Does beetle kill affect elk movement?

[WYO_ELK]

Where I hunt there is fairly heavy timber and some open sage hills. Last year was my first time hunting the area, so the first couple of evening we sat on some points, overlooking the sage hills. We never saw an elk enter in to the open hills. The elk held to the timber all week. We talked to the game warden later in the week and he said that with the amount of beetle kill in the forest, the elk don't usually leave the timber because the increased sunlight in the timber has allowed for more grass and feed to grow. Anybody notice anything like this happen in areas with large beetle kill? I am strictly going by what the warden said.

[powderhogg01]

yes, this is something I notice with the deer as well. If they are not up high, chances are they will never leave the timber. I like to hunt water holes in these area... it seems to be the best bet for me.

[BRazz]

Where I've hunted that's true with the exception of above timberline. The elk are rarely in the meadows adjacent to timber, but (especially earlier in the season) they love to be way up on top.

[Lefty]

Where I hunt there is fairly heavy timber and some open sage hills. Last year was my first time hunting the area, so the first couple of evening we sat on some points, overlooking the sage hills. We never saw an elk enter in to the open hills. The elk held to the timber all week. We talked to the game warden later in the week and he said that with the amount of beetle kill in the forest, the elk don't usually leave the timber because the increased sunlight in the timber has allowed for more grass and feed to grow. Anybody notice anything like this happen in areas with large beetle kill? I am strictly going by what the warden said.

Many animals key into areas with sunlight. Last weekend my wife and I were in the Frank Church wilderness area. Much of the area had burned,.. if it wasnt for the burns there was a limited amount of hunt-able areas for the methods many hunters use.