Best scouting tips?

[Lark Bunting]

I\'m heading up to a spot I\'ve never been next weekend. As a rookie, what advice would you give?

Average elevation is 8600\'-9200\'. I see a lot of beetle kill woods/dark timber, not many meadows, a well defined creek nearby, not much open space nor high ground to glass.

What I don\'t see is the typical benches, saddles, 2/3 up a mountain for beds, seeps, wallows, etc... at least not from GE or Flashearth.

Do I just wander through the woods until I step in a fresh pile or run into the arse end of an elk? :mrgreen:

What about location bugles while scouting?

 

[atfrith]

Can you post up a topo (details blacked out of course) so we can take a look and reccommend from there? I always enjoy those threads.

 

[OldMan]

The goal would be to see some elk. Any aspens there?

 

[Lark Bunting]

I will post up some area maps after lunch. I will need some time to clean it up to black out any details.

 

[Swede]

Before you leave, check Google Earth and your maps. Look at potential feeding and bedding areas. If you have some cameras, decide on some places where they could work for you while you are away. I don\'t care if I see elk or not. If they are around, I will see the sign. Visuals will help you see trophies if that is a concern. How you plan to hunt will influence your scouting priorities. When you hunt can be important. Pre rut areas may not be the same as where elk are during the rut. Another factor to consider is hunting pressure. You won\'t see it on your map or G.E., but it can sure impact where the elk will be when you start your hunt. Often asking knowledgeable people, that are experienced with an area, will help you sort that out.

 

[OldMan]

Personally, I want to see elk. Unless I find some steaming poop. Most sign just means they were there at some point. It doesn\'t mean they\'re still there. Plus, I like to observe them. Watch where they feed and bed down. I can\'t still hunt them without that knowledge.

The problem is you can\'t do that in one day of scouting, so it doesn\'t apply for everybody. It\'s just my way of doing it.

 

[cnelk]

I\'m up a scouting right now. Just hung another stand. I know I prob won\'t see an elk in the middle of the day but tomorrow morning I\'m going into a place I should see some.
It\'s pretty warm today and showers are on the way

Tom, don\'t worry if you don\'t see any elk. They are there, right in the areas I mentioned.

 

[Swede]

I don\'t understand Still Hunter\'s idea on this. If you are out scouting, you can tell fresh sign from old. Even a 12 year old kid can recognize that much. If you are out today, over a month before the season, it will all be past information you will be using anyway. Elk leave sign wherever they go. They don\'t fly over the land. I can see where they bed, feed and travel. I enjoy seeing the elk, but it has little bearing on my hunt. If it is weeks away it has no effect. Old rubs, beds, trails, and land features are what you need to look at this time. my 2 cents.

 

[OldMan]

I know you don\'t understand. We have two completely different hunting methods. In my method I need to watch the elk. Not the sign. In your method you need to find sign, and hope they come back while you wait there. My method goes in after them. I can\'t have any success if they aren\'t where I go in for them.

I\'ve mentioned in the past I scout all year. That includes all the hunting seasons. Not for just mine. I want to pattern the elk as much as possible. Hunting one unit for decades makes this possible.

 

[Lark Bunting]

Thoughts?

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Those benches on the right side of the road look promising. Look for used game trails, scat, and bedding. Also pay attention to the smell.

When elk are using an area, you will know just by the way things look. Although they might not be in there now but that doesn\'t mean they wont be in there later.

Pay attention to the ground and use your gut instinct.

Too early to use location bugles.

Good luck!

Just my 2-cents!
jf

 

[Swede]

I would do basically what John suggested. Drive in and hike east and go well up on the steep slopes. Put a series of those small benches on your GPS and try to land on them. Follow some game trails wherever you can. If I covered the area to the east, that would be enough for one day for me, but you could also take in the area to the West to check that out. I think the mid to upper slopes will get you back away from most hunters.

 

[cnelk]

I got back from scouting awhile ago.
My power steering went out of my truck and the mountain roads werent fun to navigate like that.
But I made it home and called the mechanic for a Monday fix.

I hiked 5-6 miles this morning thru an area I have hunted twice.
I saw no elk, but I did find an old skull that still had the ivory teeth in them so they made the trip back.

I packed in my spike camp and hung it in a tree.
It has 3 quarts of water, a tent and a MRE.

I didnt need to see elk. I know they will be there.
It is more important to know the lay of the land, check wind currents, old sign and stuff like that.

 

[Lark Bunting]

Got back from the trip this evening. Will summarize with... I had an impromptu busines trip to Des Moines Thursday and returned Friday night on a red-eye. Picked up my son from his mother\'s and slept for a few hours. We got up early and headed to our spot. We found a ton of elk droppings, most old, some weeks old and a few still wet. We fould seeps, and a wallow, and tons of beds. Just got back a bit ago and i\'m seeing double from not sleepi g well since Wednesday. Will post up pictures tomorrow.

Dumb question for the night, how long does the tall grass stay bedded down if a bed goes unused? We must have found 30 beds in really tall grass/marsh, but I don\'t know if they were used recently or not. Luck would have it I am either really allergic to something there or I have a horrible summer cold. My son said they smelled like the zoo but I couldn\'t smell anything.

We also found a lot of moose crap. I am honestly more afraid of them than a bear. Was really nerve wracking walking through marsh and grass taller than my son knowing moose were near.

Anyway, more tomorrow.