Does anyone else obsess over game planning all summer?

[zblank]

I don't know about you guys but I spend tooo much time thinking about my upcoming elk hunting game plan  .... where ill be on opening day, what I'm going to pack, how I'm going to hunt the area and so on. I usually try to accomplish 5 things every season. 1. fill the freezer in a clean ethical way. 2. Have fun 3. learn and improve 4. get into new country 5. come back to the family safe.

Here's my dilemma.

I found new country in the NE corner that I really liked. The ground was like an elk highway with fresh sign everywhere on the very old logging road that I was on. I only saw 1 bull (big mature bull but I couldn't get an ethical shot) and everything was silent in September. I tried to stay close to the old logging road because it was a new area and the canopy was too dense to get a good GPS signal (I've since bought a new GPS). I'm planning on a good thorough scouting trip this summer around mid July to look for old rubs, wallows etc. I went on Google earth and found a couple of saddles and benches (there is water everywhere so that's no issue) and I was going to walk all of the elk trails to and from. This year I switched from archery to powder to get a few more vocal days than I have experienced the last couple of years.

My questions are:
1. What would you guys (I'm pretty sure most of you guys are much better than I am) key in on for a scouting trip?
2. What would your game plan be?
3. Do I need help because I obsess over this stuff every summer?
4. What are your annual goals?

[ghosthunter]

I use early scouting to look at new areas. Find wallows or springs and mark them with my gps.
Animals will come and go before season.
Check out roads, and possible campsites.
I always have two or three plans for campsites.

Closer to hunt  three four weeks before I look for sign and decide on blind locations.

[tonymiller7]

I totally obsess about everything.  I have just as much fun planning, scouting, set-up, etc. as I do actually hunting.  Just a way of extending my hunting season.

[Old Man Yager]

I always tell my wife me and the boy are always hunting year round, even if it's not season. Always looking for sign or sheds . Also, I'd rather have my 16 yr old in the woods with me instead of sitting on a computer or on his phone.

[Tbob]

I'm on google earth with my maps out every night! I'm hunting a new unit this year myself.. The girlfriend is just now startin to figure out my hunting sickness! HA!

[pianoman9701]

All summer? That's 1/4 of the time I obsess about elk hunting. I don't think I'm alone in that on HuntWA. 

[huntnphool]

How much game planning does it take after reading "not selected" year after year?

[vandeman17]

Guilty as charged. I enjoy all the prep and practice darn near as much as the hunt itself!

[pd]

All summer? That's 1/4 of the time I obsess about elk hunting. I don't think I'm alone in that on HuntWA. 

I agree; I don't think you are unique in that regards, especially given the nature of this forum.  I could give you a couple dozen names (handles) of guys & gals on this site who would qualify for "obsessed hunter/huntress."  And most of them are sane.

[jasnt]

All summer? That's 1/4 of the time I obsess about elk hunting. I don't think I'm alone in that on HuntWA. 

+1 but it's not just elk for me. I hunt deer, bear, cougar, elk, turkey,coyote and bobcat. But lately its mainly elk. This time of year im normally hitting the yotes hard but I been scouting elk&elk areas every weekend

[ELKBURGER]

How much game planning does it take after reading "not selected" year after year?

I've been there Phool! I was happy to see the 'Selected' by my quality elk results. That means I have alot of obsessing to do!

[WapitiTalk1]

I don't know about you guys but I spend tooo much time thinking about my upcoming elk hunting game plan  .... where ill be on opening day, what I'm going to pack, how I'm going to hunt the area and so on.

Nope, not me.  I DO NOT have a problem.  I can quite anytime I want.. Honest 

[Instinct]

Every weekend scouting peaches. Be over there tomorrow

[buglebrush]

There is no "just camping" or "Just huckleberry picking" in our family    My internal spring is winding ever tighter!