What to look for when E-scouting?

[GOSHENGRUNTER]

Got a unit picked and private land locked down for antelope and mule deer for 2014. the unit is 100% draw.

I downloaded garmin basecamp and the Wyoming map. I traced the outlines and uploaded it to google maps. Now im surfing and trying to figure out what geographical features to look for for mulies and antelope.

bowls? water? topo?

What doy u guys think? ill post some pics when I figure out how to do screenshots

 

[ssliger]

Look for water, ask the landowner where he sees the animals. It helps to know what vegetation is on the property, call the local biologist and ask what the deer in the area prefer to eat. Where is the best cover? These are some ideas.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Look for roadless chunks of land.

Look for small hidden draws. I can't believe how many times I've gotten into deer in a tiny draw just a rise or two off of a road that ATVs are buzzing down. Find knobs to glass off of that take a bit of effort to get to and that look into hidden areas. I'm not necessarily talking about a 5 mile hike. Often getting into hidden pockets even 1/4 to 1/2 mile off a road is productive.

 

[GOSHENGRUNTER]

Here are three images of the area. in one I marked a bowl that sits half mile from a dirt road. it would be totally un-visable until you were right on top of it. is that what you are talking about? the elevation change is 80 feet

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

That's the kind of stuff. It's kind of hard for me to work in 2D. It does not take much many time. The animals adapt to where they aren't disturbed.

 

[Musket Man]

As others have said look for areas with no roads and walk into them farther then most other hunters are willing to walk. Most hunters arent willing to walk all that far. I harvested an antelope in Wy last year on a ranch that I spotted nearly a mile away from the road. The other 1/2 dozen hunters there hadnt seen him and werent willing to get out and walk. Generally the landowner will give you a good idea of where to start looking and they want you to have a good hunt and come back another year. I would find all the high places I could and just glass alot the first day or 2 and you will figure out what areas to hunt.

 

[packer58]

Look for roadless chunks of land.

Look for small hidden draws. I can't believe how many times I've gotten into deer in a tiny draw just a rise or two off of a road that ATVs are buzzing down. Find knobs to glass off of that take a bit of effort to get to and that look into hidden areas. I'm not necessarily talking about a 5 mile hike. Often getting into hidden pockets even 1/4 to 1/2 mile off a road is productive.

UH hit it right on the head.

 

[Musket Man]

GG, I remember you talking about a HMA before. Is this a HMA or private land thats not in a HMA your asking about?

 

[GOSHENGRUNTER]

GG, I remember you talking about a HMA before. Is this a HMA or private land thats not in a HMA your asking about?

This is mostly Private in the pics. It is surrounded by blm and state. About 8-10 sq miles of private but its broken up and scattered. A lot of the access to state land runs through it though. we found a farmer who charged $200 per person for the trip for deer and antelope. says he has a lot of antelope and plenty of deer but not to expect a big deer. from other people in the area we have talked to 13" goat and a 3-4pt deer sounds like our goal.

 

[Musket Man]

Sounds like a good deal and should be a fun hunt! I doubt you will have much trouble finding antelope and those sound like realistic goals.

 

[Jrod]

The second picture has so many places for a deer to hide it would take a day to glass them all from the cliff on the right/east side. The base of the cliff is a good spot to see bucks bedded also. Every little fold of that country could hold a buck, all they need is a little shadow and maybe an wind brake. They love to bed where they can see danger coming from the front and smell danger coming from behind, and a good exit in the event of danger. It can even be just a patch of grass that is taller/thicker than the surrounding grass. I would say water is important but big bucks don't mind walking a mile or more to drink.
Are You going to be the only ones on the ranch? If you are not going to have the ranch to yourself I would get my antelope first then concentrate on getting my deer. What do all the dots and lines mean? Im not familiar with the program. Cheers

 

[GOSHENGRUNTER]

The dots just represent the boundaries. the pic with the dotted line is where the private hits public. We wont be alone on the ranch but we plan on getting there a day early to scout and having 6 full days of hunting at least. We will get on the goats first and just see what happens with the deer. I doubt many people will also be packing a deer tag

 

[Musket Man]

Good advise Jrod! The importance of water will depend on how abundant water is in the area. If there are very few water sources sitting on a water hole could be a good tactic. If there is alot of water it may not work as well. I would concentrate on the deer first but if I found a nice antelope I sure wouldnt pass him up! But thats just me and each area is different but typically IMO it is easier to harvest an antelope then a deer.

 

[Jrod]

If it isn't a very large ranch and there will be competition, you have to get those antelope down in a hurry. If you don't, you may not get a chance at the best antelope on the ranch the rest of the time you are there. That being said antelope travel, so you may have animals coming and going on the property with the pressure from the public outside the fence. I think it will be easier to find the good antelope on the ranch than the good mule deer.
Listen to the ranch foreman, he spends everyday on the property, he knows exactly what the deer/antelope do day in and day out.
Another thing to remember, if you are driving around the ranch glassing, do not get out of the truck! Those animals see trucks all the time and aren't necessarily frightened by them. As soon as you get out of the truck though the animals associate the human form with danger, even from way off.

 

[GOSHENGRUNTER]

Its roughly 10-12 sq miles split into 5 pieces amongst blm. we wont be alone on the property though