Scouting From the Sky

Flintfinder of Mo. · Sep 13, 2009

I am very lucky to have a best bud that is a flight instructor, and owns a couple small planes. I have flown several times this summer checking out some of my campsites from the air, and as well as found a few new ones. This is a much more up front and personal from just viewing a Satelite image. I also picked up a new hobby as well, I love being up in the air. I hope to get my pilots licences soon, as well as get permission to hunt some of these new sites in the remote places. John

SoIll · Sep 13, 2009

Cool.
My wife bought me a discovery flight for father's day, and that's the first thing I did was head for my fields.
Of course it wasn't nearly long enough. I loved it though!
I think pilots probably look at the rest of the working world as suckers!

all_atv · Sep 13, 2009

Way cool! I have been thinking of doing that too! I am way into satelite and topo maps. Even have google earth on my phone! I'd like to charter a plane to take me around to some of my spots, and find some new ones. I'm guessing they could take me up by the hour? Anyone have any idea on what that might cost?

pickaway · Sep 13, 2009

Nice pics & good idea.Good luck on the pilots liscence

Th3rty7 · Sep 13, 2009

Great pics, man that is some flat land. Good way to get a handle on your topography for sure.

Tnmountains · Sep 13, 2009

John go for it. I flew my friends plane over my leases. Everytime I would see one I would look down and start diving at the ground. It was a blast I got down in the river and flew between the mtns. I thought that day that I should learn to fly as well.
Great pictures and what a ridiculously fun way to Hunt !!! Yeeeee- Haaaaaa

archer66 · Sep 13, 2009

Could someone fill the newbie...me...on how arial scouting helps specifically? I can imagine seeing arial views being helpful for learing terrain and finding creeks etc but what else can you learn? Are you looking at the color of the soil using that to pinpoint campsites?

RPG · Sep 14, 2009

Nice post John. Get yourself a crop duster. You can land it in any one of those fields and pay for the hobby spraying crops.

Good Luck
Randy

abarnard · Sep 14, 2009

Very cool indeed.. Man, what a way to hunt future prospects, ahahahha.

terryo · Sep 14, 2009

flying in a small plane gives you a whole different outlook on the land, don't it? :icon_thumleft:

Tnmountains · Sep 16, 2009

archer66 said:
Could someone fill the newbie...me...on how arial scouting helps specifically? I can imagine seeing arial views being helpful for learing terrain and finding creeks etc but what else can you learn? Are you looking at the color of the soil using that to pinpoint campsites?

Archer I did not learn much I did not know but it is just fun seeing and flying over areas that all look good.

Flintfinder of Mo. · Sep 16, 2009

Yes indeed you can see so much more from the sky. I like to fly up the river I usually hunt. You can find fields that you never knew were there. Some of these fields are way back in and secluded farm roads are the only way in. I also look for changes in the color of the soil from the air. Like I said you can see things you never imagined from the air. I am always in search of knew places to hunt so this is helping, and the planes are equipped with gps. so this all helps. Thanks guys John

terryo · Sep 16, 2009

One way you can rack up some serious time in the air, is to see if you have a Civil air Patrol wing in your area.I was fortunate enough to have several instructors in the squadron I was in, and got 300+ hours in cessna 150's , 172s, even 182 RG's(Retractable gear)practically free. We flew sundown patrols over the gulf looking for boats in distress, nearly every weekend, for several years. The CAP usally provided a plane to wings big enough to warrant one. Its for civilians as well as military !