August scouting for September elk

[W_sommers]

Me and a few of my buddies drew our first elk tags and we are looking for a little bit of scouting advice. This will be a mid to late September archery hunt and we would be able to go scout early August. My question is will the elk be in similar areas during those times. Obviously the bulls won’t be with the cows during August like they will in September but what kind of experience has everybody had relocating elk in September that they found in August. All advice is appreciated.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

First elk move miles in a day even during the rut. Sept 1 hits and they get pushed out of that spot by someone else they won’t be back. They will move week by week, they’re also going to most likely be in high country bachelor groups, September they’re going to be moving back closer to the cows. Is it worth it I wouldn’t say to give you a definite on where the elk will be but more for you and actually learning the terrain and seeing what you get urself into.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jtevanMT]

Scout for areas (not spots) with a lot of elk sign (well used trails, new and old rubs, scat). Seeing cows is a bonus and will give you some idea where the bulls might be in September. Find your access points (open vs gates roads, trails, ridgelines, etc), glassing spots and camping locations for Plan A, B, C, D and E. Go in with a plan and relocate if the elk are not there. Searching for access points or driving around during your hunt burns daylight when you could have boots on the ground in elk country.

 

[Marble]

Look for cows in August, that's where the bulls will be in September. If you can find a herd if cows, there will most likely be some bulls mixed in, but the bigger more mature bulls generally will be by themselves until mid-late August and then start moving to where the cows are.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[Poser]

Scout for areas (not spots) with a lot of elk sign (well used trails, new and old rubs, scat). Seeing cows is a bonus and will give you some idea where the bulls might be in September. Find your access points (open vs gates roads, trails, ridgelines, etc), glassing spots and camping locations for Plan A, B, C, D and E. Go in with a plan and relocate if the elk are not there. Searching for access points or driving around during your hunt burns daylight when you could have boots on the ground in elk country.

This is really sound advice.

 

[Dos Perros]

The main work products of a scouting trip should be glassing locations, camping locations, trails and bugle locations, where you're going to get water, stuff like that. @jtevanMT made a really nice post. One thing I didn't see mentioned is talking to people, locals, folks camping and fishing. If you talk to enough people you're going to get some nuggets.

 

[W_sommers]

Scout for areas (not spots) with a lot of elk sign (well used trails, new and old rubs, scat). Seeing cows is a bonus and will give you some idea where the bulls might be in September. Find your access points (open vs gates roads, trails, ridgelines, etc), glassing spots and camping locations for Plan A, B, C, D and E. Go in with a plan and relocate if the elk are not there. Searching for access points or driving around during your hunt burns daylight when you could have boots on the ground in elk country.

Thanks that makes a lot of sense.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Timberline001]

Look for cows and mark all the water near the cows. That’s all you need to do and you’ll be set.