timbered vs. open/meadows

[BRazz]

So I'm considering trying a new spot or two that I've never been able to scout. The appeal is that it's a bit closer to home, and very unlikely to have much pressure since it's a bushwhack the entire couple miles up a set of drainages. My hesitation is that these hillsides are mostly timber, with broken timber topping out at treeline (a several hour hike in). There are a couple of small meadows and creek bottoms, but it's not the classic elk country I'm used to with much more open meadows and aspen groves.

My question is - to what extent should I be hunting terrain like this? Batches of dark timber have always been nice since they are likely for bedding, but these massive expanses of dark timber... do elk ever spend their evenings in there feeding/rutting? Or is it likely to be pretty exclusively bedding ground? Obviously it's a very generalized question but any input you have is worthwhile.

Thanks!

[Tigger]

Last year we hunted a whole valley that was heavily timbered on both sides. One side went above timberline, the other did not. No meadows to speak of except in the very bottom of the valley. We hunted the ridge that did not go above timber and had lots of elk moving through, bugling, etc all day long really. Literally dark to dark was spent in the black timber and we found lots of elk there. I wouldn't be afraid of that at all. you will find little meadows <1 acre in size scattered throughout most patches of black timber.

Sounds like an opportunity to spike camp out there and do some location bugles well after dark. that will tell you their feeding areas.

[jmez]

What tigger said. The unit we hunt in Co, is the same way, heavy timber until you get above treeline.

The elk are there, just a little harder to find because you can't glass them. We've had a lot of success just moving through the county until we find fresh sign then concentrating on those areas. We do a lot of blind cow calling and have good response with bulls coming in silent.

[BRazz]

Good to hear - thanks guys. In my experience these places have little feed, and elk hang out there only if they're pressured enough to (they'd prefer the fringe timberline or slightly more open and lush areas). I'll maybe try it this weekend and let you know what I find...