Raise Your Glass - 2
Glassing Tips
Go Early, Stay Late. Anyone who has hunted with me knows I'm extremely particular about getting up extra early and being prepared. I like to be on my glassing point at least 30 minutes before the sun comes up for several reasons: 1) I like to watch for headlights or headlamps of other hunters to see where I might have competition; 2) It gives me time to cool down from the hike and focus on the task at hand; and 3) I really enjoy watching the sunrises from our Creator. Also, we all know that the most game activity is the first few minutes of daylight in the morning and the last few minutes before dark, so make every effort to stay on your lookout at those peak times.
Fog! Keep in mind that it's important to keep your optics from dramatic heat/cold changes when you're about to glass. The last thing you want is to have them fog up when you just saw a movement in the trees. Also, if I am sweating a lot when I get to my glassing point, the first thing I do is take my hat off and try to cool my head down so that when my eyes come close to the binoculars, they don't immediately fog up. If I know it is going to be an extra strenuous hike, then I take an extra base layer so that I can immediately change out of my wet shirt before getting settled in to glass for the morning. The KUIU merino shirts have become my favorite shirts to wear while elk hunting. Their wicking capabilities are fantastic.
Elk Spotted! Now What?
Once I find elk, I try to watch very closely to determine their patterns. Don't just rush in without surveying your options. Paying attention to every detail of their behavior is very important. Especially watch for the exact spot where they come out of the trees to feed and exactly where they retreat into the trees on their way to their beds. Sometimes I'll watch the same group of elk for several days to try and pattern their every move before I commit to closing in. Also, pay attention to specifics and tendencies. What are they eating? What do they like to bed down in? Which direction do they move once they start to leave their bedding areas?
Glassing more and chasing bugles less has resulted in more elk being spotted and bigger bulls being harvested during my elk hunts. Finding the right point to glass from is of utmost importance in that process. Make sure to use technology to your advantage and then burn up the boot leather climbing up and down those steep glassing points. Once you find the elk, focus in on the exact movements and behavioral patterns. Go early and stay late! It's a recipe for success.
To follow Jay's latest adventures, go to www.JayScottOutdoors.com.
Sidebar:
What makes a good glassing point?
• High and Steep. Look for the highest and steepest point (i.e. more relief and better field of view) in the area.
• Free and Clear. Look for a point that has rocks, a cliff edge or an open space for the widest field of view. Big long ridges that are steep off both sides can be great glassing spots as well.
• Versatile View. Knobs and high points where you can move just a little ways and completely change your view are highly desirable, allowing you to cover double the ground. It's important to remain mobile and constantly moving around on the high point changing the view every 15-30 minutes.
• Quality Over Quantity. My preference is to glass great quality country with a smaller view rather than a huge view with marginal habitat. However, I oftentimes glass from of both types of knobs.
• Water! This is obviously more critical in drier habitats, but when hunting in the rut, I look for points that overlook big basins with multiple water sources, bedding areas, and feeding areas. In the rut, the bulls can typically be found in the open areas a little bit longer than during late-season hunts.
• Use Tools and Technology. Research a new area with topo maps and then cross-reference them on Google Earth. On the topo map, look for contour lines that are very close together, signifying the steepest part of the point. Then check that point out on Google Earth to see if there is thick brush and trees that could hamper the view. Look for open areas to glass from. Usually, rock piles and cliff edges are visible on Google Earth and make for the best vantage point. Certainly points above timberline are a no-brainer.
• Hogbacks. Hogback ridgelines are great for glassing, because it's easier to walk and glass off of both sides. When picking a ridge, try to find one that is steep on both sides. Remember to keep moving and cover lots of country.
• Knife Ridges Separating Multiple Basins. This can be a gold mine in the right scenario. Look for a good, walkable ridgeline in high country where several basins merge. You may be able to cover half a dozen basins or more with just a few hundred yards of walking to get to strategic spots in close proximity to one another.
Go Early, Stay Late. Anyone who has hunted with me knows I'm extremely particular about getting up extra early and being prepared. I like to be on my glassing point at least 30 minutes before the sun comes up for several reasons: 1) I like to watch for headlights or headlamps of other hunters to see where I might have competition; 2) It gives me time to cool down from the hike and focus on the task at hand; and 3) I really enjoy watching the sunrises from our Creator. Also, we all know that the most game activity is the first few minutes of daylight in the morning and the last few minutes before dark, so make every effort to stay on your lookout at those peak times.
Fog! Keep in mind that it's important to keep your optics from dramatic heat/cold changes when you're about to glass. The last thing you want is to have them fog up when you just saw a movement in the trees. Also, if I am sweating a lot when I get to my glassing point, the first thing I do is take my hat off and try to cool my head down so that when my eyes come close to the binoculars, they don't immediately fog up. If I know it is going to be an extra strenuous hike, then I take an extra base layer so that I can immediately change out of my wet shirt before getting settled in to glass for the morning. The KUIU merino shirts have become my favorite shirts to wear while elk hunting. Their wicking capabilities are fantastic.
Elk Spotted! Now What?
Once I find elk, I try to watch very closely to determine their patterns. Don't just rush in without surveying your options. Paying attention to every detail of their behavior is very important. Especially watch for the exact spot where they come out of the trees to feed and exactly where they retreat into the trees on their way to their beds. Sometimes I'll watch the same group of elk for several days to try and pattern their every move before I commit to closing in. Also, pay attention to specifics and tendencies. What are they eating? What do they like to bed down in? Which direction do they move once they start to leave their bedding areas?
Glassing more and chasing bugles less has resulted in more elk being spotted and bigger bulls being harvested during my elk hunts. Finding the right point to glass from is of utmost importance in that process. Make sure to use technology to your advantage and then burn up the boot leather climbing up and down those steep glassing points. Once you find the elk, focus in on the exact movements and behavioral patterns. Go early and stay late! It's a recipe for success.
To follow Jay's latest adventures, go to www.JayScottOutdoors.com.
Sidebar:
What makes a good glassing point?
• High and Steep. Look for the highest and steepest point (i.e. more relief and better field of view) in the area.
• Free and Clear. Look for a point that has rocks, a cliff edge or an open space for the widest field of view. Big long ridges that are steep off both sides can be great glassing spots as well.
• Versatile View. Knobs and high points where you can move just a little ways and completely change your view are highly desirable, allowing you to cover double the ground. It's important to remain mobile and constantly moving around on the high point changing the view every 15-30 minutes.
• Quality Over Quantity. My preference is to glass great quality country with a smaller view rather than a huge view with marginal habitat. However, I oftentimes glass from of both types of knobs.
• Water! This is obviously more critical in drier habitats, but when hunting in the rut, I look for points that overlook big basins with multiple water sources, bedding areas, and feeding areas. In the rut, the bulls can typically be found in the open areas a little bit longer than during late-season hunts.
• Use Tools and Technology. Research a new area with topo maps and then cross-reference them on Google Earth. On the topo map, look for contour lines that are very close together, signifying the steepest part of the point. Then check that point out on Google Earth to see if there is thick brush and trees that could hamper the view. Look for open areas to glass from. Usually, rock piles and cliff edges are visible on Google Earth and make for the best vantage point. Certainly points above timberline are a no-brainer.
• Hogbacks. Hogback ridgelines are great for glassing, because it's easier to walk and glass off of both sides. When picking a ridge, try to find one that is steep on both sides. Remember to keep moving and cover lots of country.
• Knife Ridges Separating Multiple Basins. This can be a gold mine in the right scenario. Look for a good, walkable ridgeline in high country where several basins merge. You may be able to cover half a dozen basins or more with just a few hundred yards of walking to get to strategic spots in close proximity to one another.
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