Scouting two weeks prior to opening day
So somehow, with work and whatnot, I did not make it into the woods as much as I wanted this pre-season to scout. With the help of the TOPO! program and a lot of studying, I found one area that I definitely needed to check out before I decided where I was going to be on September 3rd. On Saturday morning on the 20th of August I enacted the plan that I'd been forming in my head for a couple weeks.
Now I had found this place based entirely by looking at topographical maps, so in essence, I was like an out of state hunter. I had hunted and scouted the drainages to the north of where I was heading, so I thought I understood how it would look....I couldn't have been more wrong. I left the house at 6:30 that morning and finally began hiking at 9:00. (A good idea to time that; I deduced that trip would require me going up on Friday prior to the season opener...something I hadn't planned on.) And it was weird, I jimmied the truck around on this narrow jeep track so I could park it, but it wasn't until I got out and shut the door that three BIG mule deer bucks decided the neighborhood was gone and started ambling away. They are fairly free from danger up there because only a handful of people are allowed to shoot at them every year. It gave a great opportunity to view their mass and size though, they drifted through the woods like smoke. I took this as a good sign and made my way along the ridge. Pretty quick I jumped two more smaller mule deer bucks, but definitely takers. I was hopeful at first, but as I got a good look from the ridge at the area I had wanted to scout, I noticed it had all burned in the past. I'm talking section on section of white and black trees...must have been quite a fire. Interspersed in all the dead timber, there were a few patches of trees...and many of those located in the creek bottoms...but some were little ribbons that extended onto some other ridges. That'll be important later.
I came to the first saddle that I thought might be a good ambush site, but found that all burned over, so it leaves little to security cover for any game. And, judging by the number of elk tracks I found in there (none) I decided I was right. Time to look for better places. BUT, then I noticed an opening down the slope and decided to check it out for wallows. It was a very moist meadow and sure enough, there were TWO recently-used wallows in it. I mean, there was still wet mud scattered around the edges of the water and some elk poo that was still green and moist. The standing water in the wallow was still muddy...if left long enough, any muddy water will clear up...so I knew I had an active area. I just wasn't sure, and am still not 100% confident, that it was elk or a moose. I had to take pictures of those, so maybe here in the future I'll get my film developed and post it. Just looks "elky" and fun to dream about. I walked down that meadow a ways and found another active wallow. Hmmm...and that one even had a perfect little stand of subalpine fir within 20 yards of the wallow, I might have a perfect setup there. I paid really close attention to the predominant wind in that basin and found it comes out of the south / southwest, which is good because then that blind will be downwind of the wallow...unless the early downslope winds decide to come up and cause me problems.
I had wanted to hit some areas in a certain order, so I moved back up onto the ridge and was moving toward the top when I finally got into lodgepole that wasn't burned...it was one of those islands that just happens to make it through fires of that magnitude. Anyone ever heard of the term "mosaic?" Anywho, I got into this beautiful lodgepole pine ridge and sure enough, up on a flat spot on the north side of the hill (coolest), I bumped two bull elk that had been bedded there. It was about 1200 by this time, so I can't help but thinking that maybe those two had been partying down in the wallows that are roughly two miles from there earlier in the morning. Again, hmmm.
I continued on and took a finger ridge through some burned timber. But then I saw some green timber down in a small drainage and decided to check it out. I saw numerous beds in some cool, grassy areas down there and some old scrapes. These little trees were still alive, so it could have happened earlier this year (I doubt) but most likely happened in the last two years or so. The trees were decimated, so I figure it'll take about three years before the needles all fall off. But the tops of the trees were green, so hopefully that bull will stick around. I was headed to marsh on the other side of this ridge, so I crossed that and made my way down to it. Luckily, I also cut a road that wasn't on the map. I say luckily because if I get anything near that thing, boy, it's only like two miles to the nearest open road. Better than the five miles I've already gone for sure. Again, I went down into this marshy area and it was full of nice grazing grass like timothy and the like. In the shadows of the remaining green trees were many beds....looks like probably a handful of critters had just bedded, then when they got sun on them, they just moved a little bit so they were still in the shade. That's what I'd have done, so good for them. Speaking of which, I noticed some bachelor herds of deer in the riverbottom doing the same thing. Now I'm thinking, early season when it's hot, go to where YOU will be most comfortable and you'll likely find deer. I would choose shadey spots next to any water. Tip for ya's.
Okay, so now I wanted to go to another marshy area over ANOTHER ridge and so beelined to that. But this little ridge had a stand of young trees on it that escaped the fire (hooray for logging!), so it makes an excellent place that deer or elk can travel from these marshy areas and up into the high country without exposing themselves for too long. Sure enough, many elk and deer tracks up there in the thick stuff. I personally think that if you consider yourself being hunted, you will START to think like an animal. You will take easy routes with a lot of cover and you'll do it SLOWLY. I moved down into this marshy area and crossed on creek that was actually kinda lively...about three feet across and running the cleanest water I'd seen all day. I passed by this and came to another creek that joins in the marsh below this point. There were elk tracks all up and down this narrow strip of green, thick timber surrounded by burned, exposed woods. But of course, I just ambled down in it. When I almost broke out into the meadow I stepped on a large stick that broke, then heard many more sticks breaking across the meadow. Sure enough, I had spooked another bull elk, but this one was quite a bit larger than the other two. The only sight I got of the first two was of a decent smaller bull, and his companion ran like he was much larger. Plus the one I didn't see well remained hidden better, something I think probably comes from experience, so I put him in the very decent range of size. Well this one I couldn't see very well either, but I caught glimpses through the trees and can tell you he was by far the largest of the three. His antlers probably extended to a little past the middle of his back. (A very good thing.) I went down into where he had been bedded down and found MANY beds. But see, this is what I think is going on in these moist, grassy, green areas. I think these animals are using them like I fort. I mean, they don't have to go anywhere for food (it's all there), it's coolest there, and they have the most cover with all the green trees and understory. I think they just follow the shadows of the trees and live a life of luxury...that's what I would do. How many people do you think they see in an area that is between 5 and 9 miles from the nearest road? Why would anyone really be in an area that was nuked by a fire during the summer? Why WOULD the elk move around like elk normally do?
After that I decided I had had enough, I had walked for about 8 or 9 miles in 90+ degree heat and I was BEAT. I had seen what I needed to see, I figured out the lay of the land, and I had pushed three bulls in about 5 hours...time to get out of there and leave it all alone. I hoofed it back up to the ridge and made my way out. That's when my water ran out. After walking in all that water all day, the bottoms of my feet were beginning to wrinkle, turn white, and hurt. Plus I was wearing my hunting boots with which I had made a decision to sacrifice thickness and protection, for thin soles and quiet walking. I really made a hump and made it back to the truck at around 1630...whoops, 4:30 pm. (I think everyone should understand military time, because it makes much more sense, but I understand some may not.) Anywho, that brings me to a point that became drastically clear in my dehydrated state. I am going to buy one of those five gallon water containers and leave it in my truck, just so I know where there is clean water if I ever need it. Also, I'm going to stash some food in there behind the seat. This all makes a lot of sense, from hunting to being stranded by a fallen log or storm...funny I haven't done that already.
So I still have a lot of strategy to sort out in my head. I heard one of those burned trees crash to the ground when that third bull was moving off, so I'm definitely not going to be camping in the burned area like I originally figured I would. I picked a gorgeous spot on the main ridge in that's only about two or three miles from the truck, but is nestled in lodgepole pines with about 14-foot spacing with an understory of dwarf huckleberry and beargrass, and a perfect view to boot. That way, I figure I can get up in the morning, be two or three miles closer to the area I want to hunt, and can perhaps either just listen for bugles to locate elk, but maybe even bugle myself and try and get them to respond. That way I'm at a high point with perfect mobility to get into any position I want. I will be the one with the freedom there. Also, that saves me more miles of humping my heavy pack around. From that point, all these marshes are within two to four miles...which I can do with just the frame and fanny pack. Of course, there is another marsh I want to look at that's on, again, another ridge over. I don't think the fire came up that drainage, but it's got a lot of meadows in it with a lot of creeks coming together. Since I didn't find any cows the other day, they might hang out in there. So I'm thinking these bulls might end up over there. Even still, it'll only be about five miles of hiking from this camp over to that basin. The bummer comes with the trail that leads down that drainage. It's nine miles to the road. On the ridge it'll be seven or eight. Might have to consider hiring some horses or hope the people that have offered to help are really into it. We'll see. Otherwise, I'm planning on a rough couple of days for myself.
Other things I thought of....hanging a meat pole will be tougher than I thought. How am I going to get a pole high enough in the trees to that I can cinch any meat above four feet? I don't think it'll be possible. I'll have to figure something out if, and when, the time ever comes. And I'm thinking I might actually want to measure my rope, so I know how much I'll need. Details! Umm, I also noticed MANY of HUNDREDS of gray jays, "camp robbers." I've heard hanging a tarp above the meat will keep some birds out because they don't like being UNDER things...but I'm not so sure about that. I'll have everything in cheesecloth, but still, that's no match for birds. Also, I must remember to pick up a lot of pepper. I've heard bees and whatnot are a problem in the early season but don't like meat with pepper on it. I will also be buying a camo cover. I had decided that was one thing of camo I didn't need, I mean, how much should you need to camoflauge brown hair? Well, on the entire way in I was walking east into the sun, and on the entire trip out I was walking west into the sun. If I hadn't have put sunscreen on that morning like a good kid (this is VERY much not normal for me) I would've been fried to a crisp. Also, since I do not plan on wearing that smelly stuff while hunting, I need something to keep at least my eyes out of the sun. It gets hard to squint for nine hours or so. Speaking of which, why hasn't someone made unscented "hunter" sunscreen? Hmm, I can think of a GREAT product here. Although, maybe they have it and I haven't paid enough attention to that. Anywho...
Some folks mentioned the great idea of taking a borrowed cell phone with me so if I DO get something back in there, I can just get to the top of the hill and call for assistance. Fantastic. Hopefully it wouldn't turn on in the pack and then get a call during the hunt...wouldn't THAT suck!? I was also thinking about how darn dangerous what I'm planning on doing is. I can't even imagine breaking a leg and then not be expected to come out for a couple days. I mean really, it would take one to two days for people to notice I wasn't out, then another day for them to make it to the area. I need to remember to carry my whistle, shooting three arrows in the air isn't like three gunshots. But I have done experiments and I know that I can spend the night out in DECEMBER with nothing but my cold weather clothes on and a fire, and I know I can already go two days without eating, so...that at least comforts me a bit. Shoot, if I had actually killed something by the time that happened, all I'd have to worry about is water right? And since it takes a couple days for giardia to set in, I should be set. I know, a terrible backup plan, but what else would I come up with? Crawling with a broken leg for two to nine miles to get to a road that someone might not come down? Or get to the truck and not be able to drive? Ya, I think I'll just sit tight and be fine with it.
Now I had found this place based entirely by looking at topographical maps, so in essence, I was like an out of state hunter. I had hunted and scouted the drainages to the north of where I was heading, so I thought I understood how it would look....I couldn't have been more wrong. I left the house at 6:30 that morning and finally began hiking at 9:00. (A good idea to time that; I deduced that trip would require me going up on Friday prior to the season opener...something I hadn't planned on.) And it was weird, I jimmied the truck around on this narrow jeep track so I could park it, but it wasn't until I got out and shut the door that three BIG mule deer bucks decided the neighborhood was gone and started ambling away. They are fairly free from danger up there because only a handful of people are allowed to shoot at them every year. It gave a great opportunity to view their mass and size though, they drifted through the woods like smoke. I took this as a good sign and made my way along the ridge. Pretty quick I jumped two more smaller mule deer bucks, but definitely takers. I was hopeful at first, but as I got a good look from the ridge at the area I had wanted to scout, I noticed it had all burned in the past. I'm talking section on section of white and black trees...must have been quite a fire. Interspersed in all the dead timber, there were a few patches of trees...and many of those located in the creek bottoms...but some were little ribbons that extended onto some other ridges. That'll be important later.
I came to the first saddle that I thought might be a good ambush site, but found that all burned over, so it leaves little to security cover for any game. And, judging by the number of elk tracks I found in there (none) I decided I was right. Time to look for better places. BUT, then I noticed an opening down the slope and decided to check it out for wallows. It was a very moist meadow and sure enough, there were TWO recently-used wallows in it. I mean, there was still wet mud scattered around the edges of the water and some elk poo that was still green and moist. The standing water in the wallow was still muddy...if left long enough, any muddy water will clear up...so I knew I had an active area. I just wasn't sure, and am still not 100% confident, that it was elk or a moose. I had to take pictures of those, so maybe here in the future I'll get my film developed and post it. Just looks "elky" and fun to dream about. I walked down that meadow a ways and found another active wallow. Hmmm...and that one even had a perfect little stand of subalpine fir within 20 yards of the wallow, I might have a perfect setup there. I paid really close attention to the predominant wind in that basin and found it comes out of the south / southwest, which is good because then that blind will be downwind of the wallow...unless the early downslope winds decide to come up and cause me problems.
I had wanted to hit some areas in a certain order, so I moved back up onto the ridge and was moving toward the top when I finally got into lodgepole that wasn't burned...it was one of those islands that just happens to make it through fires of that magnitude. Anyone ever heard of the term "mosaic?" Anywho, I got into this beautiful lodgepole pine ridge and sure enough, up on a flat spot on the north side of the hill (coolest), I bumped two bull elk that had been bedded there. It was about 1200 by this time, so I can't help but thinking that maybe those two had been partying down in the wallows that are roughly two miles from there earlier in the morning. Again, hmmm.
I continued on and took a finger ridge through some burned timber. But then I saw some green timber down in a small drainage and decided to check it out. I saw numerous beds in some cool, grassy areas down there and some old scrapes. These little trees were still alive, so it could have happened earlier this year (I doubt) but most likely happened in the last two years or so. The trees were decimated, so I figure it'll take about three years before the needles all fall off. But the tops of the trees were green, so hopefully that bull will stick around. I was headed to marsh on the other side of this ridge, so I crossed that and made my way down to it. Luckily, I also cut a road that wasn't on the map. I say luckily because if I get anything near that thing, boy, it's only like two miles to the nearest open road. Better than the five miles I've already gone for sure. Again, I went down into this marshy area and it was full of nice grazing grass like timothy and the like. In the shadows of the remaining green trees were many beds....looks like probably a handful of critters had just bedded, then when they got sun on them, they just moved a little bit so they were still in the shade. That's what I'd have done, so good for them. Speaking of which, I noticed some bachelor herds of deer in the riverbottom doing the same thing. Now I'm thinking, early season when it's hot, go to where YOU will be most comfortable and you'll likely find deer. I would choose shadey spots next to any water. Tip for ya's.
Okay, so now I wanted to go to another marshy area over ANOTHER ridge and so beelined to that. But this little ridge had a stand of young trees on it that escaped the fire (hooray for logging!), so it makes an excellent place that deer or elk can travel from these marshy areas and up into the high country without exposing themselves for too long. Sure enough, many elk and deer tracks up there in the thick stuff. I personally think that if you consider yourself being hunted, you will START to think like an animal. You will take easy routes with a lot of cover and you'll do it SLOWLY. I moved down into this marshy area and crossed on creek that was actually kinda lively...about three feet across and running the cleanest water I'd seen all day. I passed by this and came to another creek that joins in the marsh below this point. There were elk tracks all up and down this narrow strip of green, thick timber surrounded by burned, exposed woods. But of course, I just ambled down in it. When I almost broke out into the meadow I stepped on a large stick that broke, then heard many more sticks breaking across the meadow. Sure enough, I had spooked another bull elk, but this one was quite a bit larger than the other two. The only sight I got of the first two was of a decent smaller bull, and his companion ran like he was much larger. Plus the one I didn't see well remained hidden better, something I think probably comes from experience, so I put him in the very decent range of size. Well this one I couldn't see very well either, but I caught glimpses through the trees and can tell you he was by far the largest of the three. His antlers probably extended to a little past the middle of his back. (A very good thing.) I went down into where he had been bedded down and found MANY beds. But see, this is what I think is going on in these moist, grassy, green areas. I think these animals are using them like I fort. I mean, they don't have to go anywhere for food (it's all there), it's coolest there, and they have the most cover with all the green trees and understory. I think they just follow the shadows of the trees and live a life of luxury...that's what I would do. How many people do you think they see in an area that is between 5 and 9 miles from the nearest road? Why would anyone really be in an area that was nuked by a fire during the summer? Why WOULD the elk move around like elk normally do?
After that I decided I had had enough, I had walked for about 8 or 9 miles in 90+ degree heat and I was BEAT. I had seen what I needed to see, I figured out the lay of the land, and I had pushed three bulls in about 5 hours...time to get out of there and leave it all alone. I hoofed it back up to the ridge and made my way out. That's when my water ran out. After walking in all that water all day, the bottoms of my feet were beginning to wrinkle, turn white, and hurt. Plus I was wearing my hunting boots with which I had made a decision to sacrifice thickness and protection, for thin soles and quiet walking. I really made a hump and made it back to the truck at around 1630...whoops, 4:30 pm. (I think everyone should understand military time, because it makes much more sense, but I understand some may not.) Anywho, that brings me to a point that became drastically clear in my dehydrated state. I am going to buy one of those five gallon water containers and leave it in my truck, just so I know where there is clean water if I ever need it. Also, I'm going to stash some food in there behind the seat. This all makes a lot of sense, from hunting to being stranded by a fallen log or storm...funny I haven't done that already.
So I still have a lot of strategy to sort out in my head. I heard one of those burned trees crash to the ground when that third bull was moving off, so I'm definitely not going to be camping in the burned area like I originally figured I would. I picked a gorgeous spot on the main ridge in that's only about two or three miles from the truck, but is nestled in lodgepole pines with about 14-foot spacing with an understory of dwarf huckleberry and beargrass, and a perfect view to boot. That way, I figure I can get up in the morning, be two or three miles closer to the area I want to hunt, and can perhaps either just listen for bugles to locate elk, but maybe even bugle myself and try and get them to respond. That way I'm at a high point with perfect mobility to get into any position I want. I will be the one with the freedom there. Also, that saves me more miles of humping my heavy pack around. From that point, all these marshes are within two to four miles...which I can do with just the frame and fanny pack. Of course, there is another marsh I want to look at that's on, again, another ridge over. I don't think the fire came up that drainage, but it's got a lot of meadows in it with a lot of creeks coming together. Since I didn't find any cows the other day, they might hang out in there. So I'm thinking these bulls might end up over there. Even still, it'll only be about five miles of hiking from this camp over to that basin. The bummer comes with the trail that leads down that drainage. It's nine miles to the road. On the ridge it'll be seven or eight. Might have to consider hiring some horses or hope the people that have offered to help are really into it. We'll see. Otherwise, I'm planning on a rough couple of days for myself.
Other things I thought of....hanging a meat pole will be tougher than I thought. How am I going to get a pole high enough in the trees to that I can cinch any meat above four feet? I don't think it'll be possible. I'll have to figure something out if, and when, the time ever comes. And I'm thinking I might actually want to measure my rope, so I know how much I'll need. Details! Umm, I also noticed MANY of HUNDREDS of gray jays, "camp robbers." I've heard hanging a tarp above the meat will keep some birds out because they don't like being UNDER things...but I'm not so sure about that. I'll have everything in cheesecloth, but still, that's no match for birds. Also, I must remember to pick up a lot of pepper. I've heard bees and whatnot are a problem in the early season but don't like meat with pepper on it. I will also be buying a camo cover. I had decided that was one thing of camo I didn't need, I mean, how much should you need to camoflauge brown hair? Well, on the entire way in I was walking east into the sun, and on the entire trip out I was walking west into the sun. If I hadn't have put sunscreen on that morning like a good kid (this is VERY much not normal for me) I would've been fried to a crisp. Also, since I do not plan on wearing that smelly stuff while hunting, I need something to keep at least my eyes out of the sun. It gets hard to squint for nine hours or so. Speaking of which, why hasn't someone made unscented "hunter" sunscreen? Hmm, I can think of a GREAT product here. Although, maybe they have it and I haven't paid enough attention to that. Anywho...
Some folks mentioned the great idea of taking a borrowed cell phone with me so if I DO get something back in there, I can just get to the top of the hill and call for assistance. Fantastic. Hopefully it wouldn't turn on in the pack and then get a call during the hunt...wouldn't THAT suck!? I was also thinking about how darn dangerous what I'm planning on doing is. I can't even imagine breaking a leg and then not be expected to come out for a couple days. I mean really, it would take one to two days for people to notice I wasn't out, then another day for them to make it to the area. I need to remember to carry my whistle, shooting three arrows in the air isn't like three gunshots. But I have done experiments and I know that I can spend the night out in DECEMBER with nothing but my cold weather clothes on and a fire, and I know I can already go two days without eating, so...that at least comforts me a bit. Shoot, if I had actually killed something by the time that happened, all I'd have to worry about is water right? And since it takes a couple days for giardia to set in, I should be set. I know, a terrible backup plan, but what else would I come up with? Crawling with a broken leg for two to nine miles to get to a road that someone might not come down? Or get to the truck and not be able to drive? Ya, I think I'll just sit tight and be fine with it.
posted by geotracker12 at 4:57 PM
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