minute ones. Up to date enough? Topo is interesting, but I'd much rather know where all the roads are. Getting rather tired of driving down places that don't exist according to the Forest Service. Already have the big Oregon Atlas and Gazzateer, but sometimes I need more detail than that for specific locations. Any other recommendations?

Bounty Hunter · 04-07-2003, 04:32 PM

I'm sure you have tried the Ranger Station (District?) Topo Maps. I found they are really detailed for the forest areas I hunt. They are maintained even with closed roads so that fire fighters know where roads once were in case they need to get in in a hurry. Not sure where you can get them other than going to the specific ranger station for the are you are looking at.

?Or are these the ones you don't like that you spoke of?

birdhunter · 04-07-2003, 04:47 PM

BH,

Know what you're talking about and they work great for some of the places in W. Oregon I go. Have a couple of other spots on industiral forest land and also on BLM land on the east side though that I'd really like to get mapped. Don't know that they'd have that. Thanks.

TheRogue · 04-07-2003, 04:56 PM

State fire maps!!!

These are generally not well known of, and are usually joint efforts between the State Dept. of Forestry, USFS, BLM, and whatever other agencies have land in the area, as well as many private timber companies. You should try the Dept. of Forestry or perhaps a rural fire department in the area you're looking at.

These maps generally have ownership, all the good, ok, and bad roads in the area, with blocked roads, surface types, etc...along with water sources (big deal on the east side!!)

You might not be able to find them readily, and some places might play "dumb" when you ask about them, but, trust me, they exist!!

TR

maggot · 04-07-2003, 05:22 PM

I have the national geographic topos of Oregon........8 cd's...very detailed.....email me ..Ill burn you a copy

skein · 04-07-2003, 05:26 PM

TheRogue is right! The fire maps are THE MAPS to get.

Last year I got one of the unit maps by Northern (I think) and finally tore it up so I wouldn't be tempted to try to use it again. It was worse than worthless because it led us down blind alleys and listed erroneous road numbers. I won't make that mistake again.

Get the fire maps.

Skein

birdhunter · 04-07-2003, 05:31 PM

ODF has this up on their website: ODF maps. This right or not? Seems a little big. I'll go by the Philomath office at any rate, just wanted to see if it could be done online. Thanks guys.

horseskull · 04-07-2003, 06:28 PM

Try the 1:100,000 quad maps put out by the USGS. Topographic and has all of the roads. I get them at REI or you could get them through the USGS. By far the most useful maps I have. BLM also has some excellent quad maps, not topo, but has all the roads and land ownership is shown in color.

norms gone fishing too · 04-07-2003, 06:54 PM

Firemaps are the way to go and they are not too costly i think i paid 3.50 for mine. but you need to get a hold of the range dist. that the unit is in. they didn't even add postage to mine and i got them in 5 days

Beer Waggin · 04-07-2003, 06:54 PM

Go with the fire maps. I've found that you have to call the ranger station in that unit to get the map, other stations will not have maps for surrounding areas. They will ship them, and they're cheap, like $5.00. They are big, and sometimes they are a few years old, but just like anything else, you have to drive the roads to figure out what is really going on. The one I purchased for the South Beulah unit two years ago was updated that summer and was right on the money.

MarlinMark · 04-07-2003, 07:41 PM

Are these fire maps what I've heard referred to as "Brown line maps?" I have one ("brown line map") for the Desolation/Ukia area and its huge. Good road and gate source.

Mark

tailchaser · 04-07-2003, 08:27 PM

Don't forget one mapping source. Terraserver. It has a database of the entire US and Alaska on it. The USGS maps are ok for clarity, but the coolest part is the aerial images. You can get them zoomed into the point where you can identify individual trees. It's free to print from also. A very cool and free resource to go with your other maps. I use it alot in conjunction with my road maps of an area. The site is www.terraserver.com and then go to the USGS section.

tc

Lured In · 04-07-2003, 09:01 PM

BH...I haven't seen the "fire maps", but in some of the areas we hunt (SW OR) the 'green dot' maps are usually pretty accurate for roads.

What I did last year was go to www.topozone.com and look at the area (quadrangle) I wanted to hunt. You can change scales 1:25,000 (50,000, 100,000 and 250,000 scale too). Then I went to the GI Joes in Delta Park. They have the USGS maps on a computer. Pick/enter your quadrangle and print it out. (you can also browse the maps for free) Full color and printed on a 'waterproof' paper. Not a bad gig overall. (Especially if navigating via GPS while hunting.)

Personally I use both. One to figure out where to hunt, one to figure out how to get there, and then how to get back to the truck.

Good luck.

Myles · 04-08-2003, 04:30 PM

One source for all. http://www.naturenw.org/
If you know what you want, call and order it.
State forestry maps, National Forest maps, BLM, topo maps and, and.
2-3 blks from Rose Quarter/Convention center. It's in the Oregon State building (I think). 800 NE Oregon St. Suite 177. It's state run so the hours suck.
Tell them you're hunting a certain area and they will show you what they have. Now go get lost

myles

birdhunter · 04-08-2003, 06:01 PM

Thanks all,

Stopped by the Siuslaw FS office. Got my fire maps I needed from them and all the other info. "Fire maps" are blue line maps, FS calls them Ranger District Maps and BLM calls them Transportation maps. They don't make the brown line one's anymore. 1" to the mile, not topo but ALL the roads, creeks and land ownership. Current too. Most 2001 or newer.

Maps are super cheap too. 4 bucks a pop and no shipping. Called up a couple of district offices of the BLM and FS around the state and ordered a few more. Everything I needed from across the state over the phone. Mt. Hood, Willamette, Umpqua, Rogue, Winema, Ochocco, Fremont, Deschutes and Wallowa-Whitman NF, Eugene, Lakeview, Vale and Roseburg BLM District Offices. Should be set. Lots out there after you dig around for a while.

So thanks a lot for all the help. Thanks for your offer maggot, but looks like I'm set. Love some of the websites. Been playing with that terraserver a lot (I can see my house!). Lots of other great links I'll be saving. Thanks again for all the input. Anyone needs any phone numbers for any of the district offices or help navigating to get the really good maps, let me know. More than willing to repay the favor.