logging effects on elk activity

[wawhitey]

So the highly active wallow im planning on hunting this year is going to have logging activity nearby. A chunk of land about a few hundred yards south of it is getting logged. This wallow is right under everybodys noses, about 50 yards from the logging road, but so far nobody hunts it. Lots of bulls use this wallow in broad daylight. The land its on and west east and north of it wont be logged. But trucks will be driving right by it. Cant see it from road though. If theyre not done logging by september do you guys think it will be worth hunting on weekends when the loggers arent there?

[Swede]

Having worked a career for the U.S. F. S. in timber management, mostly timber sale contract management, I have the opportunity to observe the interaction between logging and elk a lot. There is no easy cut and dried answer. I would set a trail camera out and observe if the elk are continuing to use the wallow. If there is just log haul, and it passes by, I would expect the elk would still be around. They get used to it and don't go far. Often the truckers see elk along the haul routes in the early morning. Elk get pushed back from where the logging is active, but they don't leave the area. Sometimes the elk come in at night to where logging is taking place and forage on the moss that is brought down to where they can reach it. This is common in the winter. The loggers push them back in the day time.

Like any other place, you will need to hike around the area you are interested in and check the sign. It would be my observation that loggers working an area are less likely to push elk far away than hunters busting into their bedding areas, during the day.

[wawhitey]

As of right now there are no other hunters on that mountain to spook the elk, not during arch season anyway. Which is exactly why im not going to have a cam up there this year. If one of the loggers were to find it say late august, and look at the sd card, id be sure to have company in september.

[Swede]

Whitey, I can say will considerable certainty that the loggers will all know about the elk in the area. They don't need your camera. They all travel in to work just before day break, except for a few of the truckers. Those truckers come in later as they will be loaded last. In addition there are evening fire watches, and evening and weekend mechanics that all talk. The log truck drivers are a constant information machine. A few loggers are dedicated bow hunters. More loggers rifle hunt as they have to work in the summer. If the loggers tell you about the 380 bull, just smile and thank them. They know logging, but are usually not good at scoring bull elk. Best wishes.

[Mav]

Whitey, I as well am a forester. Swede is right on the money. Sometimes they spook off a bit but stay in the area. Very often I see them in the early morning picking through the slash. Before I started as a forester I was a timber faller and often watched the critters runnin out before I started cutting. I'm planning on hunting near one of my sales that will be active come season. I will put up a cam to try and figure just how much it changes them. Good luck!!

[wawhitey]

Ill give it a try opening weekend when the loggers arent there. Now ive decided to leave my cam up. If those guys find the wallow theyll know what it is, regardless, so ill just leave my cam there and if it gets stolen oh well. If they dont steal it at least ill know if they even found the wallow.

[CurlyTail]

When I find a trail camera in the woods, it discourages me from hunting that area. I figure there is already another person all over that spot. Never even crossed my mind to steal the SD card and compete for the spot.