Using free mapping resources – Part 3
In this third installment, we will look at using topographical maps and satellite photos to identify key terrain such as Saddles, Benches, and possible bedding area's. This tutorial builds on the previous two tutorials (One and two).
First off let's define a saddle. A saddle is the lowest point on a ridge separating two drainage's. Saddle's are important because elk will use them to conserve energy as they move between their bedding and feeding area's.
In this first example, the saddle is in between some high terrain between #1 and #2. If you look at the contour lines you will see they drop in elevation until the reach the saddle.
The second image shows the same area, only from an aerial view.
Why are saddles so important?
Well elk are lazy, expending the least amount of energy to get from one place to another. So if we can find a saddle located between a feeding area and a bedding area, we may be able to ambush them as they move back and forth.
Ok, so we found a saddle. What about a possible bedding area? Well most people say elk want to bed on the north side of a slope, in dark timber. Think of dark timber as that nasty stuff you just can't walk through, either because it steep or because of a high concentration of blow downs. A bedding area doesn't have to be large, I've seen them as small as a 100 yards square. Mainly they are places where the elk can hide out during the day and still be able to see or hear a predator approaching.
So lets look for one of these area's using the topomap, that is within a mile or so of the saddle. I'll use the photos to look for area's with very dense wooded area's.
If we look to the north a bit, you will see some densely packed trees maybe 1/2 mile to the NW of the saddle. This could be a good area for them to bed down during the day.
But what about food? We need to find some possible area's where they would feed and possibly get water. Here I'm actually going to look on the south side of the ridge. Why? Because I've seen elk feeding over there.
If we move a bit to the SW, we find an open area, up around 10,500 feet that is open, with lot's of feed. Great for grazing cows.
You will notice I have a way point indicating a pond up on the hill. You don't see this on the topo map, but it becomes pretty evident when you look at the photo of the area.
This is actually a pretty good early season location for archery elk. But you will have to walk a bit. It is about 2 miles from the nearest trail head, and maybe 1200 above slough grass lake. It might be a good place to setup a spike camp.
Are there elk up there? Ok yea. But you will have to work for it.
Now on to benches. No not the ones baseball players sit on, but areas about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way up a mountain where elk like to bed down. These are not that easy to see using topo maps, but you may be able to detect one using the photo.
Back to my ex-favorite spot. 
We are looking for a small flat area, right above a steep slope. Steep slopes have closely spaced contour lines. A possible bench may be located where it abruptly flattens out for 50 yards or so right above this steep include.
Here is an example. As you can see there is a small flatter area right above the steep terrain. Most benches are much smaller than this. The only real way to find them is to get out and walk.
Learn how to use a GPS, mark the spot, then upload them to your computer or transfer the coordinates to your map.
