Where would you focus your efforts?

[itsnlkthing]

The attached image and topo are for a wilderness area, so foot traffic or horses only. The access is from the road that comes in on the NW side in the satellite image. There is water flowing in just about all of those drainage areas. I hunted this area last year in early October (2nd Rifle) and saw cows every day, had bulls bugling every day and most nights. Had 3 bull encounters but couldn't close the deal that time around. I'm planning to hunt the same area this year for archery. There is an outfitter that operates in here as well and they usually drop camp 5-10 miles in. I will be back backing in. Thanks for your input!

[Lefty]

I would start in the top center meadow and surrounding dark timber. Seems like the area is small enough that it all sould be worked From the map it appeares the furthest from the road , all up hill big rutting open area.

[cnelk]

Where did you see the cows in Oct?

[>>>---WW---->]

+2 What Brad said ! Find the cows> That's where the bulls will be in September

[Swede]

It seems odd to me that this area is in a wilderness. It appears to have roads and old timber harvest units through it. Can uou access the area by walking out old roads? I would think you would likely fine elk anywhere in there.

[itsnlkthing]

Where did you see the cows in Oct?

The red x's were where I saw cows and the green are where I encountered the bulls...

[cnelk]

Go right back to where those cows were.
I circled an area to the north that has similar terrain that I would check out too

[itsnlkthing]

It seems odd to me that this area is in a wilderness. It appears to have roads and old timber harvest units through it. Can uou access the area by walking out old roads? I would think you would likely fine elk anywhere in there.

Actually, no roads other than the one in. Over the Northernmost ridge, there is one old abandoned road. All of the pack trails are narrow, with plenty of switchbacks.

[WapitiTalk1]

Agree with the areas you're considering so far (and cnelk's marks). Great looking area by the way. As you'll be archery hunting this area during the warm month of SEP, you may wish to make your way to the white X I added. It appears you have easy access to this spot from the trail to the W. This spot is at the head end of a true N, slightly NE facing draw and is a good OP (observation post) for several areas in various directions (glassing). I always make it a point to check out these cool, N/NE facing draws

TopoSm1.JPG (128.58 KiB) Viewed 2795 times

[Elkduds]

I had my eye on the saddle by the white X, it links 2 of the biggest drainages on your map. Might be better with more pressure (rifle season), or elk might cross there all the time. While I was up there, I'd hunt the east side of that saddle where the steeps above the creek on the south bench out toward the ridgetop. On your topo map is the word "mountain," just above the large clearing by the larger red area where the pipeline or powerline is. There is a good-looking saddle by the last letter in mountain. Overall, this looks like some elky country.