As of version 2.3 on iOS, the Mapping Package (iOS 7 or later) now lets you add map servers by URL. It supports most WMS and TMS map servers, and some WMTS (if they happen to follow TMS naming conventions).

From the map type selection screen, tap Add… Give the new map source a name and copy and paste or type a suitable URL into the box. Choose the appropriate server type (TMS or WMS) and tap the Test button to ensure the URL format is OK. NOTE: It’s important to always use the Test button, particularly for WMS servers. Hunt Buddy uses this to check the server’s configuration to see what size of map the server supports.

If permitted by the Terms of Use of the map server, you can flip the switch to enable offline storage of maps. If you enable offline storage, maps can be downloaded and stored in the usual way by either scrolling around or tapping Get Maps and selecting an area for download.

Hunt Buddy can currently only display one custom map source at a time. With transparent “overlay” maps such as the Private Land or Indian Reserves sources listed below, one of the built-in basemap types “Normal” or “Satellite” – whichever you used last – will be shown underneath the custom map source. These base maps are not cached by the app for offline use. The OS does cache areas you’ve looked at to some extent, but how much it stores and for how long is out of Hunt Buddy’s control. If you’re outside cell service and the basemap is not available, you may end up having to flip back and forth between the custom map type and another map type for which you have cached maps.

If you know your way around WMS, you can tweak the layers or styles parameters to customize what features are included. The sky’s the limit.

Here’s a short video showing how it works: Custom Map Demo

Here are a few sample URLs to get started.

TMS

NRCAN Canada Topo West Raster

http://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/nrcan/canmatrix/{z}/{x}/{y}.png

WMS

GeoBase

This one shows water bodies and streams with direction of flow.

http://ows.geobase.ca/wms/geobase_en?service=wms&request=GetMap&version=1.1.1&srs=EPSG:4326&featureCount=10&format=image/png&layers=WMS-GeoBase&styles=default

Toporama

This one is similar to CBMT Topo – contour lines are slightly more prominent and labeling of features is a bit different.

http://wms.ess-ws.nrcan.gc.ca/wms/toporama_en?SERVICE=WMS&REQUEST=GetMap&VERSION=1.1.1&SRS=EPSG%3A4326&STYLES=&FORMAT=image%2fpng&LAYERS=WMS-Toporama

Private Land

This one contains a few layers from the BC Online Cadastre showing land ownership status of private or unknown. NOTE!! This info is a snapshot of the government database and is out of date the moment you see it. Plus the accuracy is unknown. If you set the Offline Enabled switch to store it offline, then any downloaded maps will never be updated unless you manually “Delete Maps”, even if the database changes. Use at your own risk!

http://openmaps.gov.bc.ca/mapserver/land-ownership-and-status?SERVICE=WMS&REQUEST=GetMap&VERSION=1.1.1&FORMAT=image%2Fpng&transparent=true&SRS=EPSG%3A4326&STYLES=&LAYERS=CBM_CADASTRAL_FABRIC_PUB_PRIVATE,CBM_CADASTRAL_FABRIC_PUB_UNKNOWN,LASURVP_TANT_O,LASURVP_TANT_LD,LEASE_TEN_TANT_CF

Indian Reserves

http://openmaps.gov.bc.ca/mapserver/admin-boundaries?service=wms&request=getmap&version=1.1.1&format=image/png&transparent=true&srs=EPSG%3A4326&styles=&layers=Indian_Reserves_including_Band_Names___Colour_Filled

BC Imagery

This source contains some aerial imagery for some areas of the province but not complete coverage.

http://openmaps.gov.bc.ca/ecwp/ecw_wms.dll?SERVICE=WMS&REQUEST=GetMap&VERSION=1.1.1&FORMAT=image%2Fpng&SRS=EPSG%3A4326&STYLES=&LAYERS=IMAGES

BC Base Cache

http://maps.gov.bc.ca/arcserver/services/Province/web_mercator_cache/MapServer/WMSServer?request=GetMap&service=WMS&VERSION=1.1.1&FORMAT=image%2Fpng&SRS=EPSG%3A4326&STYLES=&LAYERS=0

For iOS users with the Mapping Package, here’s a version of the Fraser Valley Special Area map for use in the app. The original map isn’t very accurate… in order to make it line up with the real world some things are a little distorted. In any case make sure you refer to what it means, rather than the exact locations of lines on the map.

You should also keep a copy of the full Fraser Valley Special Area Hunting License brochure for reference. It contains lots of additional information not shown on the map. You can download it to your device and view it in iBooks. Download link: FVSAH2014.pdf (1.6 MB)

Installation Instructions

Use the following steps to install the FVSA map. This process may get easier in a future update, but for now you need iTunes on the desktop to transfer the file.

1. Download this file to your computer: FVSA_2014.mbtiles (7.6 MB)
2. Connect your device to your computer with a USB cable
3. Start iTunes
4. Click on your device
5. Click “Apps”
6. Select Hunt Buddy from the list of apps under File Sharing (not just “Apps”; make sure you scroll down)
7. Drag and drop the FVSA_2014.mbtiles file into the “Hunt Buddy Documents” area on the right.
8. Restart the Hunt Buddy app on your device if necessary. The FVSA_2014 map should show up as another map type that you can select the same way you normally do for Satellite, GeoBC Topo etc.

Happy hunting!