Scouting for elk

[Wapiti]

Ok guys what do you like to find while out scouting ?

I love to find beat down trails !! Why ??

Trails are always going some where ! Whether it leads to bedding areas or feeding areas it doesn't matter to me as you will always find gold some where along the trail. You may find wallows or meadows or some kind of drinking water for animals !

Trails have led the way to many a honey hole for me !!

What say you folks ?

Trav

[msd1228]

I'm a big fan of finding rubs, especially areas that have rubs that are clearly from different years. If you are finding an area that's full of rubs you know 2 things 1) That you have likely found a bull's/multiple bull's bedroom and 2) You have found an area that is holding bulls in late August, year after year (and thus they shouldn't be too far come opening day).

[WapitiTalk1]

Well established trails, yes for many reasons as Trav mentioned! Rubs from previous/multiple years, yes, yes as Shane mentioned! I also really like finding those elusive wet pockets on steep sidehills (seeps) that have evidence of wallows from multiple/previous years.. usually spot them 1/2 to 3/4 the way up the mountain side or more; these can sometimes be found deceptively close to a NF trail or even a road. Access routes.. here's what I mean. With the terrain I normally hunt, access routes into good, elk holding areas are golden to me... some of my spots can actually be seen from a NF trail or even a road but to find a way to get there, that's the challenge without dieing a horrible death in alder thickets trying to get there, or, packing something out . The shortest route in is not always the best. I located an access route last year into one of the areas in ID I've been hunting for a few years now. It doesn't cut off miles, but, cuts off a ton of time to get to a smallish N facing pocket, below a thick saddle, bedding area before the elk get there. I also look for the lack of something... hunter sign. Whether trash, cut tree branches for a tree stand, outfitter cut trails for packing (although that may not be a bad thing if the outfitter is no longer working the area), man made salt licks, old backcountry camps, etc.). Oh, natural mineral licks and dry wallows are another few items I like to find and mark. Killer thread idea Trav.

[easeup]

beat down tore up trails first.

[wawhitey]

Phantom ive heard the term "dry wallow" before. Can you clarify what that is? Makes me think of turkeys taking dust baths

[WapitiTalk1]

Whitey, I'm starting a new thread on dry wallows to see what other hunters think of them, or, even if they're in fact dirt or dry wallows

[Pop-r]

One has to be careful with rubs. I know areas that hold elk most of the year except during "high pressure" times that come end of August will be tore up with rubs everywhere but pretty much void of elk come season be cuz people bumped them out. Granted if u are the first one to get into them then u can do good but if not which is likely be cuz locals do that before the season then you'll be hunting a bunch of rubs for nothing. Not that they don't come back but not on any schedule. Rubs are good but be careful is my only point.

[Wapiti]

Ya rubs are nice to see but you can't eat them !! Your heart beats fast at the site of them but the truth is that bull could be 10 miles away by the time you found his rub.

I too have seen multiple rubs in an area and never had a single reply to a location bugle.

Heck Shanner and I walked through an area last year where even second tree was tore up and they looked very fresh and neither of us got any kind of response. Now that's not to say the bulls weren't there but maybe they just we not wanting to call back as it was late in the morning and close to noon already !! That Shane guy just kept pushing me to see around the next corner !! LOL Right Shane ??

[Lefty]

Elk

After six years of the desert . I know that woodland elk are different.
In the desert there are trails that the elk follow, however fresh track and soft droppings is what I like to find. what is even better and was my downfall during scouting this last year is seeing antlers five feet above a fresh track
While the desert area is a ways from where I plan to hunt I discovered a travel way that Im itching to put a trail cam on. Im almost scared of what I expect to see on a camera

The woodland I plan to hunt and scout this year,. I plan a lot of day hikes and to know most of the trees well. I spring bear hunt the area and just dont know why we have seen elk in some of the weird places we have seen them. mostly close to the road elk
SO I will keep an eye on this thread

[Scoutman]

I go scout in Colorado every may in my unit. I go to learn more area and find bedding timber, feeding hillsides and wallows and water. We look for areas that are near private ranches so elk numbers are usually better there.

[Trophyhill]

Food, water, cover and the trails leading to and from the space they occupy.

[Indian Summer]

[quote="Pop-r"]One has to be careful with rubs. I know areas that hold elk most of the year except during "high pressure" times that come end of August will be tore up with rubs everywhere but pretty much void of elk come season quote]

Exactly. I pay little attention to rubs. The only time they catch my eye is if they are dripping fresh. Fresh is the word. Fresh elkduds is what I like to see.