Trail Cameras

Having a trail camera is an essential part of scouting for big game. Having many trail cameras is really the key. Locating and pattering the animals is one of the main tasks you will face when scouting for big game. You first need to find a heavily traveled path. It's important though that the path isn't traveled as often by humans as it is by animals. Look for greens that have been eaten down and tracked upon. Find a clean water source. Wallows are very important for elk hunting. Once the rut rolls around the bulls have to wallow everyday. Their body temperature gets so high that they really have no choice. It's one of the quickest ways for them to cool down. Here are some photos from some of my trail cameras.

Big Game Distance Scouting/Glassing

Is anyone out there a fan of the Manti La Sal National Forest? This is one of my favorite spots in the Utah mountains. There are large numbers of elk and monster sized mule deer that roam these green hills. Here's a quick shot I snapped in the spring of 2011.

This is the kind of area you look for when searching for big game. There is a lot of great cover for animals, fresh water supply, and great sources of food. Another great thing about this spot is the large meadows. One of the best ways to find out what animals are in an area is to glass meadows like this from a distance.

There are a lot of great optics out there that can really close the distance and help you determine what types of trophies are hanging around the area. I plan on reviewing some of them on here soon.