Colorado rains what effect on elk?

[Mike_Parson]

I have been watching the weather for my upcoming elk hunt. I will be leaving for South Central CO on the 13th of Sept. It seems the areas i have been scouting are getting hit by a lot of rain the last few weeks. I am just wondering what kind effect this weather will have on elk and the upcoming rut. I have only hunted Elk once before, last year in NM and it was great weather for the month up to my hunt, so i have no experience on what to maybe expect the elk to do because of the weather. I am already panning on having to deal with a full moon for most of my hunt and now im worried about the rain and weather as well. Can you more experienced guys help me out with what you think they will be doing and acting like? Thanks a lot guys for any help you can give.

[Kessler10]

Hunting a full moon leading up to the rut is a great time to be hunting IMO.

when I saw there would be a full moon mid Sept I was excited, so don't let the full moon get you down.

no clue about how wet weather leading up to rut affects. sorry.

[bald9eagle]

Send me a PM on where you're hunting Mike. Doesn't have to be very specific. There will be a couple more of us elk nuts in the general area.

[mudhen]

In my experience, elk are scattered during and after periods of rainy weather. There is water just about everywhere and they can often spend the day in bedding and loafing cover with no need to visit permanent water sources. I have often found wallows during the rut in mixed conifer thickets where rain water has ponded up. Bottom line is, they probably won't be moving long distances to either feed or water, so you have to find where they are. The good news is that when bulls start bugling, it's lot easier to find them in the aspen or mixed conifer thickets. I am a rifle hunter and have taken several bulls over the years at distances of 25 yards or less in these kinds of habitats. Move slow, listen up and use the wind.