May 18th: Scouting for Montana's Elk Season

This is the time of year that I find my self pouring over maps and spending too much time with Google Earth. And now that I'm done with school for the semester I have managed to find some time to put into preparing for hunting season. I started the weekend shed hunting, attended a 3d shoot on Sunday, and Monday I selected as a day to get out and stretch the legs.

Right out of the car I encountered a hillside overflowing with Heartleaf Arnica.

I have a post about bowhunting for elk in this area that you can read here. I covered about seven miles with about five of them being off trail. Monday was our first real day of warm temps here in Montana. The morning started off rather muggy and temps climbed quickly. Finn and I were not used to the heat, and spent the morning sweating as we gained elevation. Aside from the warm temps the bush-whacking had us covered in ticks. I spent many moments through out the day pulling them off of us.

Here are a couple shots of Highwood peak. On the way to the summit of Mcleod Mountain, I found this hillside covered with Glacier Lilies.

The brown foliage in the bottom of this picture is last years Yarrow bloom. I can only imagine what it looks like in full bloom.

Here are some nice shooting stars. This ridge line is a good example of why I found elk here last year. These south facing slopes can be feed on at night and then it is and easy escape (for an elk) to the safety of steep north facing slopes.

And finally I had to put this in here. Driving around this morning doing some more scouting ( I was foiled by a road that the Subaru couldn't handle) I found these toms with a few hens, two days after the season and of course in a district where turkey hunting is not allowed.

More Turkey Scouting

Sunday afternoon found me out on the hunt for many things. Being spring I was hoping to find some sheds, turkeys, glass up some elk, and maybe some of springs first flowers.

I had returned to a ridge to which I had seen some turkeys last year, and had some luck glassing up some elk here last spring as well. I was pretty much skunked on all accounts of my scouting. No, elk, sheds, or turkeys.

Finn and the first buttercups of spring.

Turkey Scouting the Woods of Western Montana

First off, I have to say that I have never turkey hunted before and I have never scouted for them before, so I wasn't too sure what to look for. But a few weeks ago I spotted a flock of turkeys on private land, but near some public land that I frequent, so I figured this would be a good starting point for turkey scouting. I was able to head back to this area on Thursday, and do some scouting. I somehow managed to stumble upon what I believe is a roost, right on the border of public and private land.














A few years of fly tying has led me to believe that the feather pictured belongs to a turkey along with these droppings.

The area that I scouted is in a permit only area so if I draw tag here I definitely plan on hunting this area, but I need to scout some over the counter tag areas, just in case my tag drawing doesn't pan out. Just three weeks to till the opener of turkey season!

August 2nd More Scouting

Early August found me on the lookout for more elk country. It looks like I found it. However the steep and rugged nature of this country may keep me out of here and the elk safe for now. The top of this mountain appears to have plenty of good country that I don't think elk would hold in for very long. Subsequently you could end up loosing and gaining lots of elevation over the course of day. This can make things difficult in a hurry.

My trusty field scout Finn.

Finn is thinking the same thing I'm thinking, great looking country but it looks like a long ways down there.

Yes I was really there.

A great summer day in Montana!

Summer Scouting

The 12&13th of July found me out doing some summer scouting for and area that I plan to hunt for elk in the fall. It was a beautiful weekend. The bugs were still a bit pesky but the Mountains had plenty of green grass and many abundant wildflowers. One of the coolest flowers I saw was a yellow monkey flower which for some reason I neglected to take photos of. Hopefully this scout trip will help me out in the Fall and at least keep me from gettting to turned around during the heat of the battle. Because Sunday was the 13th that proved to be my unlucky day. I ran into some car trouble and had to get my car towed and repaired in Philipsburg a small town about twenty miles from the scouting area. I finally was able to retreive my vehicle this weekend.

Finn my trusty field scout.

This drainage has and old mining claim in it. Aside from this old blaze there was much evidence of the previous activity that once happened here.





































Finn in front of an old cabin.

This looks like a pretty lonesome place to live.














































I am taking this old Schmidt beer can as a good omen! You can't see it too well, but there is big old elk on the this can.

Sticky Geranium.

























A nic patch of Bluebells.

It turned out to be a gorgeous night.



















And a beautiful Morning.



















Finn heading into a field of Buckwheat, Lupine and Sage.