eyesight training?

[bullelk1]

Hunt with your eyes, not your feet.  Slow down and LOOK.

[WSU]

Hunt with your eyes, not your feet.  Slow down and LOOK.

Exactly.  Slow down, and then go slower.

[iRem]

Last bit of advise that I can give is use you senses! Use your eyes to see the terrain and look for elk, use your ears to hear what's going on around you and possible elk sounds, and your sense of smell, most of the time I can tell that I'm getting close because I can smell them....good luck!

[Kowsrule30]

Don't feel bad... My Dad can't see a deer if it stood next to him..... It'd have to say hi first..... Some people just don't have the knack.... But if you're walking into a herd of elk where you should've noticed them you either are.... A- staring at your feet..... B- going to fast for your own good..... C- both....... D- you need glasses..... E- all of the above..... 

I'd get your eyes checked first even if you think you have great... good.... decent vision..... 

[coachcw]

I allways look as far ahead as i can and grid back to me . I never find stuff and trip over sheds . look for horizontal lines , ie ears and back line . when I glass I start in one corner and grid check then repeat from a differnt side .

[iRem]

I allways look as far ahead as i can and grid back to me . I never find stuff and trip over sheds . look for horizontal lines , ie ears and back line . when I glass I start in one corner and grid check then repeat from a differnt side .

I 100% agree with a grid pattern when glassing!  If you don't you will just move around too much and not really get a good feel for what's in and behind a bush or a tree.  Nice!

[Fish4Fun]

Same advice that has already been given, the other thing is most guys are looking for an elephant standing on a hillside. Can't think how many deer we see when others are glassing the same hillside. They are looking right at animals and not seeing them. When we point them out one of the first things I hear is how they were looking for bigger objects. The other sound piece of advise is to spend time in the woods. Once you know what you are looking for it is amazing how many more stumps and bushes turn into animals. The other is slow down too, my old man taught us to hunt slow, stop, and spend time grassing. Keep an eye out behind too when hunting timber, you will be surprised how many you walk past and they are slipping away as you are walking away.

[RadSav]

I allways look as far ahead as i can and grid back to me . I never find stuff and trip over sheds . look for horizontal lines , ie ears and back line . when I glass I start in one corner and grid check then repeat from a differnt side .

You don't want to be looking at your feet, but you want to be looking close first and then far.  Nothing worse than glassing the far hillside when the bull of a lifetime is 40 yards away looking at you glassing far away.  I see this happen over and over.  Animals further away are less apt to bust you so you should work out to them when grid glassing.

Same thing goes with treelines.  Glass the edges first and then work toward the center.  Most animals are close to their escape routes.  If you glass the center or open spaces first animals can make the short escape without you seeing them.  Or if you do it is too late.

[shoot-em-dead]

I appreciate the advise guys. Just to clarify a few things- I do wear glasses, and I have been called names for always picking coyotes out. I don't have trouble finding deer at all. Its the darn elk that I never see until its too late. Color blindness or maybe just not spending enough time looking for them in the off season to know what to look for might be my problem. Kinda ironic that I have trouble spotting the biggest game animal.
 Once again thanks for the ideas and advice.

[coachcw]

I will stand behind the looking as far ahead then back theroy . You have to see elk before they see you , big time when bow hunting. if your going slow enough you shouldnt just bump one. I often see elk 1/2 mile away just as they are toping a ridge if you are looking to close you never see those . plus they hear so well that they hear you well before you see them. always always hunt the wind or your wasting your time. often what gives elk away to me is the mane that stands out . find elk way out the stalk in thats your best bet . when hunting timber and heavy cover really slow it down . the very best time is when its raining out .

[RadSav]

Most color blindness effects orange and reds making them appear brown.  So that could be why as elk rumps often appear orange.  Are hunter orange vests brilliant to you?  I have a couple friends with color blindness that say there is little difference to them between hunter orange and buckskin brown.  Both of them have difficulty seeing elk.

[Mudman]

When you are on fresh sign or just think elk may be close stop.  Regroup, slow down and use mindset that they are right there, you just havent seen em yet.  Get wind right and look and listen.  I will often sit 10 minutes before moving at all.  Truth be told if you are doing everything right you will smell or hear them first in this wetside jungle. Personally I dont like rain because hearing is muffled. I use ears more than eyes in brush.  Now if they are bedded like they were in your case maybe, it is very difficult to see or hear em.  Smell.

[the509hunter]

nuber one thing i think the reason y u cant see elk as easy as deer is elk blend in alot better cause of the darker color

[kglacken]

I have walked up on them with out knowing they were there too. My best advice is something my dad taught me a long time ago. "Hunt like there is an animal right by you all of the time" Move slow, look for the smallest little patches of tan and if you see something that could be an elk, it never hurts to stop and put the binoculars on it to make sure before moving on. 

[h2ofowlr]

Scouting and spending lots of time in the woods.  It's almost like training your eye's to see those puzzles or images in a picture.  Some people can see them and some can't.  Guys are also more prone to color blindness.  You may see color, but not picking up color contrasts.  I seem to pick them out pretty good for the most part.  I have unfortunately not had the same luck on bear in the past 3 weeks.