how long does it take

[bnsafe]

for elk to move back into a spot. im assuming a weekend like labor day will be full of hunters. so say they push the elk out of a given area, will elk move back into the area in a day or two, or longer, or gone for the season.

[Swede]

I am sorry to tell you this, but there is no answer to that question. I have seen elk leave and not come back that year, while at other times they don't go far and don't stay away long. It just depends. How hard did they get pushed? Just what pushed them? Lots of vehicles, buglers, hunters chasing after them? What kind of terrain are you in? What are their alternatives?

[Jaquomo]

I've been very lucky to have had the opportunity to hunt relatively unpressured elk. They move on their own during the pre-rut and rut, sometimes cycling for miles. The trick is to hunt good habitat, be careful, cover ground, and find elk. Elk "bumped" by hunters - which is rare since people usually scare the friggin' willies out of elk - may not come back until the next spring. but if it's good habitat, others might show up.

[bnsafe]

that's kinda what i figured. ive got to quit worrying about it. ocd kicking in, lol. anyway i assume even if some elk get pressured out other elk from another area might get pressured in. im way overthinking this and prob driving you guys nuts.

[cnelk]

Some of the spots I hunt, are high pressured areas, but I approach that in a way to my advantage.
Each night, the 'deck is shuffled' and you get to play a new hand

[otcWill]

Just wanted to add that Labor Day weekend can be awesome prerut bugling! The best bull I've been a part of came to the simplest of mews with raking on Labor Day 2010. He was with 4 other bulls all acting crazy, not one cow (a baby coulda called him in). My buddy stuck him at 45 yards! So don't neglect the possiblity that the huntn will be great! Good luck

[ElkNut1]

Otcwill, very nice bull !

bnsafe, a lot depends on the hunters hunting these elk too. If they are just moving through the area & run them a bit the elk will most likely return even the next day or two. If these hunters kill an elk or two & celebrate loudly this can really run elk out of an area as 4-5 of their buddies show up & add to the chaos. -- On another note we have have taken elk on consecutive days on many occasions within a couple hundred yards apart so a lot depends on hunter activity & the above criterias. I like cnelk's "shuffle the deck" thought too! (grin)

ElkNut1

[>>>---WW---->]

I know this isn't exactly what you are asking. But if you play the wind and never let them know you are there, and if the wind goes bad you get out of there, you can hunt the same elk in the same area for many days in a row. You control the situation!

If others happen to bugger the herd out of the area, that is beyond your control.

[Vanish]

It will be interesting this year in CO, as opening weekend is Labor Day weekend. The past couple of years, where we hunt there has been far LESS pressure on Labor Day compared to opener as opener was the week before.

[Coveyleader]

My experience in hunting nothing but OTC public lands (not OTC private lands) is that if there are people in the area you're hunting the elk will be getting thinner and thinner each day. If you happen to be on private bordering these public lands it will be just the opposite, your area should be loading up from day to day.

In saying that, say your area is a series of large ridges/drainages. It's nothing for the elk that called your drainage home during the summer to vacate, and others from a few ridges over to come into "your" drainage until kicked out.

Another thing I have thrown out unlike many is the fact that if i'm hunting in an area where there are other hunters, I will push the limits with the wind more so vs. an area that I know i'm the only one. You have nothing to lose.

Example, you have a bull bugling later in the AM or early in the PM, when the thermals are becoming less than constant.

Good luck