Rat Fink
Member
In response to RatFink and the assumption that we are using data that is readily available to the public he is right and wrong. We do use some data from federal sources such as the Forest Service and BLM. In MT for example the state has also organized a great Cadastral Data system that makes it easy for us to get the private land information as well. So that is why RatFink can make some of his own maps for MT in 20 minutes. I'm not sure if he realizes all of the other states we make though.
Matt -
I too work in the GIS field and what you say may be true for other states, I know that all of the data used in Montana is available publicly. I have been a field technician and there is no way you guys could afford to pay a field tech to collect proprietary data and create something of that quality for that price. Spatially you can represent the data in a different manner but it all boils down to being public data. MT is very open about making GIS data public and there is a big push in the industry for more open data and sharing. I know other states aren't as open so there may be bigger benefit for your services in say ID or AZ.
One thing I really appreciate about what you guys do is that it has given more hunters confidence in trying to hunt fringe areas like checker boarded lands or public lands that are illegally posted. Guys doing that will help put pressure on the government to open up more land for hunting via easements to landlocked, but more specifically opening up checkerboard lands. The tide is turning on being locked out of checker boarded lands and much of that can be attributed to modern GPS technologies.
You guys provide a great service for many. My buddy I used to work with and I were doing exactly what you do except with a laptop and a Trimble unit for years before your product came out. It was a big bulky way to do what a guy can do in his hand now. I am not a guy that will buy your product, but many don't have the GIS/GPS knowledge I have. I pay a mechanic to fix my car because I am not a mechanic, just as guys pay you to provide maps on their GPS because they know nothing about GIS. I wish you the best of success with your business and appreciate your sponsorship of this site. That's why I generally don't mention the other free stuff that's out there by name.
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