Scouting a new area - Lots of sign

[pianoman9701]

I've been unsuccessfully hunting the same area for some time because it's familiar to me. But the choked woods there offer little forage or meadows and what it does offer is inundated with archers. Off to the WDFW and spoke with a gamie about a new area. Got some tips. First scouting trip a month ago produced little and I was stopped by the snowline. Yesterday, I was able to get into the area I wanted to scout and found a good wet, meadowy area with lots of sign. I followed the tracks of a large group - probably 15 animals or so - into heavy cover. So, I got home, uploaded my waypoints into Base Camp and opened it up in Google Earth. Got a picture of a really nice herd! I'm psyched. Got my camper. Probably have a partner. In the right place. It's go time!

[Magnum_Willys]

I've been unsuccessfully hunting the same area for some time because it's familiar to me. But the choked woods there offer little forage or meadows and what it does offer is inundated with archers.

Sounds like the gp ! heh

[vandeman17]

When do you plan on hunting it? Often times elk love those meadows and use them all summer just to disappear right before season. 

[jrebel]

When do you plan on hunting it? Often times elk love those meadows and use them all summer just to disappear right before season. 

What you find this summer will not be what you find when hunting season comes, especially if there is any hunting pressure.   With that said, I have found that elk do not go far.  Find adjacent wooded north facing slopes with good cover.  That is where you will want to concentrate come hunting season.  Find areas that the average joe does not want to go and that is where the elk will be.  Find these areas now and make sure you have a quiet route in and out....then when hunting season comes go and sit on a trail.  Good luck filling the freezer.   

[pianoman9701]

I've been unsuccessfully hunting the same area for some time because it's familiar to me. But the choked woods there offer little forage or meadows and what it does offer is inundated with archers.

Sounds like the gp ! heh

Yep

[pianoman9701]

When do you plan on hunting it? Often times elk love those meadows and use them all summer just to disappear right before season. 

What you find this summer will not be what you find when hunting season comes, especially if there is any hunting pressure.   With that said, I have found that elk do not go far.  Find adjacent wooded north facing slopes with good cover.  That is where you will want to concentrate come hunting season.  Find areas that the average joe does not want to go and that is where the elk will be.  Find these areas now and make sure you have a quiet route in and out....then when hunting season comes go and sit on a trail.  Good luck filling the freezer.   

Yes, I'm aware they move and will continue to scout right up until the season. I've also found a really protected north-facing slope and some of the trails point right at it. With my replaced hip, I won't be doing any steep and deep. But, I do plan to wait along the trails. This area's really wet, too.

[nwmein199]

When do you plan on hunting it? Often times elk love those meadows and use them all summer just to disappear right before season. 

What you find this summer will not be what you find when hunting season comes, especially if there is any hunting pressure.   With that said, I have found that elk do not go far.  Find adjacent wooded north facing slopes with good cover.  That is where you will want to concentrate come hunting season.  Find areas that the average joe does not want to go and that is where the elk will be.  Find these areas now and make sure you have a quiet route in and out....then when hunting season comes go and sit on a trail.  Good luck filling the freezer.   

If you dont mind me asking...why the north facing wooded slopes? Would this be specific to east/west side elk or both?

[JimmyHoffa]

When do you plan on hunting it? Often times elk love those meadows and use them all summer just to disappear right before season. 

What you find this summer will not be what you find when hunting season comes, especially if there is any hunting pressure.   With that said, I have found that elk do not go far.  Find adjacent wooded north facing slopes with good cover.  That is where you will want to concentrate come hunting season.  Find areas that the average joe does not want to go and that is where the elk will be.  Find these areas now and make sure you have a quiet route in and out....then when hunting season comes go and sit on a trail.  Good luck filling the freezer.   

If you dont mind me asking...why the north facing wooded slopes? Would this be specific to east/west side elk or both?

Cooler in the summer time/early fall.

[pianoman9701]

  Wooded  slopes give them cover. It's where they bed down during the late morning, early afternoon.

[nwmein199]

Thank you for the feedback, this helps me a lot. Thinking back of where/when I have seen elk during hunting season is making more sense now

[yakimanoob]

This is pretty much my strategy (find lots of feeding grounds near cover with water for when the pressure picks up) as well so I hope y'all are right 

That said, if we have a repeat of last year and the snow starts falling in the high meadows before opener, I've got a few backup areas in mind as well.