A little scouting advice please

[Snuffer]

Colorado archery season is coming soon and I’m going to a wilderness area that is very thick with limited trails and even less opportunity to get behind the spotting scope to try and find elk. I will be there 5 days prior to opening day and then hunting 3 weeks. Other than burning boot leather, what strategy will be most effective for locating but not bumping elk before the hunt. Is checking meadows late morning and early afternoon a decent idea to look for signs of feeding activity? Kind of torn on what areas to target. I’m solo, so that limits checking multiple areas a day. Thanks for any tips.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Unfortunately the elk are going to be where they are that day. You need to be willing to load up the truck and move to a different area within your gmu's if you are not finding them.

I don't personally scout for them prior to archery season besides driving around at night throwing out bugles. Im not hiking miles if I cannot shoot one at that time.

Keep moving until you find them. Don't leave elk to find elk. Stay on them until you have tagged out or the area is totally blown. Then move for a couple days and then go back if necessary

 

[go_deep]

I'd look for travel routes between wallows, meadows, and North slopes.

 

[cmahoney]

I wouldn’t glass with a spotter


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[bz_711]

I think you're best bet is to LISTEN. Any time of day, but particularly in the dark...or around mid-day when they are bedded. Get to the highest vantage points to hear the most country.

Good Luck!

 

[awcopeland]

I think that @IrkedCitizen has some sound advice.

I probably wouldn’t go out more than 2 days early before the season starts. Maybe 3 just to have unmolested elk to be in a more natural habit pattern. They’re more likely to tell you where they are when they aren’t being bothered.

 

[Snuffer]

I think that @IrkedCitizen has some sound advice.

I probably wouldn’t go out more than 2 days early before the season starts. Maybe 3 just to have unmolested elk to be in a more natural habit pattern. They’re more likely to tell you where they are when they aren’t being bothered.

To be fair, I plan on trout fishing a few days while I acclimate to the altitude as I’m coming from the mid west.

 

[Weldor]

How's the weather been, hot and dry or normal rain fall? Water is always good for Elk. We did the same many years ago, never been to our hunting area. Got there 4 days early and looked around some. It was around 10000 ft not much air up there. Our opening day plan was to hunt down hill after the thermals started up. stayed on the southwest side of the mountain. Killed 2 bulls and finished our pack out at 01:30 . Tough day but it worked. JMHO