I’m sure that almost everyone knows about Google Earth and maybe even uses it to do some scouting.  Personally, I prefer using local tax maps with the aerial features enabled.  That way I can not only do some remote scouting, I can find out who owns the property and get their contact information to ask permission for hunting.

Someone, in a hunting forum that I frequently interact with, introduced me to maps.live.com

I think the aerial features are about equal to Google Earth’s capabilities, but the ‘bird’s eye’ view feature is unbelievable and is great for distinguishing hardwoods from pines and other more detail-oriented scouting tasks that usually have to be done on the ground.  I even found a log on which to cross a creek from the ‘bird’s eye’ view feature.  Also, maps.live.com has a great 3D view that must be downloaded but is worth the time it takes to acquire.

Hopefully this tool can boost your scouting ability this pre-season as archery season is rapidly approaching!