Elk habitat
 

I' m a beginning Elk hunter and was wondering what are the top 3-5 things you look for when scouting a new location.

Thanks.

RE: Elk habitat
 

1) inaccesability - the easier to get there, the more hunters, the less elk

2) will you puke your lungs out hiking up-down to get there - goes with #1 actually

3) springs (start of creeks) for watering and wallowing if hot weather

4) good " shelf" areas that elk can bed down on

RE: Elk habitat
 

I' ll go along with Jorgy on his #1 pick, go where know one else wants to go, #2 dark timber, usually on the north facing slope, this is especially true if the weather is even slightly warm, #3, a spring with fresh wallows, #4 any other water source, exspcially if water is scarce. #5 roads far and few between in the area, which also goes along with #1.

RE: Elk habitat
 

In addition to the above, I look for areas that have recently had a forest fire. The elk LOVE the new growth vegitation that only a wildfire can produce. So when you factor in the above tactics, you have a tall order in finding the " perfect" place. But if you do your homework, you' ll find your " Honeyhole" .

RE: Elk habitat
 

To go along with Pike Slayer' s question, exactly how " remote" is remote??? I found a place I really like, but it is only a 2.5 mile hike in, 3500 ft elevation gain. I have been up there a few times and it is 1:15 to get up and :45 to get down. I would hate to get there 10 minutes later than a dozen other hunters, so exactly how far is " far in" , in your experiences???

RE: Elk habitat
 

In my experience, I would say that anything over an hour hike to a starting spot is a great location. But anything over a mile from a road will cut the number of hunters drastically and improve your odds. Of course I will admitt that elk are where they are, and I' ve seen many taken from the roads over the years

RE: Elk habitat
 

If you are scouting initially with a topo to find a place then start by looking for the things mentioned above like remoteness, shelfs, saddles, funnels, dark timber with innersperced meadows, water.

When you have a few places narrowed down and actually start scouting then just like everything else look for elk sign. The fresher the better. Look for good trails, tree rubs, wallows, bedding areas (you usually can' t miss them if you see them), poop, and of course look for elk.

Our camp is only about a mile from the road but there are few hunters there in the first place and the area has everything that elk need. Plenty of water, plenty of food, plenty of dark timber to stay cool and hide in, and meadows for them to gather in and feed at night. That' s really the four things that elk need. Provided that there are not too many people there.

RE: Elk habitat
 

Lots of good advice given already and I will probably repeat a lot of it.
First you go to the maps.
Find areas with few roads. Elk live near roads all year but when hunting season starts and the pressure hits they move to areas further from the roads, so generally don' t bother scouting areas close to roads. Early in the bow season it is more likely you can still find elk close to roads.

Now look for N or NE slopes with a flat spot on them and a small creek, these are bedding wallowing feeding areas.
Any large meadows within a mile or two of these areas should be considered a bonus as the elk will move back and forth between these areas.

As stated before elk LOVE burns. If there is a burn area 2 to 5 years old in your area you definitely need to check it out.

Look for areas with lots of rubs, areas which have rubs, means there are elk there in the fall.
Remember elk tend to move around in the fall, so areas that have elk one day may not the next and vice versa.

In areas with lots of pressure elk tend to end up about mid slope on any non west facing slope. I like to get to mid slope in the dark and then hunt into the wind letting the pressure from the top and bottom push the elk to me. This time of year the elk will not be using the large meadows as much except in the dark. Bulls tend to use the smaller meadows in the timber more at this time.
Single bulls can be pretty tricky, I have seen them duck their heads and let hunters pass within 40 yards of them in the timber without moving a muscle.

RE: Elk habitat
 

Pike slayer,
Elk need 4 things and these 4 things are key to finding elk
1.Food(Grass,shrubbs ect..)Elk are browsers
2.Water
3.Security(They need cover,timber,canyons,canopys of trees,access to others)this one is the most important,if they don' t feel secure they leave.
4.Escape routes(Elk are not dumb they know they are hunted by predators,they always have escape routes.)
If the area is missing one of these 4 things,you probaly won' t find elk there often.

These are the things I look for any way.
Good luck BBJ

RE: Elk habitat
 

I will have to go along with every one else

North hillsides are the best for middle of the day excursions

try to get in the timber before the fist hint of light

during dry summers elk will be at water

find out where they are bedding when you are scouting then go there during the hunt