Paper Topo maps

Are people still uses them, and if so what do you use.
Brought LINZ ones or home printed?
I used to be a map and compass man with GPS as a backup. But over the last few years I have hardly pulled the maps out as technology has got so much better.
But I have got to thinking I should practice and keep the old skills alive.

Got all of NZ on my ipad, I just print off the area I’m hunting, and mark north on it.
Laminate it, and you’re away.

I've got the whole of NZ in paper 1:50 thous. Bought up big time just before they priced them from $1 each to $9 each (so talking quite a while ago:thumbsup: )

I also have most of the Central plateau in paper 1: 25,000's (1962-63 ish timeframe). Boy there is some info on them that has disappeared off more modern maps ages ago. Heaps of Power project construction tracks, old SH 1 alignments, forestry tracks. etc. But go there and push through the undergrowth and there they are. Very handy for getting in and out of some locations.

Just print them off linz and get them laminated. Be sure to write on the Eastings and Northings.0

Take LINZ as a backup.

Mostly use LINZ download GEOTIFF files in Avenza Maps on the phone these days.

I've also printed specific areas if I know I am going to spend a lot of time in a small area.

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Originally Posted by XR500

I've got the whole of NZ in paper 1:50 thous. Bought up big time just before they priced them from $1 each to $9 each (so talking quite a while ago:thumbsup: )

I also have most of the Central plateau in paper 1: 25,000's (1962-63 ish timeframe). Boy there is some info on them that has disappeared off more modern maps ages ago. Heaps of Power project construction tracks, old SH 1 alignments, forestry tracks. etc. But go there and push through the undergrowth and there they are. Very handy for getting in and out of some locations.

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MapsPast | Current and historical topographic maps (topomaps) of New Zealand

I sometimes print off the ones I need as I can often see what I need to see without putting my glasses on. My GPS i can't read without glasses and I seldom carry my phone since it doesn't work out the back anyway.

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Originally Posted by Happy Jack

I sometimes print off the ones I need as I can often see what I need to see without putting my glasses on. My GPS i can't read without glasses and I seldom carry my phone since it doesn't work out the back anyway.

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Me too!

I binned about 10kg to a skip over Easter,all NI

If i am going to a new area i end up buying a topo map, then copy and blow up the area am going in to and get it laminated.

Thanks some good suggestions there.
I used to buy a topo map cut it into A4 size pieces and laminate them.
My next question is how do I print from online to scale (I like my maps at 1:50000 scale - 20mm grid squares)
Makes taking grid references off map or plotting them on easy.

You have 2 options.
1) Download the map you want off linz. Make another copy and crop the map and adjust the zoom to suit.
Option 2 is to nztopo online (or something like that) and highlight and print the map you want.
I like big grid squares as it makes the hills look less steep. ����. Have a play. Making maps of new areas is cool.

Where do you get water prof paper from & will it go thrany printer

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Originally Posted by mimms2

Only ever used a basic GPS (etrex) to find out where I was on a map. Bit quicker than hiking up a hill and triangulating with a compass and works in valley etc.
Got a number of linz ones for pre-hunt nosies, generally get a laser print A4 of the target area and laminate, or in a ziploc bag, to actually carry bush.

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@mimms2, can you go thru how you do that pls (using basic GPS to find pos on topo map)

I've never managed to get a GPS unit to give me nz transverse mercator projection references, or even better the sheet grid reference.

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Originally Posted by ebf

@mimms2, can you go thru how you do that pls (using basic GPS to find pos on topo map)

I've never managed to get a GPS unit to give me nz transverse mercator projection references, or even better the sheet grid reference.

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Set your gps to nz 260 instead of wgs 84 or the older nz 49 and can cross referance to maps , just a fu// up nz map system most garmins used to have in settings .

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Originally Posted by madjon_

I binned about 10kg to a skip over Easter,all NI

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At the price they sell on Trade Me for that might not have been the best move.

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Originally Posted by m101a1

Set your gps to nz 260 instead of wgs 84 or the older nz 49 and can cross referance to maps , just a fu// up nz map system most garmins used to have in settings .

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So does that give you a northing/easting ref that you can use on the topomap ?

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Originally Posted by ebf

@mimms2, can you go thru how you do that pls (using basic GPS to find pos on topo map)

I've never managed to get a GPS unit to give me nz transverse mercator projection references, or even better the sheet grid reference.

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How to set older etrex to NZTM

https://tramper.nz/4856/setting-an-etrex-for-nztm2000/
@ebf

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Originally Posted by DavidGunn

At the price they sell on Trade Me for that might not have been the best move.

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Never even thought about that, will not be looking but.

Other one I did was buy printable waterproof A4 paper, then I just printed off a couple of sheets of the area I was looking at going to. Beats the hell out of either caryying a giant map or one that I'm afraid will fall to bits in the rain. Think I just hunted for it online and bought the one that suited my printer - laser jet vs ink jet.

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Originally Posted by Elrond

Don’t waste money laminating. Buy waterproof paper. Lasts for ever and literally can be dunked in a stream and remain perfect.

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Can you print on water proof paper with an inkjet or do you need a laser printer

I just print off Topomap and laminate back to back with permit.

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Originally Posted by Shearer

MapsPast | Current and historical topographic maps (topomaps) of New Zealand

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Get some really cool historical aerial photos from www.retrolens.co.nz but beware - you can waste a good portion of your day going down rabbit holes of your own making!

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Originally Posted by berg243

the maps we used on exercise in the army had been coated in something that could be written on with pencil and be folded up while still being water resistant , they called it talced or something like that . would like to get mine done that way.

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Its still available in stationary shops. Used for covering school books to make them last longer. Called self adhesive book cover, or similar

Thanks for this link Shearer. I'm loving these older maps from the 80s etc. They have some older trails (probably from the culling era) that you would never know unless someone showed you how to get onto them.

I use this site, https://www.topomap.co.nz/ same as others print area i want then put in ziplock bag and use GPS to find myself on map.

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Originally Posted by Buzo

Thanks for this link Shearer. I'm loving these older maps from the 80s etc. They have some older trails (probably from the culling era) that you would never know unless someone showed you how to get onto them.

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With the 1968 Tararua Hunting map (on past-maps) I was able to download a high-resolution version, run it through https://mapwarper.net/ and then upload the now geo-referenced map as a layer into Gaia GPS. Kinda cool to have these old deer culler maps brought back to life in the digital age.

I still use paper LINZ charts. They have a lot of detail and there are lots of places in bush GPS signal is unreliable. They are also great for planning a hunt sitting in living room and working out where to go. Also you never know, things go wrong with electronic devices so always good to know you can find your way with compass and map. For the hunt I print off the section I'm hunting on waterproof material and out it in my pocket.

Probably not going to happen these days but remember that the US military own GPS satellites and can dick with the whenever they want. Had this happen while sailing across the pacific. GPS showed correct co ordinates but had us 160 miles north of the equator instead of south of it for about 2.5 hours. We worked out later that was when the US went in and started bombing Iraq. Only time I've ever seen it happen.

1:50000 ... colour paper, digital, small screens, ... pfft get real guys, I still have a stack of my original topos.... 1:63360... many black and a somewhat aged white.

If I am venturing into unknown areas or off the beaten track I will always have a hard copy of the location and the surrounding area in case a plan "b" is needed. And I always take a compass... that was a lesson learned the hard way.