Another Map Reading - Topo & Aerial

[cohunter14]

It has been a little while since we had one of these, so I figured I would throw this one up. This is an area that I am planning on spending some time in this year. I have a bunch of areas marked on my topo, but figured I would see what everyone else has to say as well. There are two main access points, one on the west side from the road and the other is the red star on the map. Thoughts?

[cnelk]

Derek
As you know, I have an unfair advantage

I will wait to post

[cohunter14]

I forgot to mention that each square is actually a half mile, not a mile. Don't know if that would effect anything, but figured I would throw that out there.

[Swede]

I have no knowledge of the area or anything about the critters that live there, but I like the looks of the northwest corner especially around the saddles. Or you just might set up a little hamburger stand at the trailhead entrance to the lakes. That could be a winner.

[Relentlessly Unforgiving]

I like the looks of the long north/south drainage were the section 32 marker is. Looks to be dark, cool, with water, and cover. Also with the lakes below the drainage it could provide some very predictable weather patterns.

[GetOutside]

As a complete newcomer to elk hunting and the western landscape, I like the topography of the area around sections 6 and 7.
It appears to be a bit steeper but has a couple of lower elevation benches as well as a saddle that would allow elk to escape to one or two ridges away without having to go over the top.
Am I way off?

[cnelk]

Derek
With the access from the east, I would make a day hunt of the area following the red arrows
Access from the west, blue arrows

[cohunter14]

I think you guys are all on the same page as me for the most part. That northwest area is definitely very good looking. These two areas are also interesting to me as well. The yellow spot, although difficult to detect in the aerial image I attached, has some aspens up high in that draw. That tells me there could be some water up high there as well as some decent feeding areas. The red arrow just looks like a great saddle to me with some good benches on the north side and food and water on the south side.

Untitled3.jpg (376.56 KiB) Viewed 2964 times

Getoutside, I have also considered those areas but that is extremely steep. My access would more than likely be from up on top of that drainage, meaning the pack out would be a complete nightmare. However, there is a trail in the bottom that could potentially provide access with an atv or truck. However, if it does provide access, it could also mean that it gets hunted more. Definitely something to look at though.