onX Hunt map data is organized into a series of Hunt Map Layers that can be enabled and disabled as needed. To help you manage all this information, the Hunt Map Layers Menu is organized by state and category. In this article, we’ll break down the various Map Layers available to you.

Hunt Map Layers Overview

Each state as well as Canada has its own suite of Map Layers. Our land ownership data is broken up by state, so each state has its own Private Lands, Hunting Units (GMUs), Walk-in Access (or Block Management), Possible Access, and Government Lands Map Layers (which include National Forest and National Park boundaries). Many states have Map Layers unique to that state, so it’s a good idea to enable states you may be hunting so you can familiarize yourself with the information available to you.

In addition to state-specific Map Layers, the onX Hunt App offers approximately 120 Map Layers across five primary categories:

• Current Conditions: Head here for Map Layers showing Active Wildfires, Smoke Forecasts, Drought Data, Air Quality, Precipitation Radar, and CWD-related information.
• Land & Access: Here you can find Map Layers for Wilderness Areas, Slope Angle, Great Lakes Bathymetry, the RMEF Layer, USFWS Hunt Areas, Rayonier Hunting Lease Lands, Legacy Wildlife Hunting Leases, and more, as well as several Map Layers showing lands that have been improved by organizations such as Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, and others.
• Roads, Trails, & Rec: Open this suite of Map Layers to chart your path. You’ll find Map Layers for Trails, Trail Slope, Recreation Sites, Roadless Areas, Motorized Trails and Roads, Forest Visitor Maps, and more.
• Trees, Crops, & Soil: Understanding the shelter available in a given area is essential to every hunt. The Trees, Crops, & Soil Map Layers show you Timber Cuts, Historic Wildfires, US Crop Distribution, Soil Capability, Wetlands, Thermal Deer Cover, Deciduous vs. Coniferous Tree Distributions, Acorn Producing Oaks, Young Aspens, and more.
• Wildlife: Interested in the Southern Rut Heat Map or Boone and Crockett Big Game Records? How about the NWTF Layer or Mule Deer Distribution? Tap into the Wildlife Map Layers to uncover wildlife insights.

Make the Most of Your Hunt Map Layers

Hunt Map Layers offer critical information for your pursuits and learning how to make use of them will improve your experience. Below are our tips to optimize your Hunt Map Layers:

• Turn on only the Map Layers you need at the time. Having more than a few layers enabled can make your map appear cluttered and cause your device to run more slowly.
• Customize your Map Layers. Many layers have sublayers that change the information displayed. Whenever you see “View Options” under a Map Layer, tap into it to further customize your map. For example, you can change the crop displayed on the “US Crop Distribution” Map Layer under “Trees, Crops, & Soil.”
• Some Map Layers only display in certain areas or at certain zoom levels. If you enable a Map Layer and don’t see any change on your map, try panning to another location on the map or zooming to a different level.

Every hunt is unique, so the Map Layers you need will change depending on the species, time of year, and local geography. Keeping all this information organized and available when you need it will save precious seconds when out in the field—and, as we all know, every moment counts.