Scouting/Hunting a very wet season - tips

[t_jones98]

First Post -
Background: 4th year living in SW Colorado, 3rd year elk hunting, 2nd year archery

This summer has been extremely wet here in SW Colorado. Like every tree well, depression, everything is filled up with water...wet! Now don't get me wrong, I'd rather have that than Yellowstone right now, but, this is making finding elk seeming more difficult. Spent most of the weekend soaked but hunting/scouting. Some sign, no sightings.

This year: 1 OTC Archery, 1 M/L Cow only and 1 M/L Deer (between Dad and I)

How do you adjust your scouting and hunting during seasons like this? Wallows and water are extremely abundant. Great acorn crop everywhere.

Need to re-think my scouting for muzzle-loader season when Dad comes down from WI. Units 71,711,72,73.
Any tips?

Thanks,
Todd.

[Navesgane]

Welcome aboard Todd! I'm in SW Co myself, hunted Saturday morning, heard about 6 bugles and passed on a group of cows. Thought I was going to get pneumonia around 4pm after getting rained and hailed on. Tons of water everywhere and snow on the peaks. I hunted a new area Saturday that's close to my house in case the weather got super bad, not much lightning so I stayed out. I didn't hunt Sunday. i didn't find much wallows or tree rubs but did hear and see elk so not sure what to think of that. That all being said, I really don't have any tips for you but hope someone will chime in with a few!

[cohunter]

I spent a wet weekend in the woods as well. Saw a fair number of elk - they seem very broadly dispersed. I suppose this is due to the combination of plentiful water sources and feed and the fact that the rut isn't kicking in much yet. Saw small cow-calf groups and a few lone bulls/spikes. My thought is that hunting will be largely the same but quality water and feed won't give the same magnitude of advantage this year. As the season progresses, I expect to see more classic elk hunting with more structured herds and talking. I think it is kind of hard to locate a single elk vs. a small group of elk. I spooked my share of single elk this weekend because I didn't spot them early enough!

[bald9eagle]

Anyone get up over 10K near Pagosa? Just curious to know if I need to adjust and come down some or be prepared for the white stuff.

[t_jones98]

Anyone get up over 10K near Pagosa? Just curious to know if I need to adjust and come down some or be prepared for the white stuff.

Pagosa got a little snow up high and near Wolf Creek over the weekend but nothing sticking, mostly airborne.

[bald9eagle]

Awesome. Thanks. I might need to pack something warm. What kind of temps are we talking about in the high country right now? 60/30?

EDIT: Just looked at current conditions for Wolf Creek Pass. That told me all I needed to know.