8 Tips for E-Scouting Elk and Mule Deer Before You Hunt Out West

The better you prepare for a hunt, the more you will increase your chances of being successful. GPS technology, and apps like HuntWise, are changing the way hunters prepare for hunts in unknown territories. When you are about to embark on a backcountry big game hunt, e-scouting, or digital-scouting, enables you to view the land you are about to hunt by using GPS and mapping layers. Before you venture into the wilderness, make sure you cover these 8 e-scouting essentials.

1. Identify the area your tag is valid for and get to know property boundaries

The first step to E-scouting is figuring out where you can hunt, and the surrounding land. By downloading a GPS app like HuntWise, you can view boundaries for Draw Units, and OTC/General areas. Use mapping layers to see government lands, county boundaries, and landowner boundaries with owner contact information. When preparing for your hunt, look at areas that border private lands or restricted units than may have less pressure. Sometimes the best hunting is on the boundary lines.

2. Identify roads and trailheads

It's pretty obvious why you should know which roads will lead you where you want to hunt, but what about the trails, paths, and access points? Look for land areas that can give you access to remote areas. Get away from road systems and major trailheads, while also keeping in mind that you need to be physically able to not only get back, but potentially (and hopefully) pack out 250-350 pounds of meat, cape, and antlers. There is a fine line between getting away from the bulk of other hunters and putting yourself in a bad situation. Being physically prepared and knowing your limits is very important. Using HuntWise, you can identify passenger vehicle roads, ATV roads, dirt bike approved trails, biking trails, pack and saddle trails, and hiking trails.

3. Identify areas that provide shelter to big game

Usually, dark timber on north-facing slopes provide elk with security. North slopes that have "benches" in the topography offer natural corridors for elk to move in and out of easily.

4. Find food and water, not only for big game, but for you

Knowing where water is available is not only important to your hunt, but crucial for your safety. You should always have a plan for refilling drinking water. In late August and early September, water is vital to elk, especially in places that can be historically very dry like Colorado. Look for drainages and depressions that will be potential spots for elk to wallow in.

5. Go into your hunt with a good idea of where females will be

This is a little harder to determine from your desktop and phone, but you can usually bet there are cows and calves where there is cover, food, and water. Viewing the map in 3D mode from your iPhone will allow you to get a more topographically-detailed lay of the land. Being able to know where good elevated look out spots are for these area will give you the upper hand on your stalk.

6. Plan your hunt around burned areas

Look at areas that have been clear cut or have burned in years past. Even though it will push wildlife out during the time it happens, the years that follow usually provide a lot of green undergrowth (food). While the feed is the initial reason animals travel to a burn after a few years, the new growth will also provide good bedding and cover.

7. Check with people that have been there

Learning from other hunters is a great scouting tool. Thousands of hunters share their experiences on HuntWise using photo logs and will post helpful info on online hunting forums like 24hourcampfire, Archery Talk, and Rokslide, amongst others. If you have specific questions about the herd, it doesn't hurt to give a local biologist a call. These are useful resources for everyone from novices to expert hunters; there’s always more to learn.

8. SAVE your map before you go off the grid

The last step is to “offline your maps”, or save them, with all of the layers and features, to your phone so that you can use them wherever your hunt takes you. Even with no cell phone service, you can mark glassing points or where a bull went down, and then easily navigate your way back to camp.

Every hunt will be different. Every state and species will vary, but these eight tactics will help prepare you for your next big game hunt. Whether you are an experienced backcountry hunter, or this is your very first big game hunt, HuntWise is here to help prepare you for the hunt of a lifetime.