I am a first time elk hunter. I'm planning on backpacking into my Colorado hunting area for a brief 1 1/2 days in two weeks to do some scouting. I assume there is no particular point in looking for elk droppings or elk, as this sign would be irrelevant during my hunt three months later. I have reports that, generally speaking, there are in fact elk in the area I will be hunting. What should I be looking for when I scout now? What do you look for when you scout three months in advance of your elk hunt?

I plan to just generally look the area over so I have a better feel for the topography. I have the quadrangle maps and have looked them over and have a fair understanding of the land (here is a drainage or canyon, here is a watercourse that may or may not have water in it in October, here is a small lake or pond that may or may not have water in it in October, here is where the treeline is, etc). I'm familiar with high mountain country in general. What am I looking for? Am I trying to spot and catalog patches of open grassy areas surrounded by trees where the elk might like to go to eat? Am I trying to spot and catalog water holes? What should I look for?

This is a good opportunity for seasoned elk hunters to help out a new comer -- myself and others who also will read this thread -- without giving away your "honey holes."