Find, Part 1

Terrain Features That Funnel Game (and Get You Kills)

I don’t care how good your rifle or bow is or how much you spent on optics, if you’re not hunting where the animals move, you’re wasting time and energy.

Over the years, I’ve learned that some terrain features consistently produce sightings, stalks, and kills no matter where I’m hunting. Whether it’s elk in the high country or mule deer in broken coulees, the key is understanding how game moves through the land. That’s exactly what this post is about.

Stop Wandering, Start Hunting Funnels

Let’s get something straight: most hunters glass from wherever they feel like sitting. That’s a mistake. If you want to stack up consistent success, you need to position yourself where animals naturally pass through. That means learning to identify funnels and travel corridors.

Here are the natural choke points and pathways that concentrate animal movement:

Saddles: Low spots in ridgelines where animals cross
Benches: Flat spots on a slope where game can rest or stage
Ridges & Spurs: High ground that connects bedding to feeding
Draws: Natural depressions that offer hidden travel routes

I’ve watched countless game animals slip through spots that most hunters completely overlook. The difference? Knowing what to look for before you ever lay eyes on an animal.

The Pre-Hunt Edge: Digital Scouting

Before I step foot on a ridge, I’ve already been breaking down the country on my screen. I use OnX, but Google Earth and HuntStand are also valuable tools if you know how to use them right.

Here’s how I scout digitally:

Mark the high points for glassing and wind advantage.
Look for elevation breaks near bedding and feeding zones.
Identify pinch points where multiple draws or trails intersect.
Check the wind and thermals using sun angles and slope direction.

Most of the time, I’ve already built a virtual hunt plan days or even weeks in advance. That way, when I show up, I’m not guessing, I’m executing.

What Makes a Good Glassing Ridge?

Just because you’re sitting high doesn’t mean you’re seeing well.

Here’s what I look for in a good glassing ridge:

360° visibility with minimal skyline exposure
Consistent wind patterns, not those swirling nightmare bowls
Comfortable glassing setup spots, don’t underestimate posture, fatigue, and shade

One of my go-to setups is a ridgeline with benches on both sides, a few sparse pines or palo verdes for cover, and visibility into multiple drainages. From there, I can watch everything unfold without alerting anything below.

Movement Patterns: Timing Is Everything

Finding the right terrain is one thing, but timing seals the deal.

Here’s a general breakdown of daily big game movement:

Morning: Coming out of feed and heading to bedding. Focus on saddles and shade lines (what I call the "shadow path ").
Midday: Loafing in cover. Tough to glass, but you might spot animals on shady benches.
Evening: Moving back toward feed. This is when you want to watch lower trails and edge habitat.

Now layer in seasonal shifts, rut patterns, weather fronts, snow lines, moon phases, and suddenly your glassing turns into real opportunities.

Real-World Scenario

Last year on the north rim of the Grand Canyon in the Kaibab wilderness, I set up a shooting position on a high bench about 200 yards from a small water source. Sure enough, just as the sun broke, a nice mature mule deer buck showed up for a morning drink.

Because I’d scouted and picked that position with intention, we were already 200 yards above him, wind in our face, and lined up for a perfect, slight downhill shot.

Scouting and preparation, paired with understanding your quarry’s behavior, that’s how you punch tags.

Final Thoughts from Joel

Reading terrain is the foundation of good hunting.

Anyone can walk into the woods with a tag. But if you want to hunt like a pro, to anticipate where game will move, to see it before it sees you, it starts with understanding how the land works.

This is where Find begins. And next week, we’ll take it a step further, diving into how to glass like a pro.

Until then, keep scouting smart.
– Joel

F.I.R.E Week 2: Reading Ridges