Researching New Area

[bugleshootpack]

Have been looking hard at a new area in a state that I have yet to hunt. This area has all the makings to hold healthy elk herds, thick north facing slopes with multiple benches and saddles, standing and running water, green grassy meadows and relatively remote.

I was able to get in touch with the conservation officer that oversees this unit and area and described the location I was looking at. He mentioned that he believes I would find elk there but it is thick country. He stated that he has not spent a lot of time in that area and suggested a couple other locations to hunt instead within the same unit.

Do I take his word as a concrete answer and avoid hunting this area? Are there other resources I could use to vet out the viability of this location? Or do I hunt the area anyways and trust that there will be elk within the location as it has all the resources necessary?

 

[cohunter14]

That's a tough one for sure. I've had similar conversations with wildlife officers where I walked away thinking "he's trying to get me to hunt elsewhere because he must hunt that area." There's only one real way to find out, and that's get in there and do it yourself.


One other hesitation I have when the officer recommends other locations is that he's probably recommended them to 50 other people as well that called him. Just something to think about.

 

[Bowhunter1]

Go with your gut. Check it out but have a plan B and C also.

 

[cnelk]

Dissecting what the C.O told you [not spending much time in the area] tells me that there arent many people that hunt there. Thats a plus!


C.O.s go where the people are... they write more tickets that way


I def check it out

 

[COLOelkman]

Also, consider that many people ask officers about where to hunt.  I'm guessing they tell you the same area he tells everyone else so you might find a lot more hunters in the area he suggests!  If it's tougher hunting conditions, you'll likely have less hunters, not that elk will be there but i kinda like to be away from others in general.

 

[Buglmin60]

Hello mn flatlander, I also hail from 10000 lakes. We had the same questions last year when we we're planning a trip to Idaho. Talked to many biologist s and game wardens from different areas that we wanted to hunt. We took their advice and started in area recommended by them but after three days all we saw were other hunters, thank goodness we had used go hunt tool and had scouted other areas within our unit using satellite images. We like to hunt really thick timber and so found a couple areas that looked promising to us. First day after we had moved my son shot his first bull, two days later I shot a nice bull and my sons chased a 300 plus for next three days passing on smaller bulls. We did not see another hunter.

 

[ribo451]

I would definitely check out your area as well as the areas recommended to you and I would still be looking for more areas. You never know if hunters or wolves or fire might make an area a place devoid of elk. I have about 10 places I hunt regularly and another 10-15 that I hunt occasionally and am always on the lookout for more. I live where I hunt so that's a huge bonus but I do a lot of my scouting online.

 

[Clayman56]

I'd take his suggestions into consideration and make a plan B, but I'd also check it out. Thick country means it could be hard going, and difficult to get your elk out. Then again, if the officer hasn't been there, it's likely an isolated spot which is a huge plus. Sucks to hunt in areas that see a lot of pressure. My advice would be to check it out, but time willing, have another spot that's a proven area as a backup plan.