Scouting from the air?

[swmoelk]

Does anyone ever fly over their elk country? I'm looking into coming out a day early to do a fly over. Fly over on a Friday and start hunting on Sunday to make sure I give it the 24 hours. Does anyone think its worth the expense or just how much it would cost? I'm. Looking for charters around Montrose, Crested Butte,or Gunnisn. Thanks for the help.

[elk.addict]

No I haven't, but I have been seriously considering buying a paraglider. Just for recreation purposes but I doubt I good resist doing some fly by's over elk country

[Swede]

I have a standing offer to fly over any hunting ground in eastern Oregon, but have never thought it worth the effort. All I would need to pay for would be the fuel. I do all of my flying on Google Earth. What would you see from a plane? I prefer to see on the ground sign, and don't care if I see an animal when I am scouting. I guess seeing a monster bull would be helpful if you are focusing on killing a monster bull.

[swmoelk]

I asked the same question as to why? What could I see? I know a guide who was telling me about flying over some of his leases and he said it was amazing how many elk you could see. It would also save a lot of time if you didn't know the area well. I'm just trying to maximize my shot oppurtunity for the 5 days I have to hunt.

[Lefty]

Ive thought flying over wold be a great way to under stand the area. Just another form of scouting, it isnt the same as google or boots on the ground, just another method to get to know an area

[Elkduds]

Per CO 2014 Big Game brochure, p. 14. Prohibited methods: Use aircraft to hunt, to direct hunters on the ground or to hunt the same day or the day after a flight was made to find wildlife.

It is such a good idea they made it illegal.

[swmoelk]

So by that its legal to fly over on Friday and hunt Sunday or Monday? I'm an ethical hunter and try my best to always abide by my state laws. That said any advantage I can legally get I will take.

[Elkduds]

To me you would be complying w the law by doing that, CPW can tell you exactly how they would work that. It is exhilarating to fly over the Black Canyon, Uncompahgre Plateau, West Elks, etc. Had a gung-ho pilot buddy who used to take me in his Cessna 185 all over that country, back in the day.

[swmoelk]

Now I have to figure out someone to fly me and convince the wife that chartering a plane is an absolute necessity to elk hut. I don't think she's gonna buy it.

[Indian Summer]

You'd be legal and there's nothing unethical about it. Just remember... some states say "same day" and some say "within 24 hours" so make sure you are in the bounds of the law. Your plan is fine.

What you could see is elk! But you'll need to have a pilot that knows a thing or two about where to look unless you have a detailed plan of what you want him to fly over. You'll need to get in the air early too. Remember that flying in the mountains can be tricky. There are days where they can't fly just like in Alaska so if it's important to you to be able to do it I'd show up one day early in case you were postponed. The one thing that caught my eye when I read your post was that you only have 5 days to hunt. If that's the case then locating elk ahead of time could be a good move. You could spend 5 days trying to find them otherwise in an area you've never been.

Things sure look different from the air. before you go have the Google Earth stuff memorized and take your GPA in the air. I wouldn't replace my map work, time on GE, and other research with flying. Have a solid plan and then try to fine tune it by getting a firsthand look at where they are at that very point in time. Good luck to you.

If I could fly my area 2 days before I hunted I'd do it in a heartbeat.

[swmoelk]

It took a while but I think I have a pilot lined up. Does anyone have experience flying the Colorado backcountry?

[jswbga]

no experience here, but I've always wanted to learn.

you line up the plane, and I'll drive it.

just pay me once the flight is over. :p