What to look for when scouting from home...

[Dbax129]

I've been looking at maps for the last few weeks, getting ready for my first overnight scouting trip next weekend (9th and 10th).  I plan to look around in 673.  My limited knowledge has landed me 10 spots to check out on foot throughout the unit.  I probably won't be able to get to all of them on foot this weekend, but I'll do my best.
So far what I have looked for is
1. south facing slopes with any benches and anything but timber, like reprod or grass or recent clear cuts.
2.  small valleys with limited access and year round water, with any age of timber/reprod/clearcut
3.  deep and steep walled drainages within 1/2 mile of either of the above 2 types of land, with heavy timber
4.  Also found a very small valley, 1/4 mile square, in a horseshoe shape, open to the south, with water. Logging road runs on the outside of it, on the other side of the very steep ridge that makes up the valley.  Mostly timber in the valley.  Looks like a 45 degree climb from the road about 300-500 feet to look down into it.

Am I looking for the right type of things?  I guess what I need to know is, what does the right food, water, and cover look like when looking on maps, arial photo and topo?  Thanks in advance to all!

[buckfvr]

saddles and natural funnels and migration routes...................

[dreamunelk]

saddles and natural funnels and migration routes...................

Dude,  for that area just get on your mountain bike and start riding.  If your eyes are open you should find elk!

[Dbax129]

I was looking in particular for a place that would have less hunting pressure.  So not easy to get to, like working on finding my own honey holes for the future.  Maybe this unit is 100% hunted though huh?

[bobcat]

If you want to avoid hunting pressure it's pretty easy- just stay away from clearcuts.

[Bullkllr]

That's an interesting question.

First, my personal success with sat photo scouting here on the west side is limited. Most photos (Google Earth) are not immediately current, and significant changes can and do happen when you're on industrial timberland. I don't think they're quite as useful as say for Natl. Forest on the east side that changes little from year to year and has a more open understory.

Usually, what I think might be huntable reprod is a wall of 15 foot trees when scouted in person. Or what looks like mature timber in the photo is now a fresh cut. I probably need to investigate photos that are updated more frequently.

I have been more successful, when overlooking new areas, at finding where NOT to go. Endless tracks of unhuntable reprod are easy to see, and change little from year to year. If you're on foot/bike that knowledge can save you many miles/days.

Another thing I tend to look for is a mix of tree ages. Without high res/newer photos it can be tricky to age cuts/reprod; but you can usually get a general idea of what's in the area.

I also like to look for relatively inaccessible corners/draws in clearcuts; basically not adjacent to a road, and hopefully not visible from a road.

Once again, you never really know till you see it in person, but sat photos have been a bit of a shortcut for me. I'm sure others with more experience could provide better ideas on how to use them.

[dreamunelk]

I was looking in particular for a place that would have less hunting pressure.  So not easy to get to, like working on finding my own honey holes for the future.  Maybe this unit is 100% hunted though huh?

Bobcat provided some good advise.

Get on you bike and get away from the gates.

[snowpack]

If you're looking at tree farms, might also want to get an idea of how things might change by the time the season rolls around.  You could find some nice looking timber now by bike or by google earth, but it might be a clearcut or in the process by the opener. 

[Nice Racks]

1. south facing slopes with any benches and anything but timber, like reprod or grass or recent clear cuts.

I thought it was a North facing slope.

[Pappy]

1. south facing slopes with any benches and anything but timber, like reprod or grass or recent clear cuts.

I thought it was a North facing slope.

I thought it was north in the early (warmer) season and south in the later (cooler) season...

[cvandervort]

Technically, I think North and East in warmer situations/South and West in cooler months...
Personal opinion: they could be anywhere! For example: last year, during the high hunt (warm), the only deer anyone saw in our area were all on one South facing slope.
Good luck with the google maps scouting, and beware the "meadow." I had a few turn out to be swaths of 15ft high trees!!!

[asl20bball]

For a bowhunter Id focus on north facing slopes unless your scouting for late season. Muzzy north slopes, rifle-50-50 depending on weather.

[danderson]

I just look out the window

[TheFewTheProud]

I've used Google in the past but Bing maps has a better resolution and you can switch from aerial to birds eye view to get different angles.

[EvoOutdoors]

One thing I have found really helpful when scouting out new areas, is utilizing waypoints on a GPS. I waypoint areas I would like to check out on mapping software, then load them in the GPS. I can accurately find those spots I thought "looked good" and either put notes on that point after seeing the area, or delete it if not interested. I can also add items as I am scouting such as crossing points, sign, etc. that might be helpful when I come back. I have tried writing notes on topo maps, but can never locate them when I need them! lol GPS is definately the way to go.