North facing slopes

[Mathewsz7-elkridge]

I have been watching the weather for the area I will be hunting. It seems to be a little cooler than what I was expecting. This week highs are in the upper 50s and lows in the mid 30s. Last week was a little warmer but not much. Looking forward the the weather is predicted to slowly lower in temperature. So to my question will this effect the elk being on north facing slopes? With hunting pressure could the elk flee to south facing slopes due to it not being as warm? Do you think even without hunting pressure the elk might not be in dark shady areas with these temperatures? I know elk will go threw great measures to survive. Just really wondering what temperature do you start focusing less on north facing slopes?

[BRazz]

Just really wondering what temperature do you start focusing less on north facing slopes?

Just my 0.02, but I don't think the elk feel cold until temps are way below freezing. So they won't leave north slopes just because it's 30 or 40... A big part of why they're there in the first place is that the timber is much thicker - more security for bedding. I'd say hunting pressure or rutting action may move them out of a bedding area but weather, not likely until ~ November.

[Indian Summer]

Ditto Brazz. Elk won't even call that chilly! They will be loving it and the one thing I'd say about that is that your mid day action should be way better and also the morning hunts will last longer. Good luck.

[Tigger]

I took his question differently. I thought he was saying because the temps are low, the elk wont need to use the north facing slopes as the south facing slopes are now cool enough for happy nap time. In other words, elk use north facing slopes because they are cooler....but what if south slopes are cool enough, then does the north slope advantage go away?

I would say yes in my experience. I have found elk on all slopes, especially during cool weather. I think the attraction of north slopes is greatly enhanced by high temps. Vegetative cover plays a big role as well as many other factors...hunting pressure, remoteness, water, feed, bedding cover, large mammalian predators, closest DQ, etc.

[Swede]

I am with Tigger on this, especially that part on the proximity to the nearest DQ. Elk use all slopes where there is feed, cover and bedding places. Certainly there are good bedding areas on generally south facing slopes. The terrain is so uneven that there are large bedding areas north of the river or canyon, just as there are on the south. The advantage may be that there are also large open areas with feed on the south, or west facing slopes.
Hunt for elk not slope aspects. Follow the sign.

[Charina]

Elk flee to the south slopes due to hunting pressure? That isn't making sense to me. S. slopes are *generally* more open, ergo, less secure. The reason you hear so many references to N slopes is for safety cover, not temps. Temps IMO are secondary, and a summer consideration, not a fall consideration. I bet 30 degrees is just beginning to get comfortable again for the elk. I suspect they like it. If the elk are bumped from secure cover, they are going to head to the next location they feel secure. Which is often some more thick timber on a steep slope, not a more open area.

Not to try to make all this more confusing, but as the temps dip below freezing at higher elevations, the grasses die and become less palatable (or so I've read anyway - makes logical sense - I see elk keying in on nice green fresh growing cool seasons grasses rebounding in cool weather, not dried out dead grass if green is available). On those exposed slopes that get a couple good freezes (e.g. south facing aspects with less cover), the feed is not as attractive as areas where there is still lush grasses. So they are drawn to either lower elevations . . . or areas where there is a good canopy of trees (which is often a north slope) that protect the grass from the first couple hard frosts.

Keep in mind - north slopes is not referring to the north side of a mountain or a range. It can be as small. 100 yard slope by 300 yards long, or smaller. The fir trees are often thicker here, or in some areas, the only dark thick forest in a sea of aspen/oak. Yet, in other areas, I've seen north slopes such a tangled jungle that the elk don't (can't) go in, and perfectly adequate security cover is on E. or W. slopes. The whole N. slope thing is truly variable based on where you are at, and a generality, not a hard and fast rule. Elk just want to feel secure from predators. Where would you hide if the wolves were after you, and you absolutely didn't want to be seen, wanted to hear/smell them before they were able to see you, and you had the best chance to give them the slip if they did bump into you? If you were constantly paranoid about predators, I bet you'd bed in a hot area that is secure before a cool area that was less secure. Survival before comfort.

[Mathewsz7-elkridge]

I took his question differently. I thought he was saying because the temps are low, the elk wont need to use the north facing slopes as the south facing slopes are now cool enough for happy nap time. In other words, elk use north facing slopes because they are cooler....but what if south slopes are cool enough, then does the north slope advantage go away?

I would say yes in my experience. I have found elk on all slopes, especially during cool weather. I think the attraction of north slopes is greatly enhanced by high temps. Vegetative cover plays a big role as well as many other factors...hunting pressure, remoteness, water, feed, bedding cover, large mammalian predators, closest DQ, etc.

Yes that was what I was going for. With day time highs being in the 50s will you see elk hanging out on South face slopes more often. I know the Temps arent cold but
was just wondering when you should stop focusing on just the dark shady areas?

[Indian Summer]

I came back to make another post but what I wanted to add has already been added!

An elk's life is dictated by weather. of course food plays a big role but they can travel a long way from bed to feed to get to it. The only other variable other than predators maybe is hunting pressure as has been said. But regardless of most of those things.... just as Charina stated, there are "north slopes" on south slopes and vice versa. They can find food or cover on both sides of a ridge and I've located and killed lots of bulls in or around cool spots on south slopes on some really hot weeks. I actually like those spots better because there is no question that there's more feed on south slopes and cows are always doing what's best for their calves so there are ALWAYS elk on south slopes.

The whole concept of elk bedding on north slopes in my opinion is very misleading.

[Swede]

I agree 100% here with I.S.
I have killed elk on all slope faces during August and September. It really does not matter what makes sense to us back home, where are the elk? Go by the evidence on the ground. On south slopes, we look for niches and fairly large patches of timber, and ignore the wide open spaces. They are not out in the open often in the heat of the day. I have seen plenty of exceptions, but that is my rule of thumb. I can't even say there is an inherent advantage to north slopes. Some of my best stands are located on the south or west facing slopes. West facing slopes are often warmer and more open than south facing ones.

[one_elk]

In my humble opinion an elks life is dictated by security, forage availability, the seasonal urge to take part in the reproduction and proximity to water. Of course bulls and cows are not always using the same seasonal habitat…..but really the only time, of course there are exceptions to every rule, I have seen elk spending significant time on south facing slopes is when the temperature drops below 20°F for some significant period of time and during the Winter after hunting season…..Will you find elk on southern slopes during other parts of the year? sure but they are just not spending as much time on southern slopes, at least here in CO, during the warmer months, say June through the middle of October as they are on North and north eastern facing slopes….best of luck to you…

[Indian Summer]

Yes and no. They may have a spot to bed based on food and cover... but if a freezing wind is pounding them in the face they will hop the ridge. They'll find cover over there too.

I'm actually not a big fan of hunting north slopes. Too thick. Can't see or hear as well. I'd rather have less elk in more open cover where I can see them make their moves than to make my way through thick stuff where I've been busted too many times to talk about.

I always use the term "user friendly" when referring to semi open country. Nothing beats seeing el and being able to watch them before they even know you are there. That doesn't happen nearly as often on the north slopes....unless you are looking cross drainage at another south slope of course.

[RAMMONT]

In my opinion it all depends on what is normal for the elk in that area, elk are like people, if they are used to 50 degree temperatures at this time of year and the weather gets colder then they are going to move toward the warmer aspects of the mountain - as long as their security needs are met. I've lived and hunted elk in several western states and temperatures are one of the things I've paid attention to, normal movement in one place isn't necessarily normal in another, an elk that lives in the Prescott area of Arizona is going to move with the weather a little differently than an elk that lives in consistently colder weather areas.

[Mathewsz7-elkridge]

Thank you guys for the responses!