GunsAreFun
WKR
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2019
- Messages
- 1,646
I am familiar with using topography to scout whitetail in Missouri. That said, the difference in scale out west leaves me scratching my head on what to make of some features.
All the elk e-scouting material talks about benches, north facing slopes with dark timber with a saddle leading to south facing slopes on the other side, bowls, etc. etc. The examples shown are always really steep areas where the mountain/ridge rises 500-1000+ feet above the surrounding area (see yellow circle for a fairly mild example). This has left leaves me subconsciously only looking for this really steep terrain; then I zoom out and realize that most of just about any given unit it is not this extreme steep area. It is still very "hilly" by Missouri standards but much more gradual relative to the mountains/ridges. Are you all looking at these "flatter" areas for September Archery season? If so, what are you looking for in terms of terrain or ground cover? If it is a meadow nearby a north facing ridge, that could be a feeding area, but what if it is just a large stand of dark timber, Aspens, oak brush, etc. or what if it is not adjacent to any obvious bedding areas?
(FYI, the picture below is somewhat of a random example...was just looking for something that decently described my question)
All the elk e-scouting material talks about benches, north facing slopes with dark timber with a saddle leading to south facing slopes on the other side, bowls, etc. etc. The examples shown are always really steep areas where the mountain/ridge rises 500-1000+ feet above the surrounding area (see yellow circle for a fairly mild example). This has left leaves me subconsciously only looking for this really steep terrain; then I zoom out and realize that most of just about any given unit it is not this extreme steep area. It is still very "hilly" by Missouri standards but much more gradual relative to the mountains/ridges. Are you all looking at these "flatter" areas for September Archery season? If so, what are you looking for in terms of terrain or ground cover? If it is a meadow nearby a north facing ridge, that could be a feeding area, but what if it is just a large stand of dark timber, Aspens, oak brush, etc. or what if it is not adjacent to any obvious bedding areas?
(FYI, the picture below is somewhat of a random example...was just looking for something that decently described my question)
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