unsuccessful scouting

[MLhunter1]

Sounds like a successful scouting trip to me.  You checked a spot off the map. I wouldn't call either now. 

[mazama]

My ex lives in that unit,most of the land is timber company,by the time I learned her property the elk moved off because of logging,when it starts raining logging will pickup in the last year they have started to actively log all over, she sees them about once a month in fields or crossing in front of her.

[ctwiggs1]

Sounds like a successful scouting trip.

They don't always end in good stuff, sometimes you have to get out to find out that the area sucks and you need to find somewhere else.

[huntingbaldguy]

It's not always about seeing elk, just elk sign.  Tracks, game trails, droppings, watering holes, etc. 

[Jonathan_S]

For what it's worth, I would say there is no "unsuccessful scouting"

As long as you're not scouting the day prior to the opener 

[fisheral87]

I did not start hunting until college, I can relate to your frustration.

Learn the ground.

Al

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I did not start hunting until college, I can relate to your frustration.

Learn the ground.

Al

One of the things I got attitude about from posts in the past.
I started hunting as an uneducated HOMELESS minor that was tired of eating fish.
I learned from books, magazines, trial and error, and from older guys that would drive me out to the woods for gas money.
I spent many years being unsuccessful.
But even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while, and persistence will win out over luck.
Nobody is going to tell you where to go (other than C-post) and when you end up in "their" spot they will be upset, but if you find it on your own.. then you belong.

[wooltie]

Scout the appropriate contours of a given area to look for trails, even faint trails.

Trails will exists if animals use the area, based upon my short experience.

[RadSav]

Scouting with calls in July is going to be frustrating.  They are not going to be vocal for at least another month.  Cow talk will work, but talk is a social activity and not a long range behavior.

This time of year scouting coastal elk is just reasonable in production.  Futile as you go east.  Best bets when scouting elk this time of year is circling feeding areas.  Walk the fire trails of clear cuts.  Be sure to cover the entire perimeter of these areas.  Mark down entry trails with fresh sign.  You don't need to see elk for a successful early scout trip.  Once you find those trails you can look at maps and usually tell whether they are entrance or escape trails.

In this heat they won't spend but an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening out in the open.  And you don't really want to be busting the timber looking for hair and getting them spooked before the season starts.  So just cover ground compiling data on crossings, trails, entrances and pure volume of tracks/sign. 

Also look for old rubs.  Probably more than a few weeks away from new rubs for this year.  I see most about the 15th of August.  But if there were bulls in there last year then odds are pretty good the bulls will be there this August/September.  And with those bulls...Cows!

Scouting is all about data collection.  First trips should be to find "Concentrations"  Then as the season gets closer and the elk begin to become more vocal and their testicles begin to drop then it will be time to look for hair and judging of antler size if you want to pick a particular trophy.  If "any bull" or "any elk" is the goal then the scouting remains as a search for "elk concentrations" without much worry for visual confirmation of hair and horn.

[wooltie]

Scouting with calls in July is going to be frustrating.  They are not going to be vocal for at least another month.  Cow talk will work, but talk is a social activity and not a long range behavior.

This time of year scouting coastal elk is just reasonable in production.  Futile as you go east.  Best bets when scouting elk this time of year is circling feeding areas.  Walk the fire trails of clear cuts.  Be sure to cover the entire perimeter of these areas.  Mark down entry trails with fresh sign.  You don't need to see elk for a successful early scout trip.  Once you find those trails you can look at maps and usually tell whether they are entrance or escape trails.

In this heat they won't spend but an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening out in the open.  And you don't really want to be busting the timber looking for hair and getting them spooked before the season starts.  So just cover ground compiling data on crossings, trails, entrances and pure volume of tracks/sign. 

Also look for old rubs.  Probably more than a few weeks away from new rubs for this year.  I see most about the 15th of August.  But if there were bulls in there last year then odds are pretty good the bulls will be there this August/September.  And with those bulls...Cows!

Scouting is all about data collection.  First trips should be to find "Concentrations"  Then as the season gets closer and the elk begin to become more vocal and their testicles begin to drop then it will be time to look for hair and judging of antler size if you want to pick a particular trophy.  If "any bull" or "any elk" is the goal then the scouting remains as a search for "elk concentrations" without much worry for visual confirmation of hair and horn.

sav--

would you expect to see cows in large groups this time of year?  Like 10+ cows?

Or are the cows more dispersed, in smaller groups?

Perhaps a mix of both?

[RadSav]

Should be nursery groups this time of year.  Staying together rather tight on the coast for a few weeks more until the calves get stronger and more able to accept variable feed types.  Lactating cows will have feed limitations too during this same time frame.  10+ cows would not be uncommon.  Seldom will you see the larger groups like you would in February thru April, though. Should see some spikes that are having difficulty leaving the family unit.