Hunting spot...gone!

matuka · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 9:48 pm Post subject: Hunting spot...gone!

Went for a drive close to my hunting spot that I hadn't seen since last year. My heart dropped when I saw that it had been clear cut 200 acres or so. Wow....crazy.

years of learning this area and every trail, wallows and shortcuts...gone. I feel a little sick.

Magic · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 10:23 pm Post subject:

My heart goes out to you. It has happened to me sooo many times.

One spot in Wyoming, we walked 3 miles back in to hunt. One year, my Son and I had walked in and were waiting for sunrise. Headlights !!! Since last year, BLM and built an access road. My wife killed a B&C Muley back in there, and now it was gone.

Seems like stuff happens each year. That's why we always try to do some "next year's scouting" this year. If you don't own it, you can lose it. Crying or Very sad

ribo451 · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 12:46 am Post subject:

Around here elk are fairly used to logging. When the brush grows up next year or even if it has a chance to green up this year it could turn into a hotspot for feeding. I wouldn't expect to see them in it during daylight but if they are feeding in it hunting around it could provide some good action. Some of the best spots I hunt are timber in close proximity to clearcuts that are between 2-10 years old.

If this is an area anyone else can drive right to and "hunt" from the front seat of a truck though than I would leave it.

ribo451 · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 12:50 am Post subject:

Also this is the time of year I do most of my scouting. I posted in another one of your topics that I don't scout my hotspots till the season is here but I look at a lot of other promising areas now trying to get into elk shape while doing some scouting. I have found two spots that looked great on google earth and topo's and both areas look as good on foot as they did on paper. That isn't always the case but if your favorite spot isn't going to work this year than that's a good excuse to put some miles on your shoes and do some new territory scouting.

matuka · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 1:24 am Post subject:

Well I know from talking to friends that work in the forest industry that the elk in my area didn't take off until clear cuts came. I realize elk need them and perhaps I will yield an elk or two in the future there. I was forced to change my game plan last year a week before the season and played catch up all season long. I'm just gonna have to scout with caution. I don't want to be hunting and scouting at the same time like last year. One thing I have going for me is I do live in elk country and I did get into elk last year...mostly using nothing but what elknut suggested. I'll find another spot. Since I was in new spots last year I saw most guys just driving roads..open doors and bugle and drive off.....I prefer to walk way behind locked gates. This year I might have a hunting partner to keep me motivated to push onward.

Maybe I'm being forced to learn to glass and put all the pieces to hunting elk together. I probably know more than I give myself credit. I have noticed in the woods I do have pretty good instincts for elk.