Scouting dark timber ???

c3

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How do you folks go about scouting those many miles of dark timber that the elk seem to hang out in more often than not?

Many of the places I hunt elk on the open bull units are solid timber and rarely is there ever a place to glass.

I'm seeing zero elk this time of year, in the areas where I'd normally hunt them. Mostly because you can't glass these areas any way.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-01-04 AT 11:48AM (MST)[p]I faced the same kind of issue last season. I started scouting the water sources and when I found elk sign around the water i then back tracked into the timber to try to figured out where the elk were bedding. this led me to some places with unbelieveable amounts of sign. It was pretty dry in Unit 65 last year, and the elk were not using the open parks at all as they were dried up.

I spent all of my time in the timber stil hunting through the areas where I had foun recent sign. I killed a bull the second morning at 10:30. The elk were heading to a bedding area that I had found on there way from a creek that held water.

I blew cow calls occasionally to mask my noise, and when I spotted the lead cow I got the impression she was actually waiting for this "lone cow" to catch up. Seh looked right at me and then movd on down the trail. She led the whole group right past me and I killed the bull at 35 yards.

I am sold on the timber. I think the elk feel very secure there and if you moved slowly and use calls to mask your noise I think you can do well. I would just scout the heck out of the timber and find those core areas the elk are using.

Don
 
Don, that's how I hunted last fall a bunch. Like usual I blew my one good chance at the nice 6x6 in there by getting winded as the wind changed right at dusk. He was only 25 yards behind a large pine and boughs as I was waiting for him to take 4 more steps.

I'm trying to figure ways to scout these particular bulls though. Maybe I'm wasting my time, as finding them in there could be next to impossible without bumping them numerous times.

Cheers,
Pete
 
You might try Game Cameras you can pick them up on E-Bay for 70.00!!! Good Luck
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-03-04 AT 04:29PM (MST)[p]I look for long ridges that run more or less north/south where there will likley be relatively little hunting pressure. Then I look for bedding cover down off the east slope. Comes late in the rut I work the upper east slope. When the thermals pick up mid to late morning there will frequently be a bull working the ridge in the timber above the bedding covr looking for a cow. Suckers for a cow call. I look more for these features than so much for elk sign. If there are elk in the region, there will be elk in these spots within the region.
 
Here are some Timber scouting pointers. First you need to scout in there after the season or in the late winter when there is alot of snow on the ground. The snow will show you all the secret travel routes that the elk will use. The snow will also show you were those secret beds are. Many of those beds will be smack dabbed right up next to an Evergreen or Aspen.
By scouting in the snow many of the mysteries of the Timber are revealed. Elk will tend to stay in the same pockets of timber year after year if there not hunted to heavily. Focus on finding those trampled snow routes and bedding areas.
As far as hunting in the timber, you need to rely on other senses besides vision. Your eyes still need high quality Binos to see that 1 leg or ear sticking out next to a patch of aspens. As far as your other senses you have to rely on them like the elk do. When elk bed and urinate that musky smell is easy to locate. Keep your nose clear and learn to sniff them out. Elk are hard to see bedded but your nose will lead you to them. If you can find a place they bed during your scouting you'll be able to sniff and tell if they are there even if you can't see them. If the smell becomes super strong you may be in the middle of a dozen elk so sit down, get your rifle ready, start glassing the timber around you and listen..listen...listen for movement.
A few other pointers are to cut out wearing any cologne or scents. Wear clean clothes washed in scent free detergent and don't hesitate to roll around in a stinky elk bed to get there scent on your clothing. If you locate a secret bedding area to hunt, never go to the bathroom by it. Many hunters advertize themselves by urinating and crapping in the woods to alert every animal for miles. Also learn how to be extra quiet in the woods. I mean real damn quiet!!!! When you sneak thru the timber and start finding bed elk 25 yards away you know your scent isn't too bad and your being quiet enough. You can never move to slow in the timber either. It may take you an hour ot two to sneak that last quarter mile to a secret bedding area.

Hope this helps,
Timberman
 

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