Talk about ruining a man's day...

[bald9eagle]

Yesterday was a bummer for me. For starters the area I wanted to drive to and check out was closed off. The road leading there has apparently had some rock slides that haven't been cleared. Strike one.

I stopped by a campground store and was able to get some info from the lady running it. While there I bought a forest service map. In all my studying of the area this is the very first map to show that the area I want to hunt is open to ATV usage. Strike two.

The good parts of yesterday...now that I have laid eyes on the place and have a map that has more specific locations on it I can get a good plan together. The other thing was getting to glass a nice herd coming out to feed on one of the ranches. I know they most likely won't be in the same area but it is a nice starting point.

It was also good to talk to the campground lady. She didn't tell me anything earth shattering. The biggest news I got from her was the closed road and that the elk stayed high until 3rd rifle. She also told me there were a lot of guys that road hunted the area.

Back to the maps...

[saddlesore]

At least in Colorado where I hunt, you can experience the same thing about anywhere. The thing is to learn what elk do in those situations.Make it work for you.Find out where the elk go and what routes they take.. Even in wilderness ares, you encounter the same thing ,other hunters, outfitter's pack stings,etc..

You can know all about elk calling , stalking, shooting ,etc, but it is all for not if you can't figure out where the elk went. That is where locals who live in elk country get the edge.

[ak32]

curious, what unit are you scouting? The only reason I ask is there was a popular road near where I live that got shut down because of a large rockslide the year previous year which has shut off access in both directions.

Check the US FS travel management plans in the area where you're at, those will be available online and are free which will show motorized/non-motorized, ATV, singletrack, ect.

It's early to be scouting since the elk haven't moved above treeline yet, still tons of snow...and yea elk won't move until there's just too much snow to paw through the snow. Whether that is 1st season or late season, it's all dependent on the weather.

[bald9eagle]

curious, what unit are you scouting? The only reason I ask is there was a popular road near where I live that got shut down because of a large rockslide the year previous year which has shut off access in both directions.

Check the US FS travel management plans in the area where you're at, those will be available online and are free which will show motorized/non-motorized, ATV, singletrack, ect.

It's early to be scouting since the elk haven't moved above treeline yet, still tons of snow...and yea elk won't move until there's just too much snow to paw through the snow. Whether that is 1st season or late season, it's all dependent on the weather.

Mosco.

[Lefty]

Use an ATV look for those steep and deep areas between roads. Right now were planning on hunting down from ATV trails each day with a parked ATV below.
I use to ATV camp for mule deer. Monday I was checking out a trail that we can put a Spike camp and walk the ATv trail to locate bugle early.
Well thats the plan anyway. Many hunters wont hunt down what they know they need to walk back up. Those places only a mile apart with 1500 elevation, elk can be there.

[bald9eagle]

One positive is that it would make one area I want to hunt more accessible. One negative is that it would make one area I want to hunt more accessible.

I'm going to talk about it with my hunting partner. We might just haul a UTV up here.