With season right around the corner, many hunters are wondering if they should take an elk scouting trip. Here’s my take on whether you should and how to have a productive trip if you do go.
First off, if you’re looking for eScouting tips, here’s my guide to eScouting and how to pick the best elk spots. This article is about “boots on the ground” scouting trips to physically explore where you’re going to hunt.
Let me get this out of the way: I don’t think elk scouting trips are a good idea for the majority of elk hunters. In this article I’ll tell you why, talk about exceptions to that rule, and walk you through what to look for if you do go.
Why I don’t think elk scouting trips trips are worth it
Before I dive in, let me say this advice is for the OTC, DIY bowhunter or rifle elk hunter. I’ll cover the exceptions at the bottom, so read on if you don’t fall in that group.
This might come off as negative, but bear with me and I’ll explain why that isn’t always the case later:
The elk aren’t where they’ll be during the season
Elk generally migrate back up to the high country as the snow begins to melt in the spring and summer. Unfortunately for those that are scouting, they won’t be in the same locations in June, July, or even August that they’ll be during the September (or later) hunting season. They’re generally at lower elevations and won’t move into their highest haunts until right before the season opens (especially if it was a big snow year).
For example, where I hunt you won’t see any elk until two weeks before season! Locations can differ but unless you know the area well it’s best to be mentally prepared for not seeing elk.
The bulls and cows aren’t together
Elk also tend to travel in separate bachelor groups (males) and female/calf groups until the rut begins in early September. Those groups are often in wildly different locations from each other which makes things even harder. We’ll talk about why to look for cows later on, but make sure not to make the error of marking bulls and returning during the season.
The bulls are still in velvet
I’m not really a trophy hunter, but if you’re trying to figure out how big the bulls are it can be difficult to do unless it’s right before season. That’s because elk are generally still growing their horns (“in velvet”) until the third week of August. Even if you do nail down a big bull, he might migrate many miles away before the season starts.
Velvet is also very sensitive (it’s live blood vessels and nerves on the outside of the horn), so that means elk stay far away from anything that will touch it. You’ll find them different locations that are more open compared to where you’ll find them in season.
Elk scouting is expensive and can limit your time hunting
This is the biggest reason why I don’t think scouting is worth it for most OTC/DIY hunters, especially nonresidents. Most of us only have so many vacation days, so a scouting trip can mean less time to hunt. That hunting time is actually the most valuable “scouting time” you have since the elk are actually where they should be.
eScouting is far more efficient
Remember how I said you need to have multiple elk spots ready since elk move all the time? It’s impossible to do that in one weekend if you’re walking. You’ll also miss many of the features on the ground that you can easily see from the air. Finally, the ability to see pictures over multiple years while eScouting is a huge benefit you can’t match (unless you’ve figured out time travel).
So who should go elk scouting? (aka what are the exceptions)
All those reasons above might sound pretty negative, but I’m actually a big proponent of taking a scouting trip if you’re in one of the following situations:
- You have a limited entry (draw) tag
- You only get one chance at these types of tags, so every little advantage you can get is worth it in my opinion.
- You’re an absolute rookie
- Figuring out your first experience in the backcountry while figuring out elk hunting is a lot at once. A trip into the high country can give you confidence and put your mind at ease (as long as you weren’t expecting to find elk).
- You live close by
- I’m jealous. If your elk spot is a weekend trip away, that whole time and money thing doesn’t really matter.
- You’ve got plenty of time/money (or you’re just obsessed)
- I wish I had the former and totally understand the latter. Scouting can’t hurt if you know how to do it right.
- It’s your practice trip
- Practice trips are key to test gear or test hunting buddies (if you’re going with one). If you’re already paying for a trip, might as well get some scouting out of it.
If you know what to look for (and what not to), scouting provides some valuable information and it’s certainly better than not going at all. Here’s how to make a scouting trip pay off if you do go:
What to look for if you do go on a scouting trip
Alright, so you fall into the categories above or have a bad case of elk fever. Here’s what to do to make sure your trip is productive:
Look for elk sign, not elk
Bulls leave a pretty serious amount of semi-permanent sign during the rutting season each year. Look for rubs, wallows, or well defined game trails since they’ll last for several years. Those are strong indicators that elk are in the area when season rolls around.
Take a note of where the cows are
Cows (and calves) tend to move into the safe haunts they’ll occupy during September long before the bulls do. While that doesn’t mean they’ll be there in June, your odds go up the closer you get to season. The bulls will seek them out once the rut starts (not vice versa), so that’s where you want to be.
Look for good glassing points and camp sites
It can be really hard to find these while eScouting and they’re worth their weight in gold. Fortunately, winds are generally the same in the summer as they will be in September. That means you can select really good spots by observing the patterns and envisioning how you’ll need to move to intercept elk.
Verify your eScouting
This is a big one. eScouting makes a you a far more efficient hunter, but it also saves you time while “ground scouting” as well. Hit all the waypoints you found for hunting season to save yourself time. Some things just look different on the ground, so you’ll know pretty quick if it’s worth returning to.
Summary: Elk Scouting
I don’t think scouting trips are worth it for most over-the-counter, DIY elk hunters since trips are expensive (time + money), eScouting is more efficient, and elk aren’t where they’ll be anyway. If it comes down to choosing between a day scouting or a day hunting, I’d take the day hunting every time.
That said, there are exceptions to that rule: you have a limited entry tag, you’re new to the game, or you have enough time or money to go. Scouting trips are definitely better than not going if you have the right expectations. If you do go, make sure to look for old sign, find the cows, locate glassing points or camp sites, and verify your eScouting efforts.
As always, it boils down to your individual situation… I’m always an advocate for getting out there if you’re on the fence. Like this article or have questions? Drop me a line below and be sure to check out the entire Hunt Elk in 2020 Series.