scouting and legwork

[nub]

Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one....

I have sment nearly every weekend in the mts since the end of may. I have 5 trail cameras. I've hiked atleast 100 miles this year just wandering areas I heard bugles coming from last year.

Am I insane or is this a normal amount of work? I have several friends that seem to believe I'm overduing it. I'm getting a little irritated with the people that seem to believe driving a ridge and pointing out the window at a spot and saying "I think I'm gone a hunt there" with no clue what the terrain really looks like....sorry that dmesnt work for me.

Just had to rant. Good luck to those of you that have done the work!

[vandeman17]

I don't think there can every be too much scouting and legwork. As long as you have the time and money and are doing it right then I say keep it up. You can never have too many options. 

[CedarPants]

 

I agree with Vandeman.  99% of us get out and do as much scouting as our schedules and pocketbooks allow us to do.  If you aren't stretching yourself thin in either of those 2 areas, then more power to you and good job on putting in the time and effort

[NWBREW]

Most of the time a person will only get out what he puts in........most of the time anyways. I don't scout as much as I used too but I am a little older now and know where I'm going. I do have trail cams to help me do some scouting though.  It never bothered me when people scout from the road and say I"I think I'll hunt there". Most of the time these same people never venture far from the road.

[Glockster]

So why do you care what other people think of your scouting efforts? 

And more importantly, why does it bother you that someone else's version of scouting is less intense?

[cjensen]

Some people already have a spot pinned down that they know well.  After years of hunting at a place not nearly as much scouting is required.  If you havent figured the elk out, no amount of scouting is too much.  Scouting as close to the season you hunt before and even after is the best time to scout, but time in the woods is time in the woods.  Good work.  BTW...dont be mad at the road hunters...just be glad they're not out where you're gonna be. 

[nub]

The particular I deviduals I'm referring to seem to believe they are going to come to my elk camp this year. For whatever reason they also think they are privy to the information I have collected. I'm ranting about them is all. I'm not concerned with other people. It just seems it hard to explain to some people that they are lazy and they aren't my hunting "partners".

I'm all for enjoying experience with friends, just don't expect me to do all the work.

Just a rant, not referring to strangers.

[cjensen]

Sounds like a personal issue.  Tell them they're not invited, or make them the camp b*tch.  Wood fetching, cutting, dish washing, elk quarter packing, foot massaging.  Ok...well maybe the foot massaging has gone too far, but you get the picture.   Hardly anybody has every weekend from May-September open to scout and hardly anybody has the money or time to place 5 different trail cams around the woods.   What would really piss you off is if everyone gets an elk in your new special spot, and you get skunked.  Good luck man!

[nub]

For the most part that answers my question. I'm a little crazy...I knew I put more time and $$ into it then most. Just diddnt realize that very few actually put this much into it.

[NWBREW]

nub, I think you would be surprised at the time and effort a lot on here put into scouting and hunting. I too hunt with people that do not put in much effort. With that being said, I share some info with them but keep a lot of info to myself or the few that have earned the right to share it with. Your not crazy but as you will see as time goes by there will be a lot of areas you will not need to scout as much because of the knowledge you will gain about said areas.

I will share my camp with all my firends who are respectfull.......but that doesn't mean I share all the info I have gained. 

[et1702]

Hey Nub,

I feel your pain.  There are usually four of us in camp each year, and two of us do 99% of the scouting.  I have four trail cams.  One of the guys in our group has none, and he is the guy that shot an Elk last year before any of us (because I gave him one of my backup stand locations, as he didn't do any scouting last year).  Actually, this guy has been hunting for 30 years, and it was his first elk.  So, I enjoyed my part of his success too.  This year, he hasn't really done any scouting either, just went back up last weekend, confirmed the elk were still in the area and set his stand in same place as last year.  Another guy, he usually gets out with me a couple times each year and I help him find a good location (so, really give him another spot I could hunt too).  The final hunting partner and I spend about an equal amount of time (lots and lots of time) scouting and sharing info.  We are in the woods about every other weekend between end of May and Sept, plus each weekend for the final two or three weekends before the opener.  NO we don't share everything with the other two guys.  Seems to work this way for Elk camp, as well as Deer, Ducks, etc.  Yes, we do get frustrated with the other two guys and b!tc$ about them (especially if they get their Elk before we do).  But, they are all good friends and it wouldn't be that same without them.  Accept them for who they are, or get some new friends.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Sad truth in life is that some people are just lucky.  They wake up late hit the road to their spot and a legal animal crosses the road in front of them, most likely kicked up by someone walking lol.  As long as you feel you gave it your best, that's all that matters. Don't take your buddies to your secret spot though, they didn't earn the privilege.

[Pathfinder101]

I see your point nub, and I can see how it would be frustrating.  Personally, I can't spend every weekend out there scouting and still stay married.  I do what I can, but for me the family comes first. 
I have a 12 year old that can keep up with me in the woods, but the 4 year old can't and mamma won't.  So... I do what I can and wait for the little guy to get older...
If you don't have such obligations (wife, kids, etc..) and you enjoy scouting, then I can't think of a better way to spend your time.  If your buddies say that you are spending "too much time" doing it, and you aren't neglecting your family, then to hell with them.  Point them in the direction of the nastiest crap in the area and go kill your elk...

[Mr Mykiss]

The particular I deviduals I'm referring to seem to believe they are going to come to my elk camp this year. For whatever reason they also think they are privy to the information I have collected. I'm ranting about them is all. I'm not concerned with other people. It just seems it hard to explain to some people that they are lazy and they aren't my hunting "partners".

I'm all for enjoying experience with friends, just don't expect me to do all the work.

Just a rant, not referring to strangers.

Dang son so much anger... are you referring to me and/or my little partner? I'm just living the mountain man dream through you. I've got my own work that I'm doing for my hunt and so does he.
As for you personally I sure don't think that you're overdoing it. If you have the time get out there and learn as much as you can!! It's all about gaining experiance... lots of guys including all of us learn a lot each season, usually what NOT to do!! The more time you spend out there the better the odds are that you'll avoid those costly mistakes whilst on your hunt.   -G'pa

[Bean Counter]

Sounds like a personal issue.  Tell them they're not invited, or make them the camp b*tch. 

+1. Be grateful you're irritated. Listen to that voice inside of you. These same d*heads are going to be the ones begging you to 'take them hunting' this fall.  Find more dedicated partners or hunt by yourself.

[Bean Counter]

nub, I think you would be surprised at the time and effort a lot on here put into scouting and hunting. I too hunt with people that do not put in much effort. With that being said, I share some info with them but keep a lot of info to myself or the few that have earned the right to share it with. Your not crazy but as you will see as time goes by there will be a lot of areas you will not need to scout as much because of the knowledge you will gain about said areas.

I will share my camp with all my firends who are respectfull.......but that doesn't mean I share all the info I have gained. 

+1. Once you have a good repertoire of hunting spots, your season-after-season scouting needs go way down. Course by then you may be addicted to just being out in the woods 

[6x6in6]

It used to bother me, 30 years ago when I was the only one in our group taking the time to scout.  But I enjoyed that time out there too.  It made me a better woodsman and ultimately a better hunter.
Now, not a big deal.  It's about the friends and the hunt.   If my information leads to one of my best friends notching their tag and I don't, I could really care less.   It was a good year for the camp and another version of stories to tell. 

[bench beast]

It is FUN to get out and scout, and you cant put a price on FUN...
also how bad do you want to be successful, the more time you put in the better your odds.
 some people get lucky from time to time. and go kill one opening day and think its easy.
 others do their home work and put in the time and work hard and come away empty handed.
one of my best Elk seasons ever was a year that I came away empty handed, every day I seen lots of cows & spikes.
learned allot of new country. and hunted hard every day of the season. just couldnt find a branch Bull
Now that was FUN...

[Karl Blanchard]

Some of my favorite spots are places I looked at while driving to another spot and said "man I think I am gonna hunt there today!"  I am the exact opposite of the trail cam thing.  I am addicted to the unknown so new unexplored country is my drug of choice.  I am on a "explore all of Chinook pass" kick this year and can't tell you exactly how many miles I've hiked but its a lot more than 100.