would it do me any good if i scouted a year in advance.  i can only afford a trip up there once a year. me and the wife are going to go backpacking next summer andi was going to do some scouting for 2012.  is a year to long of a lasp.

No, not  too long. But stay up on the winter conditions for the area you plan to hunt next yr. and any changes in regulations governing tags for that unit. If the area gets hammered by a freak storm(s) it may be wise to have a back-up plan if the herd was heavily affected. Or not. If you pick a good area it will be fun regardless of the hunts outcome.

Joshua

Dustin, Have you already decided on a unit to hunt? Or is that still up in the air? Remember that the summer range isn't always the same as where they'll be in hunting season or are you taking your backpacking trip at about the same time you'll be hunting? The Colorado web site has good info on elk ranges at different times of the year.  Ben

I'm with jhg

i have not picked a unit or nut i will be one of the OTC tags and units.  i still have lots to do.  my backpacking trip would be more in the summer around august.

Aug backpacking would be a good indicator of where they'll be. In the area I hunt, you can usually find the cows in the spot they'll be during the season starting mid july. The bulls will usually be in slightly different spots until the 2nd or 3rd week of the season.

You know if you're coming up in Aug. why not come up around labor day and buy a cow tag for your 'hike'. . . .

txnrog i tought about that but my wife is coming with me and i dont think she is ready for a hunting trip. whats the weather look like up there around that time?

Depends on the elevation, but in most of the high country, hot when you're hiking, and you'll need a polar tech when stopped. Will need a little more for the afternoon showers - seems like every afternoon around 4 there are some short (but strong) showers. You CAN get snow if you're high enough up, but rare until after laborday.

thatnks txnrog,  i hae soo mnuch to learn beofre i go.

A trip to the mountains with your wife is just about as good as it gets - you'll have a great time!  And if it happens to be in a spot that you will eventually hunt you will learn a lot that will eventually help you on the hunt.

In places that I've been Aug & Sept areas used by elk are very similar. Just learnig the country and how to get around in it will be valuable.

Have fun!

BTW - just a word of advice - there are alot of hikers in the mountains up till labor day - the elk are usually used to them, but the activity generally makes their mornings short. If you want to see elk, would suggest getting to a good vantage point above timberline starting around 4pm and get a spotting scope out. Evenings are generally quiet on the trails as most folks have setup camp or otherwise gotten where they are going. Glass top to bottom in any openings you find, and you should locate a few.