Blood in elk beds

[Macintosh]

Theres tens of thousands of people running around in the outdoors on and off trail this time of year. My accidentally bumping into an animal has to be seen in the context of everyone else also doing the same thing. While no one actually has much of an impact, the cumulative effect is real. If you do anything resembling research you’ll see this is pretty well studied and agreed upon. Its worth a mention so people are aware—because by and large I think people either arent aware, or arent aware of the extent to which its an issue.

Urine is my best guess. We also get blood in moose beds around me from winter ticks. Not sure if elk and mule deer have a similar tick, but if so it sometimes looks very similar to this.

 

[RockAndSage]

Agreed, I still will stand with my statement that elk are not as fragile as we are making them out to be coming into spring. As long as their not ran around like crazy its not going to affect them to get bumped out of a bed here and there.

I can't personally speak to elk, but what you just described can, does, and will kill mule deer at this time of year, with snow on the ground, their food not coming up yet, and bolting to escape someone bumbling around the woods. Or worse, going around with an off-leash dog that will give the slightest bit of chase. Does it happen to every muley? Hell no. Have people witnessed ones dying of exhaustion in March, after bolting away from an offleash dog a few dozen yards up a snowy hill? Yes.

Elk may very well be much less fragile, but the mule deer are often in similar places, and people often shed hunt for both.

Making a point of this not to single anyone out, but simply so that more people are aware that it's a real thing. And waiting just a week or two can mean all the difference.

 

[velvet muley]

I can't personally speak to elk, but what you just described can, does, and will kill mule deer at this time of year, with snow on the ground, their food not coming up yet, and bolting to escape someone bumbling around the woods. Or worse, going around with an off-leash dog that will give the slightest bit of chase. Does it happen to every muley? Hell no. Have people witnessed ones dying of exhaustion in March, after bolting away from an offleash dog a few dozen yards up a snowy hill? Yes.

Elk may very well be much less fragile, but the mule deer are often in similar places, and people often shed hunt for both.

Making a point of this not to single anyone out, but simply so that more people are aware that it's a real thing. And waiting just a week or two can mean all the difference.

100% agree with the mule deer, I specifically referred to elk.

 

[velvet muley]

I can't personally speak to elk, but what you just described can, does, and will kill mule deer at this time of year, with snow on the ground, their food not coming up yet, and bolting to escape someone bumbling around the woods. Or worse, going around with an off-leash dog that will give the slightest bit of chase. Does it happen to every muley? Hell no. Have people witnessed ones dying of exhaustion in March, after bolting away from an offleash dog a few dozen yards up a snowy hill? Yes.

Elk may very well be much less fragile, but the mule deer are often in similar places, and people often shed hunt for both.

Making a point of this not to single anyone out, but simply so that more people are aware that it's a real thing. And waiting just a week or two can mean all the difference.

I have shed hunted plenty, I have not seen deer and elk wintering together at least in the areas I have gone but I'm sure there are exceptions to that.

 

[spike camp]

If the flatbrims are chasing them on quads, it doesn’t matter what time of year.
In the case of the OP, tiptoeing around…makes zero difference.

It’s a difference in time of year.

 

[idahodave]

The obvious omission in your theory is that you don’t know if you’re the first person to bump it, or the hundredth…that week.

You want to believe your impact is minimized because it’s a one-off event and you’re being “sneaky”. What everyone fails to consider is the net effect of 100 other dudes just like you with the same theory.

All of which is why this needs regulated. Between coyote hunters and shed hunters those poor freaking animals can’t catch a break.

 

[Austink47]

We saw it a lot when the snow melted and refroze. They would bust through the crust and rub their shins raw. May not be what you have going on but it might be something to consider.

 

[kodyshriver]

Where are you guys picking up elk sheds where there’s dozens of people bumping elk each week? I can only seem to find them in hell holes where I am shocked and devastated if I find someone else’s boot tracks all spring.

I think it really is situationally/geographically dependent, but OP shed hunting in 4” of soft snow isn’t making an impact. Like all things, it’s probably better to encourage ethical practice with the freedoms we have rather than endorse more restrictions. For the mule deer in sage country, the ethical decision may be to refrain, but in OP’s case it makes no difference.

 

[Marble]

The bumping of elk right now isn't as bad as during calvingsession. Mule deer, I'm not sure. I know they are more fragile.

During calving season, which i believe is in May? If you bump a cow with a Calf, a study I raff last year increased mortality 20-30%. If they get bumped twice, it more than doubles.


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[Packin_packout]

Back to OP's question I have run into this a couple of times with moose and it has been blood from ticks. Never seen it on elk beds but something to check with local biologist about.

 

[MTN Humper]

Which do you suppose causes more stress? Horn hunters? Hikers? Apex predators introduced by state fish and game departments that hunt 24/7 and don’t give darn about a shed season? Just wondering.

 

[kodyshriver]

Which do you suppose causes more stress? Horn hunters? Hikers? Apex predators introduced by state fish and game departments that hunt 24/7 and don’t give darn about a shed season? Just wondering.

Exactly. This time of year I’ll pop over a ridge, get spotted by a heard of elk, and they will relax and just watch me go by, thankful that I’m not a wolf.

 

[Billy Goat]

Which do you suppose causes more stress? Horn hunters? Hikers? Apex predators introduced by state fish and game departments that hunt 24/7 and don’t give darn about a shed season? Just wondering.

BUT MAAA!!

They get to be dumbasses, why can't I be?

Cause we know how goberment gets things right, especially ballot box biology.

 

[CMF]

, with snow on the ground, their food not coming up yet, and bolting to escape someone bumbling around the woods.

Is it not possible there is snow on the north facing slopes and feed on nearby slopes?
serious question, I haven't spent much time in the west during spring, but I'm in NM now and there is an area I've been through that was holding some snow and just around the corner it's not. This was a few weeks ago, so there still wasn't any fresh feed visible, but still forage around.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I get that, does it change if an elk gets bumped from a hiker verse a shed hunter?

Bit of a difference from staying on established trail systems… and busting through feeding and bedding areas,

 

[RockAndSage]

Is it not possible there is snow on the north facing slopes and feed on nearby slopes?
serious question, I haven't spent much time in the west during spring, but I'm in NM now and there is an area I've been through that was holding some snow and just around the corner it's not. This was a few weeks ago, so there still wasn't any fresh feed visible, but still forage around.

Think of snow on the ground as a proxy for food access - it's food that's the primary issue. If their food isn't up, they're fragile this time of year. Snow just makes it all the harder on them, primarily from cold causing them to burn more calories every minute, every second. That's why the basic rule of thumb though is related to snow, not particular dates - easier or harsher winters make a difference on whatever calendar week their food comes back up. But its food that matters - if you're not seeing green coming up, don't shed hunt. Just wait a week or so, that's all it takes.

 

[lyingflatlander]

Whitetail’s cut their feet up in crusty snow. I imagine that could be a factor as well.

 

[Beendare]

"Blood in Elk beds"

Probably Chlamydia

 

[elkliver]

in my experience, sheds aren't usually found in their beds but more likely where they feed or on a trail on the way to feed.... . Im not saying you cant find them there but it wouldnt be where i focus my efforts

One guy isnt going to cause much of a problem bumping the elk around... the problem is that 1,000 people all have the same idea and each one thinks they are just one guy... As much as i disagree with more regulation, there is a reason a lot of states have implemented a season. Yes, a lot of it is the guy chasing them on an ATV but its also the large amount of people doing the same thing as the OP. When in doubt, give them a break this time of year. and yes, that sometimes means that the other guy gets there first and gets the sheds

 

[MallardSX2]

Lot of blood in an elk. I wouldn't be too concerned unless they were laying there not breathing. lol