What to Scout For

[gallion_t]

Let me start by giving a little back story into my elk hunting past. I grew up hunting modern firearm mostly in the White River and Green River units but then stopped hunting in high school. Started hunting again in college and have figured out deer, but have never put the time into figuring out a new elk area as obviously the Green River and White River units are all draw only now. Anyways I have finally decided to devote some time this summer and fall into learning a new area and getting back into elk hunting. I will be switching it up a little and hunting muzzle loader still here on the west side in one of the units that was opened back up this year.

My question is when I am out doing my preseason scouting what should be the main things I am looking for? Obviously elk, but from what I have read they are not going to be in the same place now as they will be in Oct. I plan on getting away from the roads, but is there a type of vegetation I should be looking for? drainage with water in them? Terrain? Any info to point me in the right direction to start my scouting would be very helpful. Since I am basically completely new to this I have a lot to learn and anything I can do to help speed up the learning curve will be beneficial to me.

Thank you,

Travis

[jaredwitman]

Ill tag along for this one as I am starting to tune up my hunting strategies as well. The internet is full of info on elk too for your own study, at least from what I have found. For example:

http://www.elk-hunting-tips.net/elk-habits.html

Pages like this would be a good place to start, as I have done. there is a paragraph or two in that article titled "exceptions are the rule". I find that to be true which is what makes this site so great... you will most likely get all kinds of different tactics and exceptions along with them. Currently I am focusing on just studying elk behavior so that when I am in the woods I can have a good educated guess on what the elk are thinking and their most common reactions to different situations and surroundings. not a whole lot of help for you here but I am looking forward to reading some feedback from other more experienced elk hunters. 

[ghosthunter]

Here is what I do. I muzzy hunt for elk eastside.
Starting next month.

I drive the roads of a new area. Looking for trails crossing at the heads and bottoms of cannons.
I look for water sources and hike up or down the water sources looking for wallows or little pockets of refuge areas.

If I find areas where elk are watering ,I hike out on the same contour as that water and look for ambush sites. Where I can set up a blind along the route going to and from the water.

I examine blind dark corners along the roads very carefully. Because elk will use these comers once the shooting starts.

Everyone talks about sneaking into the middle of a heard. Fine for the guys who can do it.
But the simple fact is a lot of elk are killed by guys sitting quiet 100 yards off the road. 

[gallion_t]

Thanks for the advice guys. Im planning on getting out over the 4th and actually putting eyes on the ground for the first time in about 15 years. Also have a couple cameras im planning on putting out as well if I can find some spots worth it.

[wooltie]

I've heard that westside elk migrate less than their eastside brothers and sisters.  Snow is less of a factor to consider.  They still move around a lot, just not the "up the mountain in the morning, down the mountain in the evening".

I plan to stick to north / east faces.  Go up/down drainages looking for trails and finding benches along the way. 

[westsidehntr]

Waterholes aren't as big of a deal on the westside, there is water almost everywhere. A good elk spot will have trails rototilled into the dirt. Look for clearcuts and check out the timber around clearcuts for the travel paths. I'm no expert tho...