Member location search or map

[j-bird]

Ok - I will be honest I saw this on another forum and it's pretty cool, but I can see where some would hesitate.

Is there a way we can list members by at least the state they hunt/manage in? It can be voluntary.

Another forum I am on has a page thru google maps where members can pin there location and it's awesome because you get to see exactly where everyone is located. They also then have other layers for seed suppliers and the like as well.

I realize we may not want to get to that level, but it would be nice to have a means for me to find or at least know who all the members are that are from a particular state at least.

We might be able to search based on location now and I'm too dumb to know how to do it, but I being able to see where the members collectively are from.

Not something we have to do just something i have seen before and it was pretty cool.

 

[Blizzard Ridge]

I don't think folks would worry too much about telling what town they are located in but most won't give up where their farms are publicly. I know for me personally I wouldn't give up the farms that I hunt because of trespassers. Just in the last week I have picture evidence of 5 different trespassers. 3 of them caught on their own cameras well cameras they used to own anyway. They also hung some new stands for me and I am sure when I get time I will find more cameras as well. Sometimes trespassers are so nice to leave me things like this.

 

[wbpdeer]

I think more users would list location by their name if they knew how. New forum - new screens and procedures. I always look where someone is from. We are a eastern USA forum. Hard to talk plants, growing season, shrubs, fruit trees unless you know state you are speaking with. My 2 cents ...

 

[wbpdeer]

How to Include Location on your Username

This explanation will use 3 photos (print screens) to get message illustrated

In photo #1 you would have clicked on your username on the top right. Mine is wbpdeer and you see the drop down box with a red circle around Personal Details. That means select Personal Details.

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The second Photo shown below is what appears on the left side of the screen. I have drawn a blue circle around Personal Details which is first listing under the red label SETTINGS. Now remember this is the left side of the screen.

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The third photo is shown below and it concentrates on the right side of the screen. I have added a red arrow pointing to the AVATAR. Mine is a Chinese Chestnut tree photo with my greenhouse in the background. You select the image you like for you. Let your personality and interest be shared & shown.
Down the page you will see a Blue Star beside the location field. Yes here is where you enter your location in so it shows below your avatar when you post. I added occupation to mine - that is my choice.

I hope this three photo explanation helps you get location shown below your Avatar.

 

[j-bird]

I guess I envision just a basic map of the US and you could click on a state and it would list the forum members from that state - something like that. Even if it was just a list of states to pick from. I have encouraged folks to fill out their profile data with their location as well, but that seems to allude some folks as well.

I don't need to know the precise location and for that matter even the nearest town - just knowing who is in the state r region would be nice. But as it stands I have to look up the particular member or hope they fill out their profile data as such.

It's just something I saw and thought is was pretty cool. Even on the one with the map - I could "pin" my location where ever I wanted. It could be my house, the nearest town or even my state capitol. Like I said - it was just an idea.

 

[cutman]

We've been trying to come up with a way to do exactly this. The first options were way too invasive and based location off IP Address data. We didn't think that would be very popular. Will keep looking.

 

[smsmith]

j-bird, I was hesitant to put my location on that map you found on another site. I did so, but mainly because the site is so tightly controlled. I would NEVER put my location on a map via a web forum like this one.

 

[Sam]

Just saw this on facebook.
http://petapixel.com/2016/08/06/nat-geo-launches-free-website-printing-detailed-topographical-maps/

 

[Jack Terpack]

You can't go by IP address. If you did so, I would show up in North Carolina because that is where the server is for Century Link service in my area of South Carolina. I have always used my own name and given my town location on almost every forum I can remember. I guess I don't have as much to hide as some others.

 

[smsmith]

You can't go by IP address. If you did so, I would show up in North Carolina because that is where the server is for Century Link service in my area of South Carolina. I have always used my own name and given my town location on almost every forum I can remember. I guess I don't have as much to hide as some others.

So you'd put a point on a map with your exact GPS coordinates on this forum?

 

[Jack Terpack]

So you'd put a point on a map with your exact GPS coordinates on this forum?

I state in my avatar that I live in Hodges, South Carolina. I am in the phone book, so anyone of you can find out my exact address.

 

[smsmith]

More power to you. The internet is full of crazy people, I'd just as soon most of them can't find my home's exact location.

 

[Blizzard Ridge]

I am not as worried about folks showing up at my house. My farms I am more leery of posting exact location. My home is as secure as Fort Knox my entire family has guns and knows how to use them if the undesirables show up. Other than that any one of you can show up at my house anytime after 5 pm weekdays, belly up to the bar and order your favorite beverage. Well actually go get your own beverage I don't wait on people I always tell my wife a cute waitress would be the way to go for return clients but I don't think she is going to buy in.

 

[smsmith]

My house and land's address is one and the same

 

[wbpdeer]

I think county and state are good for our purposes. I think Zip Code is good for our purposes.

Not all environments are the same and I can understand why some people don't want to share exact location.

I think region of the state is good for our purposes - I live in northern middle Tennessee. That tells other users where I am growing season wise.

What I don't think works is when location is totally missing and users ask for help on if something will grow where I live. That is a train wreck.

 

[j-bird]

j-bird, I was hesitant to put my location on that map you found on another site. I did so, but mainly because the site is so tightly controlled. I would NEVER put my location on a map via a web forum like this one.

Stu - I understand.....I don't want a precise "pin" of the location like we have on the other place.....Just something that facilitates me looking at who my fellow members are on here that are in Indiana, if they want a specify a county or more precise than that that is fine - I list my county.....that's close enough! Participation can be 100% voluntary.

I will say that with a name or address finding someone's place isn't as hard as you might think. I am making a visit to a member of another forum (I was invited) and he gave me his address....no actual name......I found his exact property in a matter of minutes

 

[Blizzard Ridge]

Yes finding all properties that a person owns is public knowledge if you know how to find it. I always study up to find out who all of the neighbors are around of piece of my property. Some of which I contact to touch base with them about their hunting practices and with warnings that I do have the local game warden patrolling my properties. Most states have county GIS property owner maps now a days point and click and you know the owner.

 

[j-bird]

Ok - new plan.....can we simply make the "location" portion a field we can search?

 

[j-bird]

j-bird, I was hesitant to put my location on that map you found on another site. I did so, but mainly because the site is so tightly controlled. I would NEVER put my location on a map via a web forum like this one.

Did you see someone was screwing with Foggy and listed the QDMA branch!!!!! It wasn't me, but I wish it was!!!!! I like that sort of humor!!!!

 

[smsmith]

I'm all for each member putting county and state in their profile/sig line, as well as USDA zone. Far too many times on the Q forums I'd see people giving advice that was absolutely incorrect for the questioner's location. What works really well in MS, GA, or FL doesn't have great odds of working really well in MN, WI, or NY.