Bad News - Good News

[RP]

Bad news, checked with Game Warden yesterday on the unit we will be hunting, just to make sure we were on right track and how the forage and herd population were doing. Got told that they are starting to log out the area we would be hunting and he suggested probally would not be a good hunting spot this year. Even though they had to stop by hunting season was told they have pushed elk further back and out. Good news was that he took the time to point us in a new direction and area of same unit that he had walked into and flew over. Said had seen quite a few elk and where, plus roads and trails to look for. So a lot of you experienced hunters may know to call ahead and check, but for some of us new guys, you might consider a phone call or two soon enough so as to make changes.

[RP]

Oh, by the way I live in southern Illinois so I have to rely on modern technology for my scouting. GE, phone, and this great web site. By chance have any of you guys thought about starting a business scouting areas fro a nominal fee for us flatlanders?

[bigmart]

My best elk hunting ever was an area that was being logged when I was their, and after the loggers left.
I have never seen anything like it elk were all over eating the cotton candy off the limbs.
GOOD LUCK.

[Olydog09]

Oh, by the way I live in southern Illinois so I have to rely on modern technology for my scouting. GE, phone, and this great web site. By chance have any of you guys thought about starting a business scouting areas fro a nominal fee for us flatlanders?

Get a hold of Indian Summer on here. He offers just the service you are looking for.

[ishy]

Don't let a little logging scare you. Not sure what this wardens experience around logging is, but he may want to go look around the slash piles and check out the tracks.

[Bow4Elk]

I would be at the logging sites early and late. They will feed there during the night and move to bedding areas anywhere from a mile to 5 miles away depending on where you are hunting. Logging activity = elk. Starkey Experimental Forest in Oregon did a study on this. Just my .02 worth.

[elk-n-walleye]

A few years back my area was being logged right along the ridge I spend most of time. Elk were still there. In fact, my dad, brother and I all got our elk from that same ridge that year.

[LongShot]

RP, I once heard of a game warden who gave my buddy in NV some similar advice about a good area being logged close to season. Turns out, this warden had family hunting the logged area! Not that game wardens in general would do this, still wouldn't hurt to scout the area.

[poisonarrow]

I have thought of scouting for others. You tell me where you want your game camera, I place it for you and send you the sd card.

I live in southern Colorado.

[CrazyElkHunter]

My best elk hunting ever was an area that was being logged when I was their, and after the loggers left.
I have never seen anything like it elk were all over eating the cotton candy off the limbs.
GOOD LUCK.

Same here. One year we got to our area and found out they were logging. Stopped a few loggers on there way out and talked with them. They told me the elk would wait a short distance in the trees and when they shut down and started to leave the elk were running to the downed trees. The loggers were very helpful and told us where the elk were. Best year we ever had!

[RP]

Thanks for all the replys and advice. We are going to try to get there a day early and check it out for ourselves. Also talked to Dept. of Forestry, they said it was going to be a small operation but could have things tore up bad enough that it could be hard getting in. Will have to wait and see.

[Lefty]

Don't let a little logging scare you. Not sure what this wardens experience around logging is, but he may want to go look around the slash piles and check out the tracks.

If they are actively logging expect the elk to show right back in just a few days. Just realize that as a small area of habitat the logged area my not be as important or even more important to the elk
If it is a small cut under 160 acres It may not change your hunting at all (or improve it)