Elk Area Photo
 

Just curious as to where everyone would start their scouting in this area. Assume a road is at the bottom of the picture (just off the photo) and there are only hiking trails throughout (no ATV access).

RE: Elk Area Photo
 

I would walk right up the miidle and hang a left into the second drainage... There is a bowl towards the bottom that can be accessed from several different points. That is where I would start!!!

RE: Elk Area Photo
 

I would hike to the ridge on the left side. From there you could glass a lot of territory. There looks to be a high basin or bowl which looks promising; you could glass the back side of two ridges. It would be a hike for sure but thats where I would start.

RE: Elk Area Photo
 

It is a long hike into the second drainage at the base of that "bowl" about 5 miles form the closest road. I was thinking of setting up base camp next to the stream on the bottom. Then in the morning, you could walk up the ridge (finger) to the right to glass the whole bowl.

RE: Elk Area Photo
 

This pic is a little deceiving with regards to the actual size of the area that it covers. How tall are these mountains, where is water, what is the climate like here, what type of terrain is this (Colorado type mts. or Arizona type mts.). Lots of questions regarding where to actually hunt.

Assuming that this is oriented to the North and is in the larger mountains of Colorado??????? I would hunt the long ridge on the right side of the pic if it is warm. The elk will cross over that ridge in order to get on the NW facing slope to get out of the suns rays. Of course I can't see what is on the other side.

I would also want to hunt the large drainage that leads to the upper left corner of the pic. It appears there are plenty of cool areas for the elk to bed down and there should be good water coming down from the peaks. That one drainage accesses numerous smaller drainages that lead down into it and out to the main drainage.

RE: Elk Area Photo
 

That would be hard to say with the details that are missing. Either way, I would want to be in close proximity to black timber. The elk will use it year round. The timber also has to be close to areas that get plenty of sunlight and can grow the grasses and forbs that elk need. Also, elk will go into aspen quite often. I think I would look on the saddles or at the tops of draws where the elk will come out of the black timber and then eat, then can quickly disappear into the timber again.

RE: Elk Area Photo
 

You want to have fun or just get your elk?
If you want an elk, do like a profesional northen outfitter.
Get in your supercub and fly up and down for days if need be and locate all the game. Do your best to keep all resident hunters out of the area. (usually by threatening all local air-charters companies to not fly resident huntersor risk loosing outfitter business) Then land as close as possable or you could radio down to your guides where all the game is.
This is the problem when you mix money with wildlife.
Keep it fair chase

RE: Elk Area Photo
 

Where in the world did that come from and what in the heck are you talking about?

RE: Elk Area Photo
 

+1

RE: Elk Area Photo
 

Judging from the limited visual, I would start in the center and continue north. The center looks as though the trees are older/bigger. The trees work as great cover for the elusive big bull. Best case scenario therecould be some water. Good Luck!!

RE: Elk Area Photo
 

sorry for venting Rebel,
But I'm just a workin stiff who lives in a small northern town with 6 outfitters. I get pretty tired of the constant drone of airplanes when I get a chance to get out hunting on my own. All hunters should be concerned when our wildlife gets vaccumed up so efficiently. We should expect better from some of these "profesional" hunters. Some are just lazy.
I think the problem starts when hunters demand a very high success rate without wondering how this is achieved. So one outfitter buys a plane and after a few years he is gettin all the game, and all the hunters, so the next outfitter needs to buy one too.This is why hunts are getting so darn expensive.
Most guided hunters are not even aware this is going on. Ask your outfitter if he owns a plane and how he uses it. Where ever we hunt there are resident hunters. The guided hunter needs to stop thinking the resident is the competision. We need to stick together as hunters.
Only concerned hunters can change the situation.
Two days after the season most of these outfitters are long gone.

RE: Elk Area Photo
 

This actually looks like a hot spot I hunt in the Idaho panhandle. It does have some hunting pressures so what the elk do is they side hill to their feeding spots. If they get jumped or pushed they fly down the hill and go up the other side into the razor back. If they are pushed from the razor back they head for the bowl and camp their or head up and side hill north towards your imaginary road. They then repeat the process. My first elk was taken by sitting on one of those hiways on the side hill for three hunts waiting for them to cross by me.

RE: Elk Area Photo
 

Myself not knowing the area, would side hill it to the left get up on top and spend the day glassing till dark then againin the morning.
From there I would plan my next day's strategy paying close attn to the wind.

RE: Elk Area Photo
 

up the ridges and into the bowls

thats where you'll find the elk honeyholes

RE: Elk Area Photo
 

North and East facing grassy slopes, bowls and any relatively flat areas they might be laying down between feeding. Heavy timber nearby these that they can go into to get out of Sun when they get heated up. These areas that are within a mile or so near water (even springs). Get back in away from roads or heavily traveled trails. Use your boots, binos and watch the direction of the wind. If the wind isn't in your face or close to it you better figure out a different approach or you'll for sure be hiking a whole lot longer. Snow is one of your best indicators of recent activity, direction and where you need to go to get ahead of them.

RE: Elk Area Photo
 

Either side hug the ridge to glass downthat is down wind for the day if you're considering the whole area, a gps is going to come in handy also unless you are very good at mental land nav because you're probably going to hike about 5 miles each day on a 5 day hunt at the very least.