Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: WapitiTalk1 on June 19, 2020, 09:37:36 AM

Title: Elk Country Scouting Plans/Methodology
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on June 19, 2020, 09:37:36 AM: So campers, there is an old poem that says “In the springtime, a young man’s fancy lightly turns to elk country scouting”. I may have the words mixed up a bit but I like this version better than the original.

Are you going to head into the elk woods and do some scouting this summer? What is your game plan while there? Checking elk pops via some glassing, checking sign, checking bull quality, clearing some access trails down/up to some “spots”, dropping some trail cams and attractant (if legal in your elk state of course), hang three rolls of orange engineer tape on branches so I don't get lost walking to/from a wallow spot, prepping a few tree stand sites, cutting/splitting/stacking some firewood for base camp, stashing some gear (again, if legal in your elk state) for backcountry hunts, clearing blow down off the one horse road to your preferred base camp site, scout a few new spots in your general area that you haven’t been to yet, check to see if that ½ case of leftover beer is still chillin’ in the creek, popping a few reflective trail tacks in firs on the way to a deep spot or two, etc.?

Or perhaps “no, I don’t need to do any stinking scouting, I’ve hunted my elk area for years….. There is no reason to stink it up with my foul city stench”.

Thought this would be a good thread for the old salts to chime in on and the newer cats to learn a bit from. I’ve actually had hunters ask me what I do when I go scouting.
Title: Re: Elk Country Scouting Plans/Methodology
Post by: elksnout on June 19, 2020, 11:23:23 AM: Eastern Oregon archery. Usually go over late summer to check for any major changes in the landscape. (Logging, downed trees or fallen rock across skid roads, etc.). Glass from vantage points early and late. Walk closed roads and trails but pretty much stay out of the woods. It will be hot anyway and the season is still too far off to be worried over but locating herds of cows will be noted.

I'll leave the opener to others and go over early the second week. After camp is set I'll go out and snoop around and glass till dark. This combined with what we know of the area will dictate the next mornings plan of attack. Have hunted the same area for eight years and pretty much find elk in or close to the same areas. We did branch out more last season and found bulls and have another area we want to get into.

I enjoy the first day as I go into it as a wide eyes kid with being flexible as the main strategy.

Can't wait!!!

Elksnout
Title: Re: Elk Country Scouting Plans/Methodology
Post by: vandeman17 on June 19, 2020, 11:41:30 AM: Once we finally get the results of the Oregon draw, I will know where I will be hunting and plan to make at least one weekend trip down there to see what, if anything, has changed. I am never too worried about seeing elk in the summer since they will have moved by middle of September but it is still fun seeing them.

Like elksnout said, I am usually most interested in seeing if any new roads have been cut in or blocked off, logging done or changes like that.