Elk Hunting

[Still Hunter]

I found this on another forum. Take it for what it's worth.




Altitude to Hunt

Factors:

· Season
o Bow – Hunt 11,000+ feet
o Muzzleloader - Hunt 11,000+ feet
o Rifle 1 – Hunt 9,000 – 10,000 feet
o Rifle 2-4 – Hunt 8,000 – 9,000 feet
· Temperature
o Warm - Hunt 11,000+ feet
o Mild - Hunt 9,000 – 10,000 feet
o Cold - Hunt 8,000 – 9,000 feet
· Snowfall
o None – Hunt highest range of altitude options
o 0-6” – Hunt mid range of altitude options
o 7-12” – Hunt lowest range of altitude options

Where to Hunt

Factors:

· Pressure
o Heavily Hunted Public Land close to roads/camp – Outline escape routes, identify saddles, valleys, etc that lead to safety (private land or rugged terrain)
o Heavily Hunted Public Land away from roads/camps – Identify drainages, benches, thick forested areas near the upper 1/3 of 15-30 degree slopes
o Lightly hunted private land – identify drainages, meadows near edges, benches
· Yearly rainfall to date
o Low/Medium – Identify drainages with flowing water, small creeks, seeps, springs, ponds
o High – drainages, small creeks
· Food
o Early Seasons – Lower grasses/higher forbs and browse –
o Late Seasons – Higher grasses/lower forbs and browse – follow food down snowlines if present
· Temperature
o Hot – Hunt North and East facing slopes in upper 1/3
o Mild - Hunt North and East facing slopes in upper 1/3
o Cold – Hunt South facing slopes

How to Hunt

Factors:

· Season
o Early Season
§ Vocal Elk – Hike High probability areas, use locator bugles, pinpoint response, get close and call
§ Non Vocal Elk – Hike High probability areas
· Spot and Stalk through ridgelines
· Still hunt through timber
· Stand hunt along well used game trails
o Late Season
§ Vocal Elk – Hike high probability areas, use locator bugles, pinpoint response and stalk
§ Non Vocal Elk – Hike High probability areas
· Spot and Stalk through ridgelines
· Still hunt through timber
· Stand hunt along well used game trails
· Precipitation
o Rain Coming – Hunt all day, glass from ridgelines to find elk feeding in anticipation of storm
o Light Rain – No Change
o Heavy Rain – Reconsider Hunting that day, typically low activity/movement – Still hunt thick timber with large over story
o Post Heavy Rain – Spot and Stalk near food sources, utilize high areas with good glassing potential
· Pressure
o High Pressure – Still hunt through dark timber in high probability areas
o Low Pressure – Spot and stalk, utilize high areas with good glassing potential
· Lunar Phase
o Full Moon – Elk feed all night, still hunt dark timber, afternoon hunt near water/food
o Partial/New - Normal
· Time of Day
o Early Morning /Evening– Spot and Stalk, utilize high areas with good glassing potential near probably feeding areas and between feeding/bedding areas
o Mid Morning/Afternoon – Still hunt, depending on time of year, call near bedding areas, set up near water sources, feeding sources

[Jaquomo]

I highly recommend that EVERY elk bowhunter and muzzleloader hunter hunt at 11,000 feet and above. That way cnelk and I will have a lot less competition where we hunt.

Trust us, ALL the elk are up there at 11,000 feet, in huge herds, giant bulls bugling their heads off, just waiting to be discovered!

[JGH]

11,000'?

Do they fly?

[Still Hunter]

Just under timberline in Colorado. Lots of elk there.

[Jaquomo]

Yep, LOTS of elk there, or so I've heard from guys who tell us we need to go up there because it's warm, so that's where the elk will be.

[Still Hunter]

I find elk at all altitudes in Sept, but that does mean all altitudes. Even at 12,000ft.

My favorite spot is 9000ft.

[Swede]

If most of the big bull are above 11,000 feet elevation, it would sure narrow down the places in Oregon where I need to look.

[cnelk]

11,000 is where its at!
Make sure its a 3-5 mile backpack hike in wilderness too

[Indian Summer]

That info is 100% useless! Especially since they left out the #1 factor which is: What is the elevation of the area you plan to hunt? We've talked about that many times here. You can't hunt at 11K if the area maxes out at 8 can you? WTF! Other than last year I've never hunted over 9000. You pick your elevation relative to the surrounding area and of course the circumstances. If the roads are on top you'll be hunting lower. If there's nobody around period you'll most likely be at the first hospitable break in the terrain down from the top. Such as a bench 1/4 or 1/3 of the way off of the top. Sometimes the elk are dropping down to the lowlands to feed and your hunting at rock bottom. My guess is that info is accurate in the area the author hunts but that's about it.

The rest of it is also area specific. For example I can gun hunt right off of roads in places.

[Still Hunter]

It came from a Colorado hunting forum.

Better?

Flatlanders are funny.

[Elkduds]

To me this is a good general orientation to CO public land elk realities as I have seen them. I have found lots of elk around 11K that came downhill to get there. For 2012 muzzleloader season I camped @ 12K and hunted up from there, as did all the archers in the area. Of course one can disagree with any of the particulars, but in general terms this should put you into elk if you are hunting an unfamiliar area. Thanks for posting it, Still hunter.

[Jaquomo]

There's a little bit of useful generic information there, but honestly it could have been assembled by someone who has never hunted elk, just read various opinions on forums. Almost looks like something put together for a Scout merit badge or a junior high school "elk hunting info" poster.

The altitude section is totally useless. In CO you could essentially use 8,200' for every example and be correct. Or where I am in N. CO, 7,000' The 7-12" of snow line is sorta right for later in the rifle season, but it won't move elk out if it happens in September. "Hot, mild and cold"? Really? What if it's hot and they're feeding on south-facing slopes, then dropping down to spend the day in west-facing bedding timber in the lower third? Our poor nimrod following the listed advice would be hunting exactly backward from how he should be hunting.

[Still Hunter]

It's not bad advice in a generic way. It won't get you in too much trouble, and in my area would get you into a lot of elk.

No way to make a list that will suit everybody. I see no reason to rag on the guy, because it doesn't suit you.

You could make your own list, and lets see if everybody agrees with it.

[Jaquomo]

Still Hunter, not ragging, just calling it like I see it. I understood that you put it out for comment and discussion, and it's a good discussion piece.

In my area most of it wouldn't be of much real value except maybe to someone who has never hunted in the mountains before, and even then it offers some bad advice. In my area, the suggestion to "stillhunt through dark timber in high probability areas" is the absolute best way to blow the elk out of the bedding areas and into the next county very quickly. His mid-morning-afternoon advice is terrible for northern CO, because the wind generally swirls from about 9:30-5:30.

I guess I would question why someone would put together such a generic "list" like that at all, unless it was to generate discussion about what is right and wrong about his/her ideas. I didn't see it on any of the forums I visit, so not sure of the context?

[Still Hunter]

I guess you don't know how I hunt. I thought the still hunting parts were great.

[Elkduds]

Of course one can disagree with any of the particulars, but in general terms this should put you into elk if you are hunting an unfamiliar area.

Eerily prescient, right?

One thing to love about this forum, so many experts! If everyone agreed, this would be a boring and biased forum. Disagreement is essential. Civility is optional, as many have noted in the "reasons for hunting solo" threads. Personally, I enjoy it all.

[Jaquomo]

Elkduds, good points and I agree.

And I truly, sincerely hope unfamiliar hunters coming to the units I hunt follow every bit of this advice.

[Indian Summer]

Like many things... out of context information doesn't mean nearly as much as if circumstances and particulars are given. I try to look at things on here from a new hunters perspective. If I didn't know any better I'd be searching maps for the highest country a pilgrim could find.

Was that written by a flatlander Still Hunter? I'll tell you this.... you can laugh but I bet I've spent as much time as you in the high country and at 48 I'm only half your age. And FIY.... Pa ain't flat dude. We have bigger bulls & bears than you've ever laid eyes on too.

[Still Hunter]

Have a little respect for your elders. You're only 1/3 my age.

[Swede]

I have been thinking these younger hunters need to show more respect to us seniors too.

[Still Hunter]

Hang on Joe. I just looked up the highest mountain in Pennsylvania. It's Mt Davis at 3200ft. I believe that's lower than the lowest point in Colorado by the Kansas border. I live at almost 3 times as high as your tallest mountain.

Colorado has 53 mountains over 14,000ft, and something like 600 over 13,000ft.

Your flatlander routes are showing.

[Indian Summer]

Elevation has nothing to do flatness. The terms flat or steep refer to grade. Nebraska is flat. Pennsylvania is far from it. Also.... the grade of an area has nothing to do with the intelligence of the people who live there, or respect. Respect is something you earn. However you can be granted it to start with... but you can also lose it as well by not doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.

[ctdad]

Now you're talking about something I do know. Nebraska is flat. Ha

[Swede]

I was fighting fire on the Olympic National Forest some years ago. We were at about 700-800 feet elevation, and only two steps from good clam digging.

[Still Hunter]

Elevation has nothing to do flatness. The terms flat or steep refer to grade. Nebraska is flat. Pennsylvania is far from it. Also.... the grade of an area has nothing to do with the intelligence of the people who live there, or respect. Respect is something you earn. However you can be granted it to start with... but you can also lose it as well by not doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.

We getting sensitive, and serious now? I made a joke when you said you were half my age at 48. See how that works?

Just so you know. Flatlander means someone living at lower altitude.

[JohnFitzgerald]

Still - if joe is 1/3 you age that makes me 1/4 your age. Then I must be 1/8 Swedes age.

I say ignore the hard rules when talking about elk hunting elevation. Instead follow the general rules . Hot weather they hang out higher and colder snowy weather they'll migrate to their lower wintering range. We find elk at 3000 - 7000 ft August thru November. Feed and water is more of a factor in determine we're you will find elk.

[Jaquomo]

Since I'll be 60 in May I must be half your age, Still Hunter!

John, respectfully disagreeing, but elk in CO don't give a hoot about hot, cold, or anywhere in-between. When it's 100 degrees out, the elk in our foothills are still at 5,500'. The elk at 7,000 are still at 7K. They don't migrate up in elevation. There are elk that travel up and down seasonally, but also large populations of resident elk at all elevation zones. Many hunters - especially newcomers to elk hunting, don't understand that. I live at 8,400' and most of my current scouting is well below that, mostly because the hunting pressure is much greater up high due to the myth of "early = high". I know of giant herds of 300-400 that summer below my elevation, even though they could get to 11,000 feet with a good morning walk up the hill. The guys hunting high in that part of the range are way above the majority of elk when the season opens, and see few elk.

That said, one can find elk at 11,000 feet if the elk are there, on that particular mountain at 11,000 feet when the hunter happens to there. Or not, if they aren't there. One can also find elk all along the way from the foothills the trailhead that takes the hunter to 11,000 feet. Those elk may be feeding on north, south, east or west-facing meadows, and may bed on north, south, east or west facing timber, depending upon the micro-habitat. They may travel a few hundred yards in their daily travels, or a couple miles, gaining or losing a thousand feet or more in elevation between night feeding and daytime bedding. The only real rule of thumb is that elk will live wherever they have food, water, and minimal human pressure, as you've noted.

If elk are feeding all night and traveling back through the transition zone by first light, as they often do in a full moon, hunt the transition travel routes and benches. Spooking elk out of heavy timber bedding areas is just as bad during full moon as in a new moon. Granted, rifle hunting through thick timber during midday can produce a shot, so it's a different tactic than for a bowhunter. But unless the wind is rock-steady during mid-day, hunters sneaking through bedding timber generally spook more elk than they see, and the ones they see are usually headed toward me, where I see them running across the open valleys to the next mountain and beyond.

[Still Hunter]

Elk don't go high in the spring, because of the heat. They go up for the fresh feed. Elk follow their stomachs. When they come back down when it snows. It's not the snow itself. It's that the snow makes it harder for them to get to the feed.

In my area elk can be found at all altitudes in small numbers. The majority of the herd will migrate up and down every year.

[Trophyhill]

Still - if joe is 1/3 you age that makes me 1/4 your age. Then I must be 1/8 Swedes age.

I say ignore the hard rules when talking about elk hunting elevation. Instead follow the general rules . Feed and water is more of a factor in determine we're you will find elk.

I would add 1 thing to this. Hunting or human pressure. Elk will travel great distances to and from feeding, watering and bedding areas depending on how safe they feel in a given area.

[JohnFitzgerald]

Jaquomo - I didn't say elk go higher because of the heat and elk go lower because of the cold. Generally, winter months the elk will be lower because the snow accumulation is less and it's easier for them to find food. Like Still said, during the warming and warmer months the elk will migrate a little higher because of fresh feed. That is just a biological rule that applies to most animals in North America. But if snow accumulation is low and there's still plenty of feed higher up, the elk just might stay a little longer. It's all about food!

Elevation at which you find elk is relative to your State and Unit in which you hunt. You can generate a lot of misconception if you make a blanket statement like elk are found at 9000 ft. Instead make sure you include the State and general area you are talking about.

Just my 2-cents.

[Still Hunter]

I should have stated it was for Colorado, but so many hunt Colorado it kind of applies for a lot of hunters.

There's no hard fast rules when it comes to elk, and it takes awhile to learn how to think like an elk.

[JohnFitzgerald]

I should have stated it was for Colorado, but so many hunt Colorado it kind of applies for a lot of hunters.

There's no hard fast rules when it comes to elk, and it takes awhile to learn how to think like an elk.

+1

[mtnmutt]

Elk don't go high in the spring, because of the heat. They go up for the fresh feed. Elk follow their stomachs. When they come back down when it snows. It's not the snow itself. It's that the snow makes it harder for them to get to the feed.

In my area elk can be found at all altitudes in small numbers. The majority of the herd will migrate up and down every year.

Don't they go lower for food if there was a heavy killing frost up high? For CO, this happened in 2012 around the 3rd weekend.

Hunting pressure in my area drives most of the elk down opening weekend of bow season. It was more true this year with the increase in hunters than the previous years. In this OTC unit, the ML also go up high (12-11K) and sometimes drive the elk down to their pals setup lower. Not sure if any of the bowhunters were doing the same this year or not. Even some lower spots are a bust after opening weekend ML. I am still in search of a better unit after ML starts. One season, a ML gave me more tips than any bowhunter that year and he was a solo hunter.

I ran into my largest elk (6x6) opening morning of ML in 2012, 1.5K below the 12K ridge. This year, I hope to capitalist on where the bowhunters and MLs push the elk on their opening weekends.

There are still elk up high (11K) at the end of September in that unit, but the majority of them have already relocated lower. This is before any snow.

As others have mentioned, know your area. The dang Elk do not follow the human rules for elk.

[Huntrgathr]

Any generalized statement about where elk are located in relation to altitude, weather, feed, etc. goes out the door as soon as you factor in pressure for predation, especially human predation. Elk worry about safety first. Seasonal patterns can also vary greatly on any given year. Snowpack, the time which the snow fell, how quickly and when snow melts off in the spring are all major factors that vary year to year. There might be abundant feed in an area one year and none the next...

I spend a lot of time watching elk in the Spring. I've picked up a pile of sheds in one drainage one year only to find the elk are hanging 10-15 miles away the next year at that same time because of snowmelt. Rate and timing of snowmelt and subsequent " green up" can drastically affect how much feed is available in an area on a given year. This affects where elk are hanging in the Fall ( as well as antler growth ).

One of the most common over used generalizations is in regard to snow. People don't realize how much snow it actually takes to force elk down out of the high country. The cow/calf herds might migrate when there is no snow at all, while the bulls are content living in 3 feet plus in some locations. There is a certain amount of snowfall that will force every elk down but it's way more than people think and it usually doesn't happen until after all the hunting seasons are over.

Here's a better rule of thumb for locating elk "Elk are where you find them ".

[Still Hunter]

Yes, it's important to know your area, and what the elk will do when pressured. Some will come down. Some will go to more difficult areas for hunters to find them. If you scout them for enough years you'll see their pattern.

One thing is for sure though. Plenty of elk are killed at high altitudes. Which proves that they are there, and that they don't all come down when pressured.

Some hunters think they've left high altitudes when in fact they could be hanging out in dark timber.

[Jaquomo]

John, "some" elk migrate a little higher for fresh feed. Let's not forget elk were once primarily plains animals, and their adaptation to higher elevation living and high-low winter-summer migration is a relatively modern development. In much of CO, they are reverting back to the foothills-plains behavior, in large numbers. The old concept of "early = high" used to apply here, but now hunters complain that they can't find the elk up high like they used to in the 70's and 80's.

My biologist friends tell me that they are learning there's no reason to make those migrations anymore, since there's plenty of suitable habitat lower, and in many areas much less pressure from human recrationalists in the summer. Much of our high elevation habitat is like a city park in the summer and during archery season. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting groups of backpackers, horse packers, and in September, packs of eager backcountry hunters. Elk won't tolerate that sort of disturbance, and have learned there's plenty of year-round food, water, and cover much lower.

Trying to find numbers of elk near or above timberline during September in N. CO can lead to a lot of futility. Sure, there are some remote pockets where this is an exception, (RMNP entirely excepted) but the majority of the elk are summering thousands of feet lower, as indicated by the CO CPW interactive maps.

[Indian Summer]

In short, elk are opportunists. Cows are programmed to seek out the best feed for their calves. Best meaning not just an adequate amount but the most nutritious. Then, if they find it and danger of any kind is present, they adapt accordingly. Simple formula really.

Bulls will live where life is a little tougher. They don't have to worry about providing for anything other than themselves. They hold out in deeper snow and eat less desirable things because they know that otherwise they will become food like their long lost buddies.

[JohnFitzgerald]

Jaquomo - I think we are talking about the same thing, feed plays a major role in where you find elk.

Public - Snow amount, predation, calving, hunting pressure, pre rut, peak rut, post rut, feed, and water are all relative factors when you talk about elk location. That's why I never will say, "you can find elk at 4500". Instead I live by the Huntrgathr rule of thumb, elk are where you find them.

Just my 2-cents.