Scouting for Elk

[jlrichesin]

I searched the forums and did not see anything specifically on this so thought that I would start a new thread and ask.

I hear of people scouting for elk prior to the season. But then I also hear that elk move up to 30 miles a day. Does scouting really matter much when it comes to elk? How do you choose where to start hunting for elk during archery season?

I live in Oregon, and I am going to start scouting early in the summer. Not sure if it really pays to scout or not?


Josh

 

[HookUp]

I would suggest Corey Jacobson's ELK101.com course on elk. Elk behave very differently depending on the time of year.

 

[5MilesBack]

I don't scout to make sure elk are in a particular place. I scout maps and such sight unseen to identify areas I'm interested in. I'm not going to go into exactly what interests me, but then "if" I can make an actual boots on the ground trip I'm just verifying what I saw on the maps. Hunting new areas, the entire hunting trip might be a scouting venture with a little action thrown in. I prefer scouting with my bow in my hand, and a valid tag in my pocket. I already know where the elk will most likely be in a given area.

 

[les welch]

Never heard of any elk moving 30 miles due to pressure, doubt it. Not even 1/3 of that. I would scout any chance I could without even thinking about it. Makes a lot of difference, even just ruling out "bad" areas.

 

[justinspicher]

I use it as an excuse to get more.

 

[jlrichesin]

I think I will check out the elk101 course. Sounds interesting to me!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[theleo91386]

Scouting "elk" is a little of a misnomer, you don't necessarily scout for elk themselves before archery season but for habitat that will hold them. Areas that hold bulls in June or July could be devoid of them come September, so scouting for actual elk at that point can be kind of pointless, but putting eyes and boots on ground you are thinking about hunting will give you a lot better understanding on how to hunt it a couple of months down the road.

 

[jlrichesin]

Wow, I signed up for the elk101 course. SO far it has been great. About halfway through it already. Thanks! for the tip!

Josh

 

[xziang]

If you live in/close to the area you plan to hunt my suggestion is spotting scope and spend some evenings and mornings looking things over. Evenings for me since I like to sleep in.

They may very well move once pressure starts but you will know that they 'were' there and they are hopefully held up someplace close. Just my .02

 

[westrnwild]

A way i like to scout is just free hike areas all summer long. Get familiar with the country, also if you hike off trails and look to hike into areas that have some kind of land contour that might be interesting. Then at night and early in the morning use the glass and try and find them.