Where did the elk go?

[Backcountry]

Could use some insight from everyone in this problem.

About mid July my hunting partner and I scouted a new area that was fantastic. High burns on top with lots of feed and dark timbered slopes with saddles, wallows, benches. At that time there was sign and tracks everywhere.

Fast forward to today. Absolutely nothing for sign, no tracks, water in the wallows is clear. I'm confident this area is not just a summering spot. Lots and lots of rubs from years past.

Two weeks until the opener and I'm not too sure on where to head now. Any ideas?

[BRazz]

I've seen this in lots of places. Some of the factors to maybe explain why they've left: some "unnatural" disturbance like logging or heavy ATV use, cattle or sheep grazing, wolves, or (most likely) just entirely random. Elk move around a lot, and a handful of miles is not a big deal to them. If it looks like good elk country, it probably is.

[Packn]

Over the last couple years I've had some elk - cows & bulls- coming in like clock work on different cameras. Every year about this time it all seems to change for me. I thought it was cattle coming into different parts of the permit at first. I really think it boils down to the beginning of the rut. Only proof I have is date stamps on the pictures over the years. I've seen elk and cattle in the same pictures up until about the 25th of August and then like like the lights going out they are gone. I'm sure there are other reasons bit I think the rut is a major contributor.

[Indian Summer]

I've seen this in lots of places. Elk move around a lot, and a handful of miles is not a big deal to them. If it looks like good elk country, it probably is.

Yep. It was probably an elk hunter that coined the saying "Here today, gone tomorrow" But that works the other way to. Gone today, here tomorrow. I'd go back and have a plan to expand my horizons by a few ridges or so.

[Lefty]

[Yep. It was probably an elk hunter that coined the saying "Here today, gone tomorrow" But that works the other way to. Gone today, here tomorrow. I'd go back and have a plan to expand my horizons by a few ridges or so.

My whole area has little and some places no sign,.. Didnt see any elk last week, two weeks ago I did see a bull,.. way less than in the past,.. However if that one bull is still around