Map Reading II - Topo & Aerial

[cnelk]

Below is an area I have been to but have quite figured out.
I see some sign but have never closed the deal
The road on left is a highway - the road on the bottom right is a FR

Input?

[Swede]

I went through that area in West Virginia a few years ago. No elk, but there were some moon shiners. Don't get off the public roads. Now if there was an area in Colorado, similar to the one above, it would help to see a G.E. aerial photo view, so we could view vegetation, openings, etc.

[cnelk]

Here ya go!

[Swede]

It is interesting that the east 3/4ths of your area is unsurveyed. I guess that is not the area In West Virginia I went to. It is all surveyed back there. Elk could be anywhere in this area. The trails provide reasonable access. I have no idea how much use they get. I am not much of a ridge runner. I would first like to investigate the area northwest and southwest of the northeast trail number you blotted out.

[pointysticks]

can i guess?

i'd run up that ridge near 12. at the top, i'd glass east to the shallow depression.

second choice..i'd climb that hill on the southeast corner adjacent to that valley.

then i would hire a guide

[cnelk]

The trail on the top of the map is a seasonal motorcycle trail.
The use is closed on Sept 1 but it could be used after by motorcycles.
I typically access from the highway to the west.
I have seen elk along the highway at night

[bowhunter99]

I would head up that draw heading norheast from the highway at the eastern edge of section 1. Northwest facing slope, timber, possible creek

[WapitiTalk1]

Very nice looking area. No wonder you've spent some time there With so many places that could hold pockets of elk, I'm going to do some high, day sweeps to locate (perhaps take minimal bivy gear to stay one night). Such a great system of nice ridges, I'm gonna use them to locate some elk. Locater bugles from up high in strategic spots may reap some benefits; stopping and glassing may detect some transitioning elk, bedded ear twitches, bull antler tips, or even some wallow spots; eyes on the ground on these three treks should show some transition sign on the ridges and saddles further adding pieces to the puzzle. The first two routes (red and yellow) take advantage of the trail to penetrate the heart of the area (as long as the trailhead isn't more than a few miles from where I started the routes on the upper left of the map; but it doesn't look like it is; probably bumps the main highway or a spur road off the highway). The purple route starts off with a tongue dragger up a steep sidehill but he rest isn't bad. If hunting in September, I'd probably go red, purple, then yellow. Who's up for some hiking/locating?

topo12.jpg (256.48 KiB) Viewed 4363 times

[JGH]

a very useful post, Phantom ... from the point of view of "where would you walk?" ... after all, when the pickup door shuts, that's the question, isn't it?

[cnelk]

The next time I go into this area, this is the route Im thinking about taking.
I havent circled the center ridge yet and by looking at most of the drainages and a couple saddles
should give me better info about this spot

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

I'm wondering why no one has mentioned the upper right-hand corner of the map. There's a nice little opening up their that may provide good feed and it looks like a good security area for elk to hang out in. It looks to be accessible from the forest service road at the bottom of the map. And it looks like it may be only a 300 foot climb up through the saddle and down the other side to get access to the area. There are several small fingers in the opening on the east facing slope of the meadow and I'd would be sure to check out the little stream that spurs off to the right and goes around that little point. It looks to me like it would be a nice little hidey hole.

Brad, is any of the area on the map used by livestock, cattle, sheep, or whatever? You never mentioned anything about that and it could possibly change the whole picture. Also, is this a 1:24000 scale map. I'm presuming it is. It sure looks that way. And if that's the case you could slip right in the area very easily for a nice little day hunt if you come from the forest service road at the bottom. I don't know how accessible that forest service road is. The area I'm talking about is plenty far away from that highway on the left of the map to give the elk a good deal of security. I think it would be well worth your while to check this out.

I think you would be wise to check this area out around the middle of July. It just looks to me like a good area for a small bull heard to hang out in before they venture on down later to check out cows. Good luck, I hope you find a big one in there.

[Swede]

Brad, I know we can have you hiking everywhere. I like WW's suggestion. I would also like to know what is on that flat just north of where you plan to travel when you leave your vehicle. I would go through there and on out to the point over looking the drainage that lies east of it. If you went up that far you could hit the trail just about where you blacked out the trail number. If you see a large number of rubs, and wallows or other good sign, you can give me a call. Maybe I can come down and help you take care of the critters that are damaging and killing your saplings. As an old timber beast I hate to see our trees, on the National Forest being trashed so callously.

[cnelk]

WW
No significant amount of cattle in this area, if any. No sheep or anything.
The FR road on the south is a popular road to access areas to the east.
I will try to post a a pic of where that drainage meets the FR.
It looks like a pull out for a parking lot - which means easy access

[cnelk]

Here is the aerial I mentioned

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

Gotcha! Best laid plans of mice and men! OOOOOH well??