Scouting For Following Year...Worthwhile?

[PhlyanPan]

So it's looking like I'm shooting for a DIY archery elk trip in CO in 2 years. Finances and vacation time being what it is, I don't think I'd be able to scout and hunt in the same year. So would it be worthwhile to plan a scouting/gear shakedown trip for next year? Would any information I gain carry over year to year?

If so, what time of year should I be trying for? I'd love to try and hit the rut but I don't want to interfere with people who are actually out hunting. Should I go before the season? Between seasons? Stay the hell home?

 

[Researcher]

Id go a few days before the season starts and have a few days into the season itself. Learning where the elk are before season starts and learn where the hunter are during season. Knowing hunting pressure is one of the most important things to know about your area. Just be courteous out there and dont go intentionally pushing elk around or walk right through an area you know hunters are hunting. Lots of stuff you learn will carry over. Road and trail knowledge, fitness knowledge, elk behavior, where water and feed are. Tons of stuff.

 

[Pacific_Fork]

For sure. Learn the roads, glassing points, camping spots, where water is and isn’t, find elk habitat and sign, plus just being in the woods and not at home is worth it. I’d go in August or September and don’t put pressure on the elk if you see them. Good on you for thinking about other hunters too.

 

[Jordan Budd]

It's 100% worth it!! If I were you I would go during the season you plan to hunt. You'll be able to learn a ton during season like where the freshest sign is, where the animals go when there's pressure around, where other hunters like to camp/park and the trails most used. If you go before season you'll still be able to learn glassing points, camp spots, etc. but during season you can see how many other people use those same glassing spots. Can't recommend it enough.

 

[cnelk]

Hell, if you’re going you may as well have an elk tag in your pocket. Get a reduced price antlerless tag and save a few bucks.

 

[WCB]

If I am going out during season and spending the money on travel I am hunting. Also if finances are the issue I would save that money and just go a couple extra days early when I am hunting.

With that said you would definitely learn the area and layout so the next year you have an idea. If I had no tag I would be extremely careful of not wrecking others hunts...you don't need to chase bugles down or go busting through thick bedding areas. Find glassing spots and stay on the edges would be my plan.

The only thing guaranteed to transfer over from one year to the next is terrain. Changes in feed or a bad winter could change things big time. Take mental notes of where you find elk sign or elk but don't make your entire plan for the next year around that. Have plan B,C,D, and E ready on the first day. Elk could be crawling all over the mountain one year and non-existent the next...hell that can happen week to week.

 

[tulsaburnside]

When I get drawn for an area that I have been building up points for, I make a trip out in August and make a trout fishing/recon trip out of it. Having fun with family or friends and getting to see habitat, access, glassing points, and familiarity with the area before the season. Then get there a couple of days ahead of time to see what the elk are doing.

 

[Dos Perros]

Scout when you would hunt. 100% doable and you should.

 

[roosiebull]

It's 100% worth it!! If I were you I would go during the season you plan to hunt. You'll be able to learn a ton during season like where the freshest sign is, where the animals go when there's pressure around, where other hunters like to camp/park and the trails most used. If you go before season you'll still be able to learn glassing points, camp spots, etc. but during season you can see how many other people use those same glassing spots. Can't recommend it enough.

completely agree with all of this, excellent points, and all very relevant to hunting the next year. sometimes the difference between a notched tag and a skunked season is knowledge of the areas you hunt... I put quite a bit of value into knowing the areas i'm hunting, that way you are staying a step ahead rather than a step behind.

I agree with scouting during season too, it would be rough to put all of your eggs in one basket just to find out it's the highest pressure area in the region, which effectively changes everything you learned.

I think a scouting trip during season to hunt the following would give you a huge jump start on your hunt.

it's also satisfying to go in blind, put the pieces of the puzzle together and have a good hunt, but that can also be frustrating, especially if you don't have a long hunting vacation.

 

[HondoArcher]

If you go just before archery season use your time to learn the roads, camping spots, and trails. Look for sign near the trails and find good glassing spots and spent a lot of time with the glass. If you want to go deeper without ruining others hunts go in mid to late June after the calves are born (some roads are closed for calving season so be sure you do your homework). The elk will be out so you will have to work around them. They will be in the open and you will need to be in the trees (role reversal). Look for the cows and the bulls will be there in September until they get pushed out. When the hunting pressure starts they will move to a place that is safe. If you are going rifle hunting you need to look at the migration routes from their summer to winter range. It is hard to locate elk during rifle season because they are on the run.

Grab a preference point this year and look at units that take 1 point to draw. This can help with the hunting pressure. Those over the counter units get hammered.

Here is some scouting footage in June (give it a like if you find it helpful):