This tutorial explains, step by step, how to install, organize, and view the Digital Hunter DVD data in Google Earth and on your Garmin. To read a quick start guide on this product click here.
Getting Started
- We strongly recommend running this data from your hard drive. (Note - you will need approximately 5 GB of free space on your hard drive.)
- Place the DVD into your disc drive. Wait 20 seconds for the system to recognize the disc.
- If your system does not automatically bring up the contents of the DVD, browse to your DVD drive.
- Select all data on the disc and copy it to a permanent location on your hard drive. (The initial copy process of the disc could take up to 20 min)
- Once finished, remove the disc from your drive and store in a safe place.
At this point, make sure you have the latest version of Google Earth installed on your system. Even though this software is designed to work in all Google Earth versions, you will get the greatest benefits from using the most current version. After upgrading (if needed), make sure Google Earth is still functioning as normal.
CONGRATULATIONS, you are now ready to begin using these powerful tools!!!
Explaining the Data
(The following screenshots are using the MONTANA data. Your data should look similar for your respective state.)
Please browse to the location where you stored your data. You should have 4 folders showing. A brief overview of each folder is next.
GOOGLE EARTH NATIONAL FOREST OVERLAYS
This folder contains all the available National Forest overlays for the state. This data will be used with the Google Earth program that is installed on your computer. For optimum performance, we recommend loading / using only a single National Forest overlay at a time.
GPS FILES
This folder also contains all the National Forest overlays, but the data is formatted such that is compatible with most mapping Garmin GPS units.
GOOGLE EARTH HUNT DISTRICT OVERLAYS
This folder contains files that will be used with the Google Earth program that is installed on your computer. They can be used alone, or in conjunction with any other Google Earth overlay. For example, you may be viewing the Gallatin National Forest overlay and want to see where the Deer / Elk hunt district boundaries fall within that forest. You would simply add the Deer / Elk hunt district overlay to Google Earth.
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GOOGLE EARTH LAND OWNERSHIP OVERLAY
This folder contains a file that shows major landholdings for the entire state. For example – USFS, BLM, STATE, INDIAN LANDS, USFWS, ETC. It is recommended to use this file alone, or only with the HUNT DISTRICT GOOGLE EARTH OVERLAYS. Using this file in combination with the GOOGLE EARTH NATIONAL FOREST OVERLAYS can be done, but older or slower computers may struggle with amount of data that is being loaded.
SETTING UP GOOGLE EARTH
This section contains the recommended Google Earth setup info.
1) This section contains the recommended Google Earth setup info.
Make sure Google Earth is running, and you have a reliable connection to the internet. Google Earth needs to have a constant connection to the internet to continuously load data from its servers to keep the great aerial images updating on your screen. It is also a must to have a high-speed broadband internet connection. A dial-up connection may be fine for checking email, and casual web surfing, but is not adequate for using Google Earth or this product.
2) The next few steps show some basic configuration that will help navigate in Google Earth
3) Google Earth View – please setup this menu as below
4) Google Earth Tools – Options – Please setup the option tab as below
5) Google Earth Sidebar – Please set the Layer sidebar settings as below
6) Google Earth Sidebar – Please make sure the Places sidebar is empty. Each session should start with no layers loaded. We will load layers as we go along, but should always start and end with no layers loaded. This allows Google Earth to work at top speed without having to use resources on data that is not in use.
At this point, Google Earth is ready to use. As you get more familiar with its operation, you may adjust some of these settings for your personal preferences, but this is a good starting point to optimize performance.
USING THE DATA – this section will go over some basic functions.
Google Earth National Forest Overlays
1) Start Google Earth
2) Go to Files – Open, browse to your National Forest overlay folder and choose the file you would like to open. Click Open
3) The file will load; it may take a few seconds depending on size. You will also notice the file name will show up in the sidebar under the Places – Temporary Places folder
4) The most critical tool using these overlays is the Transparency control. Use your mouse to highlight the layer of interest
(Once highlighted, the Transparency control will be active for that overlay)
(Arrow pointing to the Transparency slide control)
b. Slide the control less / more to obtain the optimum view
(Transparency tool slid down 50%)
(Transparency tool slid down 75%)
5) To turn an overlay ON / OFF use the checkbox next to the overlay name
Google Earth Hunt District Overlays
1) These files will be loaded and controlled the same as the National Forest overlays described above.
2) Remember, you can add this overlay to both the National Forest overlays and the Land Ownership overlay
3) A very helpful feature is the ability to zoom to any desired hunt district. For example, if I want to know where Deer / Elk hunt district 380 is located, I start by expanding the name using the plus box. I then find 380 in the list and double click the name. Google Earth will then zoom to that area.
(Click the + sign to expand an show all descendants)
(Expanded view, all hunt districts can be seen. Double click on the one you want to zoom to)
Land Ownership Google Earth Overlay
1) Before using this layer, it is recommended that you remove any National Forest overlay that may be loaded, or at least turn it off using the check box
a. To remove a place at any time, Right click on the overlay name in the Places sidebar and select Delete. Answer OK to the pop-up. Remember, you are not deleting the file from your computer; you are just removing it from this session of Google Earth.
2) Using the File – Open command, open the Land Ownership overlay file. This file may take up to 15 seconds to load.
3) Once loaded, you’ll notice multiple overlay names listed under the Temporary Places heading. Each name corresponds to lands on the map, and also is assigned a unique color.
Common abbreviations
i. BLM – Bureau of Land Management
ii. State or State Trust – State owned lands
iii. BIA or Tribal – Bureau of Indian Affairs
iv. USFS – United States Forest Service
v. USFWS – United States Fish and Wildlife Service
vi. DOD – Dept. of Defense
vii. DOE – Dept. of Energy
viii. BOR – Bureau of Reclamation
ix. NPS – National Park Service
4) Keep in mind your viewing controls. You can turn each overlay ON / OFF independently using its checkbox. You can also control the transparency of each layer independently by using the slide tool. Remember, you need to have the appropriate overlay highlighted to use this feature. To control the transparency of all overlays at the same time, highlight the temporary folder item. This will apply the changes to all selected (checked) overlays.
ENDING YOUR GOOGLE EARTH SESSION
1) Select File – Exit --- You will get a pop-up saying you have unsaved items ---- WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU ALWAYS CHOOSE DISCARD. This will avoid clogging up Google Earth and seeing poor performance. If you do save them, make sure on your next session you delete some of the contents (right click on the overlay name and choose delete) or at least uncheck most of them.
GPS FILES
These files are designed to be used with compatible Garmin GPS units, not Google Earth. Within the GPS FILES folder, you will find a list of folders that correspond to each available National Forest for the purchased state. The next steps will walk you through adding these files to your GPS.
1) Decide whether you want the data stored to your internal GPS memory, or onto an external GPS chip which then gets plugged into your GPS. For this tutorial, we’ll show an example of loading it onto a chip.
2) Your GPS chip (SD or Micro SD) will need to have connection to your computer. There are multiple ways to do this. Some computers have a slot where chips can be plugged directly in. If that is not an option, you can either plug your GPS (with chip installed) into your computer via USB, or you can use a stand-alone card reader that plugs in using a USB port.
3) After connected, you’ll need to navigate to your chip. It will show up as a drive or storage device. If it is a brand new chip, it may not show any files or folders.
(Your drive letter and/or structure may be different depending on your computer and also how you are connected. The name of the chip will also be different than this example)
4) You will need to create the following folder structure on your chip so the GPS can recognize the files on it.
5) Create a folder named Garmin
(To create the Garmin folder, select File – New – Folder)
6) Within that folder, create a folder named CustomMaps. ( NOTE - It is critical that the spelling is correct and once this step is complete, you will never need to do it again.)
7) Now that the folders are created, you will simply cut and paste the appropriate map you want on your GPS to the newly created CustomMaps folder (NOTE – Due to current GPS limitations, only 1 file can reside in this folder at a time.)
Example – I would like to have the Flathead National Forest map loaded on my GPS. On my computer, I navigate to my GPS FILES folder. I then go to my Flathead National Forest folder. Within it, there are 2 files – 1 for the North half, and 1 for the South half. I need to decide which file is appropriate. For this example, the North will be used. I copy this file, and paste it to my CustomMaps folder.
(Copying file from hard drive)
(Pasting the file into the GPS chip CustomMaps folder)
8) At this time the chip can be placed into the GPS (If not directly connected). When powered on, you will see the appropriate map listed in your map list. This can be toggled ON / OFF at any time using your GPS functions.
NOTE – Dependent on GPS settings, most GPS maps will be active at zoom levels < 5 miles
9) To load a different map, simply connect your chip back to your computer using the steps above. Delete the unwanted map file from the CustomMaps folder, and paste in the new one.