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.
One of the biggest factors that comes into play while hunting and scouting big game animals is scent control. Now I'm not just talking about spraying yourself with a sent cover up. There is a whole lot more that goes into this than that. In my opinion the biggest part of this is paying close attention to wind direction. Out back east this might be an easier task, but in the Rocky Mountains this requires consistent diligence. One second the wind is perfectly in your face and calling in a large six point bull. The next, the wind is blowing the smell of your sweaty face and all you see is his monstrous antlers disappearing into the distance.
Now there are products out there that most definitely make your job easier. There are plenty of people that will tell you that scent cover ups don't work, in my opinion that's just hogwash. They most definitely work, but you can't rely on scent cover ups alone. I even have my own recipe for a pretty good home made scent cover that I plan on posting up later.
As far as manufactures there are countless. But which ones actually do the job? Well from my experience there are a couple of big dawgs leading the pack. The one at the top of my list is Primos Silver XP. There have been multiple times I experience a horrible shift of wind with a trophy elk within bow range and was able to maintain the proximity. The silver in their mix really seems to help with total scent and bacteria control.
There are other simple options such as sage or pine oil which do a half decent job as well. As I mentioned before I have a home made recipe that works wonders. When I get some more time I plan on posting the instructions on making this DIY option in your own kitchen or garage.
This page is dedicated to helping others learn the way of the outdoors. Whether it be survival skills, hunting, trapping, fishing, or trapping we will cover it. I have literally spent thousands upon thousands of hours of my time growing up in the Utah mountains. During that time I have made many mistakes, and learned countless things. I would like to share some of that information with you. I also want to spend time reviewing products that I have personally used in the field, products which make your hunt that much easier and sometimes that much worse (those are the ones to avoid!).
The other reason I am creating this page is to give people a location to go to when they need to know about specific areas. I have covered so much land in my life and so many areas spanning across Utah's big game areas. If you have drawn a specific tag for some of Utah's big game please feel free to contact me regarding your tag. I will give you as much free information as possible. In case you aren't already aware people hoard their knowledge regarding their "honey holes" and secret mountain places to find big game. I have built up a large knowledge of lesser known areas that I am willing to share with people wanting to learn. If you have any questions regarding any aspect of hunting or scouting please contact me: scoutmyutah@gmail.com
Now if the free information I have available just isn't enough for you, there are more options. I am willing to put in the time to scout for your specific tag and animal in Utah's wilderness. For instance if you are an out of state DIY hunter who just doesn't have the time or money to do the pre-scouting needed, I will scout your tag for you. This will include maps of the area, photos of trophy big game in your area, gps locations of where they are hiding, and recommendations for your specific hunt. The pricing on this really depends on the amount of time you are wanting me to spend in your area. Either way it is only a fraction of the costs generally associated with big game hunting. Nothing that comes close to the tens of thousands of dollars you would spend on a guided hunt. Plus you have the pride associated with a DIY hunt and knowing it was you that put the animal down on public land!
Here is a video of a bull I called in fall of 2012:
Please contact me with any thoughts, recommendations, and questions you have regarding Scout My Utah!
