This topic may have been discussed before, but I am hoping to hear how everyone approaches google earth when scouting for an elk hunt. I convinced my dad to put in for a nonresident elk license this year and if he draws the permit he will be coming out to join myself and some friends for an elk hunt. We will be hunting the area we hunted for a couple weeks last year. We were able to get into elk consistently, but I want to have a backup plan if this area is not producing like it did last year. Unfortunately, I will not be able to get there to scout this summer and want to utilize google earth and other maps to identify areas that we could relocate to if necessary. Ideally, we would like to set up a base camp along a road accessible to 4wd vehicles but will also have gear to spike out for a couple nights if we feel it is needed to help our chances. My biggest question is how you use google earth to identify areas that would be expected to hold elk?
What things are you specifically looking for as terrain goes? At this point, I have been looking at areas where we found elk, and then trying to locate those some features in other areas.
Are there certain water sources that you can count on to still be producing water at the end of a dry summer? I ask this because I have seen springs marked on old USGS maps that aren't there when you get there. Can you identify with google earth which drainages are likely to be dry and which should still hold water?
Do you prefer to look at areas with very little access via roads or trails? I tend to gravitate towards isolated areas, but then wonder how easy it will be to blaze a trail to an area we would intend to hunt. How far away do you like to get from trails and roads?
Are vast expanses of heavy timber favorable habitat for elk? Are there subtle differences in this type of terrain that may be a better place to start?
Those are a few, more specific questions that came to mind, but any advice you may have is appreciated. I want to make sure I make this as memorable of an experience as I can for him, because I don't know how many times we will have this kind of opportunity. Even if we don't harvest a bull, I want him to see the side of elk hunting that I became addicted to, not the countless days I have had where I don't see a single elk (though this is still enjoyable, is part of the game, and you are still learning where NOT to be). Getting into some bugling bulls and some close encounters would make the trip a success to him, that I know.
I remember seeing a thread not to long ago about someone putting together a resource for beginners planning an elk hunt that included google earth scouting but I can't seem to find that. If anyone remembers the name or has a link, I would like to look at that too, We will probably have 7-10 days to dedicate to this, and if we do have 10 days I plan to use the first 2 to scout prior to opening day. Planning on starting on the opener because we were into bulls every day for the first week. It was some of the most exhilarating, enjoyable hunting I have ever had and want him to enjoy something like that. I know there are a lot of experienced, dedicated elk hunters here so I figured this was a great resource to start with. I'll also be contacting the area biologist and will be trying to find some books that may help answer these same questions. I read Cameron Haynes Backcountry Bowhunting last year and may have to get my hands on that again for a refresher. Thanks a lot for any input!
What things are you specifically looking for as terrain goes? At this point, I have been looking at areas where we found elk, and then trying to locate those some features in other areas.
Are there certain water sources that you can count on to still be producing water at the end of a dry summer? I ask this because I have seen springs marked on old USGS maps that aren't there when you get there. Can you identify with google earth which drainages are likely to be dry and which should still hold water?
Do you prefer to look at areas with very little access via roads or trails? I tend to gravitate towards isolated areas, but then wonder how easy it will be to blaze a trail to an area we would intend to hunt. How far away do you like to get from trails and roads?
Are vast expanses of heavy timber favorable habitat for elk? Are there subtle differences in this type of terrain that may be a better place to start?
Those are a few, more specific questions that came to mind, but any advice you may have is appreciated. I want to make sure I make this as memorable of an experience as I can for him, because I don't know how many times we will have this kind of opportunity. Even if we don't harvest a bull, I want him to see the side of elk hunting that I became addicted to, not the countless days I have had where I don't see a single elk (though this is still enjoyable, is part of the game, and you are still learning where NOT to be). Getting into some bugling bulls and some close encounters would make the trip a success to him, that I know.
I remember seeing a thread not to long ago about someone putting together a resource for beginners planning an elk hunt that included google earth scouting but I can't seem to find that. If anyone remembers the name or has a link, I would like to look at that too, We will probably have 7-10 days to dedicate to this, and if we do have 10 days I plan to use the first 2 to scout prior to opening day. Planning on starting on the opener because we were into bulls every day for the first week. It was some of the most exhilarating, enjoyable hunting I have ever had and want him to enjoy something like that. I know there are a lot of experienced, dedicated elk hunters here so I figured this was a great resource to start with. I'll also be contacting the area biologist and will be trying to find some books that may help answer these same questions. I read Cameron Haynes Backcountry Bowhunting last year and may have to get my hands on that again for a refresher. Thanks a lot for any input!
