I know I'm wearing you guys out BUT...

[bald9eagle]

Unit 77/751/75. I've decided on a spot that is about 2.5 from nearest road but there appears to be a lot of trails in the area. Anyone got anything on those three? I'm hunting the area for sure and already have my maps. I'm just getting overly anxious again after doing some more Internet studying. Can anyone set my mind at ease...again?

[Indian Summer]

[quote="bald9eagle"]Unit 77/751/75. I've decided on a spot that is about 2.5 from nearest road but there appears to be a lot of trails in the area. quote]

That would make me really nervous. Maybe. Are they on your maps or can you actually see them on GE?

Could they be cattle trails? Those things get really worn in over the years and show up really good on GE in open areas. Cattle where I hunt doesn't bother me. It means one thing for sure and that is feed in the area. But if the rancher or sheep herders are around that sucks.

2.5 miles might be nothing... it could be more than enough. Unless someone told you what goes on in hunting season you won't know that until you get there. I know spots where 1 mile is enough and ones where 6 isn't. Instead of just putting miles between you and other hunters look for a geographic barrier such as a river, cliff, or just a huge high mountain that you can get on the other side of.

Wearing us out? Now that there is funny. That's like walking into a bar full of drunks and saying I hope you guys don't mind if I keep buying rounds. This is elk talk city brotato chip!

[ElkNut1]

You say you can get 2.5 miles in but you see Trails coming in from other directions. How far in would someone have to walk or ride in from Trail Head entrance to get to where you are? if several miles & a ridge or two is separating you then not a big deal, most hunters do not venture in real deep so you shouldn't be surrounded by other hunters & with a ridge or so between them & you, you most likely could not hear them calling in your area!

ElkNut1

[Indian Summer]

I guess the other thing worth mentioning is that not all 2 1/2 miles are created equal. I'd rather walk 5 miles on a trail, especially if I have a big pack, than to bushwhack for half that. Some trails flow nicely along a stream picking up elevation gradually. I know trails that nobody uses because even though they are really good trails they start out straight up and keep going up all the way. 2.5 miles up there will leave everyone in your dust.

I think the most common scenario that works is to cover some ground on a trail and then bail off and cover some more. When you bail off do it in a place where you can do like Elknut said and put a ridge or 2 between you and any main travel routes like that. People don't like to pack elk uphill so if you drop down a big draw all the way, then go up the other side.... and hunt on the other side of that I bet you'll be good.

The other thing that I know Paul has mentioned in the past that's worth repeating is this: Instead of using an established trailhead or parking area start your hunt at a random pull off area where you can see nobody else has been parking. You can get into a spot to call your own a lot easier with way less distance that way.

[CurlyTail]

Are you talking about hiking/horse trails, or possible game trails visible on Google Earth? If you are talking hiking trails, then if you can find a valley or drainage without a trail, you would be fine.

[Lefty]

Unit 77/751/75. I've decided on a spot that is about 2.5 ,,,,,,,2.5 miles might be nothing... it could be more than enough. Unless someone told you what goes on in hunting season you won't know that until you get there. I know spots where 1 mile is enough and ones where 6 isn't. Instead of just putting miles between you and other hunters look for a geographic barrier such as a river, cliff, or just a huge high mountain that you can get on the other side of.,,,,,,

Which state?

Joe just gave you a great secret.

ook for a geographic barrier such as a river, cliff, or just a huge high mountain that you can get on the other side of

Some times its a mental barrier. One of my best hunting locations in Utah was near an ATV trail.near a rocky ridge facing back towards a highway( 2500 foot below) A small location but it couldn't be seen , a 30 yard walk to the top of the ridge and a secluded pair of steep drops that always had game.
I ve waded, boated and floated across rivers. Last year my hunt was up 400 feet before I went down 600,..Never even cut another hunters track( or got them on trail cam
)

[bald9eagle]

I guess I'm just nervous. 20+ hours of driving plus the money involved is nerve wracking. I guess I just need to learn to love the bomb...lol

[Indian Summer]

Well I would hope that you qualified your area before planning any further. How did you originally zero in on the place?

If you didn't start off with any first hand information and just did online research then just accept it for what it is which is a roll of the dice. Nothing wrong with that. Just be mobile and be prepared to adapt once you get there. Do not pack a camp in until you hike in and verify that the time and effort is worth it. Realize that a first time doing something is sure to be more of a learning experience than anything. That can be hard to accept as is keeping your expectations realistic.

What golfer ever set out to hit a hole in one the first week he ever golfed? Just tee it up and start swinging and let the learning curve begin. This time next year you will be armed with actual experience and a whole new perspective.

[bald9eagle]

Well Joe I started by looking for spots where I could access Wilderness areas. I also tried to key on what I thought would be overlooked areas. It's hard to tell what is hunter traffic and hiker traffic in most places so I can't assume one thing or another. I also looked for elevation and cover. Those were easy to find but I wanted those areas to be within the first two things I mentioned. I also took the advice of guys on here. Just pick a spot and own it.

[Indian Summer]

Now that I think about it didn't you get advice on where to hunt from Start My Hunt?

I can tell you one thing: Preparation is huge. Try to map out as many details as you can before you get there and you'll be way better off. I can tell that you are a meticulous planner which is great so I think you'll do as good or better than most first time elk hunters.

[ElkNut1]

Are your maps 1-24000 USGS UTM Grid? If not that's what you will want for detailed info for ground navigation. Other maps that are a higher number are not detailed enough for hunters, they show general stuff but not like the others!

ElkNut1

[bald9eagle]

Yup. Startmyhunt.com. They are 1:24,000. They have given me some very good places to start. A couple places that I had already looked at showed up as hotspots on the maps.

Question...when you guys say north facing slopes I'm assuming that means the slope on the north side of the peak, correct? I ask cause I read something that led me to think otherwise. I'm having to learn western terminology...lol. In Alabama we have ridges and hollers. In the west you have peaks and drainages.

So anyway to my question...the area I'm hunting has a ridge/peak that runs east/west. The hotspot shows up from the peak down to the south. Will I find the elk enjoying the north or south side of the peak, generally speaking?

[ElkNut1]

North facing means that side of the mountain that faces north, the other side would face south. Don't get too hung up on north faces, elk can be found on all sides of the mountain depending on weather & decent cover when needed. Other times they want to be more in the open where wind blows up high to thwart of insects. The north faces certainly hold elk & in Sept temps it's a good place to consider but not an end all. Some of our elkiest spots are northwest & northeast faces/slopes!

ElkNut1

[Lefty]

Bald If those are Idaho hunt units I will give you some exact places to hunt. and where to avoid,.. If they are Colorado,.. I cant help you

[bald9eagle]

Too bad I'm not heading to Idaho then...

[bald9eagle]

North facing means that side of the mountain that faces north, the other side would face south. Don't get too hung up on north faces, elk can be found on all sides of the mountain depending on weather & decent cover when needed. Other times they want to be more in the open where wind blows up high to thwart of insects. The north faces certainly hold elk & in Sept temps it's a good place to consider but not an end all. Some of our elkiest spots are northwest & northeast faces/slopes!

ElkNut1

That's what I assumed Paul but you know what they say about assuming...

[bald9eagle]

I'll be dang if I didn't go back and look at the map and the ridge runs almost N-S. There is a nice drainage on the western side which is where I want to start. The pressure will be coming in from east so I expect we can find them on the opposite side of the peak. The drainage is between the two lakes but on the other side of the ridge.

[poisonarrow]

You are looking at units that are close to me. I love to scout and would be glad to take your game cameras into the area you are looking at. I could give you and opinion on the sign that is there. I know that this is a risk as I would be scouting the area you have chosen, but I hunt unit ? that is the other direction. Trust is a necessary part of success.

[bald9eagle]

I appreciate the offer. We are taking a vacation the last of May/first of June to check out the area. I looked in on the ML hunter numbers and there will be very little if any pressure during ML season. That's good because I feared that the elk would be pushed to the opposite side of the ridge and down into a couple big drainages on the other side. I still have this feeling that I can find them there. The only question is do I have the manhood necessary to get over and in and back out.

The main area I'm going to focus on is near a peak on the eastern side. If we don't rouse something up going up to the peak we are going to perch on the ridge between the two big drainages to the western side of the peak. The drainages run E-W and look mean. If nothing happens there the plan is to head further north. There is also some nice stuff a couple miles south but it is easily accessed through private land. Might still be worth a try. A lot of the more northern stuff that I like lies on the western side and puts us a couple miles further from the truck. It would be worth it though to not go back to the truck and just stay up high.

[Mathewsz7-elkridge]

I am going to send you a pm.

[six]

Just pick a spot and own it.