Scouting

[Swede]

I suppose this may seem like a very basic question. We all have our ideas about what scouting is. Are we looking for the same things when we are scouting for elk? I am sure we are not all on the same page. In fact I almost never scout for elk. I look for areas that show good elk use sign. I am looking for patterns of usage.
A fellow I took hunting a number of years ago had a totally different idea in mind, when one day we were headed out for our first day of elk hunting. I said I needed to do a little scouting before we made our afternoon hunt. He thought I was going to ask someone for permission to hunt their property or let them know I would be there. He was from the Midwest and totally surprised when I said we were hunting only public land. We were just checking to see where the elk were coming to water.
I have scouted from very early Spring until the snow is falling. I look for different things at different times. If I am setting up cameras, I like to be out six weeks in advance. If I am checking water holes and setting up stands, a week in advance of the season is about right. If I want to see new spots that elk have used in the season, then late September and October is great, but can still be good into the early Spring.

When you are scouting, what are you looking for? When do you prefer to scout? What is success for your scouting trip?

 

[elkmtngear]

If it\'s a new area, I will be looking for areas with potential springs/ wallows/ waterholes. I will target areas with North or East facing Timber benches on Google Earth.

This is one of the main things that could possibly concentrate elk. If I can find an area that has higher elevation water sources, and tracks and droppings, I know it\'s an area worth further investigation.

If I come across well used elk trails in the process, I might follow a good one out to see where it is heading to (possible feeding areas). Not really sure how to prioritize things better or differently, I\'ll be interested in hearing from others that have had success scouting new areas roblem:

 

[timberland]

Being 20 hrs away, my scouting consists of finding likely spots on Google earth and comparing them to the spots i\'ve had encounters with elk before. I also try to map out game traiIs that I didn\'t get to walk last time. I plan out access and \"milk runs\" to use my hunt time more efficiently. Then I research new areas for backup in case spots don\'t work out. At this time of year I have about the first have of a ten day hunt planned out.

 

[bnsafe]

i will completely admit i know nothing of actually scouting for elk. finding water sources an open meadows where i hunt has been an extreme challenge, an when i have found water holes i have found other hunters. i mainly look for old elk sign, droppings rubs trails. at that point i spend time hunting the area an try to figure out whats going on. its not a solid way to scout elk an i dont recommend it, but i do see elk most of the time im out.

 

[cohunter14]

As others have said, most of my scouting happens before my boots hit the ground. Using Google Earth, topos, etc I try to find areas that elk will go once they are pressured that contain benches, food, and water that is up high. I also prefer to find some small meadows or areas where the aspen isn\'t too think where I can get a shot. Truthfully, being a rifle hunter, I try to avoid having to get into the thick dark timber. I just haven\'t had much for success in still hunting elk. I want to know if they are using certain dark timber areas, but trying to still hunt with a scope on your rifle is difficult in my opinion. One other thing I try to find are high points that will allow me to glass certain areas. I have learned over the years that letting your eyes do the work instead of your boots is a lot easier

Once I am in an area and actually have boots on the ground scouting, I am looking for rubs, wallows, game trails, and skat that will show me if elk are in the areas I picked out previously from the map work. Covering a bunch of ground at that time can help to either verify what you thought the elk would be doing in the area or help you to realize that it might not be a good area for elk.

Bottom line is that by doing your homework ahead of time, I think you can not only save a bunch of miles on the boots, but you can have a solid plan in place to scout the area. And I would be willing to bet that the majority of successful hunters, that 10% that always gets talked about, could look at a map of any area that potentially holds elk and tell you exactly where you should be looking. So know what you are looking for, do your homework ahead of time, and then get boots on the ground to confirm or deny what your thoughts are. That would be my strategy.

 

[cnelk]

My scouting consists of looking for more detailed spots within my area.
It is amazing how many times I have hiked by a spot, then decided to \'scout it\' and have been pleasantly pleased with what I find.
I could compare my scouting like the spokes on a wagon wheel, with the hub being base camp and my scouting efforts \'prong\' out from there.