Effective November 18, 2009, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission changed their guidelines for distance learning. Students are now required to spend a minimum amount of time on each course page before proceeding to the certification exam.

Click here to go to the latest version of the Today's Hunter in North Carolina online course—the official hunter education course of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

The following course material is for reference only. Please go to the new course to complete your North Carolina certification.

Topographic Maps and Compasses

Reading a Topographic Map

Whenever you’re in a remote or unfamiliar area, a topographic map and compass are a must.

Topographic maps are created from aerial photographs and reveal the contours of the land, including hills, ridges, and valleys, as well as lakes, rivers, creeks, trails, and roads.

Contour lines show the elevation of the ground.
Contour intervals reveal how much vertical distance there is between each contour line—closely spaced contour lines indicate very steep slopes.
Contour lines that are sharply tapered indicate an uphill direction.
Rounded contour lines typically indicate a downhill direction.