Where will I find elk?

[JohnFitzgerald]

This is an area that I hunt often. Where do you think I find elk? Let\'s hear your thoughts and reasoning! Here\'s a couple items before you start.

a. There\'s water everywhere.
b. The purple line is a wilderness trail.
c. The arrow is our path in.
d. The direction North is located in the upper right corner.


What\'s your vote?

jf

 

[mtnmutt]

I will give it a try.

The 3) Back Side is a large feeding area. The 1. Bowl\'s North facing slopes and benches are bedding areas.

The elk transition route is between those 2 areas. Since there is a rocky face the length of the ridge between the 2 areas, the elk travel below the ridge between the ridge and the 2) The Meadow.

The elk are also going to feed in the other meadows.

The Southern (Left) tip of the large meadow marked 2) The Meadow looks like the funnel point for getting from the 3) Back Side to travel to 1. the Bowl. The elk may stop to do more feeding in 2) The Meadow while traveling to the bedding area.

I would travel to the left of the yellow arrow following a path to the next meadow where the wind is in my face and then head to the funnel point. The smaller meadows to the South of 2) The Meadow may have elk stop for more feeding as they are coming from the 3) Back Side.

Yellow (Left) line is hunting path, however, may bust elk out of 2) The Meadow as approaching top portion of the 2) The Meadow.

Orange (Right) line hunting path will take me to the 2) The Meadow from downwind and get me to the blue circle of the transition area where an ambush setup may be best.

[attachment=0]<!-- ia0 -->JFHuntingAreaMarkedUp.jpg<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment]

 

[ChukarNUT]

i know I know!! :twisted:

 

[cohunter14]

I agree with a lot of what mtnmutt said, but will add a few things. First of all, it looks like there is a great bench on the north facing slope (circled in green). I think you could have a lot of afternoon action in that area, if you chose to. In my experience, elk tend to avoid large meadows and prefer the smaller ones. Because of this, I would expect there to be a solid game trail in the orange area that would allow elk to move from the bedding areas to the south-eastern facing slope. The one caveat to this is I wouldn\'t hesitate to ever check the purple area. I have seen small areas like this hold solo bulls, where bulls can truthfully hide out, have access to a feeding area right next to their bed, and also have the potential to see any approaching predators or hunters. If there is a way to sneak into that area using the trees to the east or even a small hill to block you, it would be interesting.

Having said what I did about the large area and elk typically avoiding those, I would expect the red circled area to be a primary feeding area for the elk. There are a lot of small meadows that allow elk to move through there and feed with a lot more elusivness than the larger meadow.

Finally, and this is difficult without a topo map, but I would expect there to be a couple of saddles on top of the ridge that would provide access to the back side, possibly where the blue lines are. At the angle, it is tough to see what the back side really looks like, but I can image there are some decent feeding areas. If there is a saddle or two that provide access to that side, those could be highways for the elk since it looks like everything else is fairly steep.

 

[Swede]

Assuming quality feed is well distributed in the area as well as the water, and the hunters have pushed the elk back from the trail somewhat, taking into account the time of day, temperature, and the rut activity is just starting, I believe you will find the elk where the elk are. Watch for fresh sign, and keep your eyes open for them wherever you hunt.

 

[Billy Goat]

sage advice from Swede.....

\"be hunting, wherever you are\"

many an elk walked away unscathed due to encephalorectumitis on the part of the hunter (speaking at least, for this hunter...)

 

[cnelk]

That big meadow is a place to avoid.
But the area all around is sweet looking. The elk will travel the outskirts of it [yellow arrows]
I would look for a wallow at the head of the small opening [yellow arrow]
And I would definitely hunt that saddle [top yellow arrow]

 

[WW]

I\'d be hunting the draw in the northeast area of the map and stay away from what looks like a fire burning in the northwest corner.

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Dang, you guys and gal just proved that lounge chair scouting can be successful. I\'m very impressed!

ChuckarNUT - All I got to say is let the white teeth leave. Bugling elk at 10:00am can pay off! ;-)

WW - Great eye to detect that old burn! Did you follow use last year?