elevation?

[jsig]

So im wanting to get out and try my hand at elk hunting next year (probably CO fwiw). Ive started e-scouting and know to look for the usual water, shelter and food. also heard to look for north facing slopes, but what ive had a hard time getting my head around is what elevation to look for these things. does it vary by herd/location? do elk move with the seasons/weather (high early then cold and snow push them down)? or is it a situation where they could really be anywhere i wouldnt know til i get out there? Colorado has such a range in elevation i can find water/food from 11k down to like 6k and its just put my head in a blender lol

any just general trend tips would be welcome.

thanks.

 

[Poser]

Right now, there are elk hanging out around 13,000 feet. There are also elk hanging out at 5,000 feet. There is a resident herd of elk who live year around on my buddy's pumpkin farm and never leave. There are elk in Aspen groves. There are elk on golf courses. There are elk in suburban neighborhoods. Elk in South facing scrub oak. Elk above treeline who may migrate to New Mexico or Arizona during the winter. Elk in North facing dark timber. Elk near trails. Elk far away from trails. Elk near roads. Elk in wilderness areas.

There are indeed elk in Colorado.

 

[stumblinhorse]

Elk are where you find them. It depends on where you are hunting. There are very few absolutes in elk. Every time something is said that someone assumes or states is true, I see the opposite. Full moon, elevation, bugling, Bull vs cow behavior. There is no absolute answer. I have been snuck up from behind by an elk to bow range when they are completely down wind of me. I have seen cows up high and bulls down low. Seen elk filtering down during the day and going way up high at night. Only thing you can do is decide where you are going to hunt and go there and figure out their patterns and try to have a plan. Anyone stating "facts" about elk behavior is suffering from the Dunning-Kruger effect.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I just chased a herd of 30 at 13k. Also saw some cows down around 8k. They are where they are. Going to be location dependent.

 

[Team4LongGun]

To your question about elevation-don't get caught up in that. What if the mountain tops out at 5500'? There are elk on that mountain. The other mountain tops out at 8100', and there are elk there as well. Out of all the variables, elevation is the least predictive. Cover, food, water, temperature, pressure and access come well ahead.

 

[jsig]

Right on right on. Kinda what I figured. Just wasn't sure if there were like migration trends or not. I know they can roam far

 

[jsig]

Im a midwestern deer hunter so im used to whitetail being a little more predictable (or probably just what im used to really) and me just sitting in a tree waiting for one to come by

 

[Poser]

Im a midwestern deer hunter so im used to whitetail being a little more predictable (or probably just what im used to really) and me just sitting in a tree waiting for one to come by

One of the aspects that makes whitetail more predictable is that you are hunting an animal where the average density is 20,30,40+ deer per square mile on a carved up landscape that forces them into certain travel corridors. Hunting Elk out in Colorado, you're talking about a relationship between miles per animal not animals per mile and while they certainly have historic travel corridors that look like game animal super highways due to the amount of traffic they have received since the end of the last Ice Age, you could watch some of these trails for many consecutive days and not see a single elk.
You have to change up your thinking that much as its all about where the elk are right now.

 

[jsig]

Right. Thats definitely a mental change thats going to have to be made for sure

 

[LaFever]

The elk seem to get fixated on certain wild pastures that they like because the forage offers more nutrition or it tastes good to them. I've seen get chased out of those areas and come back to it the next day or that evening. I think their instinct has programmed them to eat as much as they can as fast as they can. Hunters hiking or even a fresh gut pile doesn't chase them out of that area. In a couple instances these areas are shallow basins with steep slopes they bed on during the day it's usually aspen trees running up hill to dark timber

 

[Npike4040]

I personally wouldn't focus on north slopes because everyone else is focused on north slopes. Sometimes it works out when you do what everyone else isn't doing. I hunted a very busy otc unit a few years ago and found 5 bulls screaming at 3pm on a 70 degree day 1/4 mile off a popular road on a south facing slope. As everyone says they are where you find them!

 

[LaFever]

The elk seem to get fixated on certain wild pastures that they like because the forage offers more nutrition or it tastes good to them. I've seen get chased out of those areas and come back to it the next day or that evening. I think their instinct has programmed them to eat as much as they can as fast as they can. Hunters hiking or even a fresh gut pile doesn't chase them out of that area. In a couple instances these areas are shallow basins with steep slopes they bed on during the day it's usually aspen trees running up hill to dark timber

From memory that landscape occurs between 8500 to 9000 feet

 

[AslanE]

Right now, there are elk hanging out around 13,000 feet. There are also elk hanging out at 5,000 feet. There is a resident herd of elk who live year around on my buddy's pumpkin farm and never leave. There are elk in Aspen groves. There are elk on golf courses. There are elk in suburban neighborhoods. Elk in South facing scrub oak. Elk above treeline who may migrate to New Mexico or Arizona during the winter. Elk in North facing dark timber. Elk near trails. Elk far away from trails. Elk near roads. Elk in wilderness areas.

There are indeed elk in Colorado.

This is useful to know, people have been oddly specific about what elevation they tend to find elk.

As far as I can deduce, it must be snow or drought that would push most elk one way or the other.

 

[Poser]

This is useful to know, people have been oddly specific about what elevation they tend to find elk.

As far as I can deduce, it must be snow or drought that would push most elk one way or the other.

That is mostly because people see elk somewhere, say above 11k and proclaim "They are all way up high!" or, the'll see some elk after a storm at 7,000 feet and proclaim that "They've been pushed down low!."

This is a huge drought year in the Southwest and I could simultaneously show you elk herds who spent all summer at 6,000 feet and elk herds who spent all summer above 11k. Bachelor groups will often hold in deep snow, up to 4 feet or so until they are absolutely forced down where cows will often jump ship much sooner.

Think about it this way: There are Canada Geese who migrate many thousands of miles to the Artic and back every year. There are also Canada Geese who never leave a particular golf course. Never accept hunting advice from a person who applies a singular observation to an entire species. In fact, you'd probably be better off inverting their advice.

 

[AslanE]

These are all valid points.

Myself? I'm gonna stick to the lower altitudes as it will be my first time out west for first rifle. Gotta pace myself.

 

[LaFever]

From memory that landscape occurs between 8500 to 9000 feet

It's very correct that the hunter must go find the elk ."knowing how to GLASS" is important, you have probably read articles about this. It's not as easy as just sweeping across the mountain side .you need to try and look behind every leaf and twig (approximately)
Your looking for a piece of an elk or deer ,a butt ,an antler ,an ear

 

[nphunter]

There are elk from the highest peaks to the lowest valleys. I would focus more on the type of terrain you want to hunt than on worrying about where elk are. Once you decide on what type of terrain you like then look for feeding features, water and cover, that's where the elk will be.

High country or low country is easiest to find because you can glass. However, in low country, you have to deal with private boundaries, and high country, you're dealing with storms and worse weather. Timber is the easiest to get within bow range but often hard to get a shot off in becasue elk always end up in the thickest, nastiest holes. When I'm solo I prefer open terrain, it's easier to know where the animals are and how to get close, with a buddy who can call thick cover is great, your caller can stay back while you sneek into bow range or vice versa.

 

[Indian Summer]

Anyone stating "facts" about elk behavior is suffering from the Dunning-Kruger effect.

Facts about elk: They eat about 20 lbs every day so you can bet they have a food source somewhere. And they aren’t camels so they’re getting water somewhere too, although that can be hard to find.

They are nothing like deer, so don’t bother tiptoeing around. Cover ground without worrying about snapping every twig until you see sign or smell them.

Forget the north slope thing. Elk definitely on north slopes. They also bed on south and west slopes. Think about it, that’s where the feed is. As long as they can get out of the sun in a spot with some cover and escape routes, they can be on any side of a mountain. North slopes can be super thick…. which is why elk do hide there, but it’s also harder to kill them in that thick stuff. It’s more user friendly on south slopes where there tends to be some more open timber or parks and meadows.

Like any game animal elk react to pressure. So while you can definitely find elk within a half mile of roads (for sure!) once things heat up your Plan B should include somewhere that is hard to get to. Somewhere with an obstacle between you and most other people things like a big elevation game on a steep slope. Crossing our river. You could put on a bunch of miles but that won’t do you much good until you get off of the main trails and do the same thing by putting some geographic barrier between you and the rest of the pressure.

Everyone knows that whitetail deer have super sharp instincts. But I also consider them to be pretty smart. Masters of hiding and vanishing. They get a lot of exposure with humans and hunters so they spend their whole lives learning how to make it through hunting season. Or they don’t live very long. Elk have their animal instincts, but they’re not nearly as smart or spooky as whitetails. You might know that a white tail deer is living within one square mile, but barely see him and never kill him. Finding elk is the challenge. Once you find them hunting them isn’t nearly as difficult. BUT… they are nomadic. Once you find them, you have to make something happen because within a day or three they may move on naturally.

To answer your question, there is no magic number when it comes to elevation. The areas I hunt in Wyoming top out at 9000 feet. The stuff in the area that’s over 10,000 isn’t the best elk hunting. In Colorado it’s common to hunt from 10,000 feet up to 11,500 or more. I don’t worry about the numbers. Look at the lay of the land. Every mountain has a top a bottom and benches in between. Those benches will most likely have travel routes that lead to and from bedding and feeding areas. Those benches are bedding areas.

Try hiking in on a trail that starts down low such as in a river bottom and goes to the top of a high ridge or to a peak. Along the way look over every elk trail that crosses the forest service trail and drop way points at them. Look them over and see which have sign. You might not see much sign because they are on the move when they cross through bottoms and over tops. You might have to walk the trail a little bit in one direction or another. Lots of times track are easy to spot because elk follow the foot trail here and there.

Also look at your map. If you were on a trail and there’s a steep ridge to one or both sides and you see an elk trail crossing look at the map and see where it’s heading. There’s a good chance you might see a low spot or saddle in one of the ridges on either side of the trail. Or on both sides. (hell yeah!) Good chance that game trail comes through those saddles. Hike all the way to the top of the main trail. While you are up there spend every minute looking around for sign and getting to know the area a little bit. Maybe peek over the top if you see a good reason too. Plan B could be on the other side of the top. The next day, your plan should be to determine what elevation you saw the sign at, take the forest service trail to that elevation and leave the trail behind.

Follow those benches as far as you can and you will learn a lot. How’s that for an answer? Good luck!

 

[jsig]

Facts about elk: They eat about 20 lbs every day so you can bet they have a food source somewhere. And they aren’t camels so they’re getting water somewhere too, although that can be hard to find.

They are nothing like deer, so don’t bother tiptoeing around. Cover ground without worrying about snapping every twig until you see sign or smell them.

Forget the north slope thing. Elk definitely on north slopes. They also bed on south and west slopes. Think about it, that’s where the feed is. As long as they can get out of the sun in a spot with some cover and escape routes, they can be on any side of a mountain. North slopes can be super thick…. which is why elk do hide there, but it’s also harder to kill them in that thick stuff. It’s more user friendly on south slopes where there tends to be some more open timber or parks and meadows.

Like any game animal elk react to pressure. So while you can definitely find elk within a half mile of roads (for sure!) once things heat up your Plan B should include somewhere that is hard to get to. Somewhere with an obstacle between you and most other people things like a big elevation game on a steep slope. Crossing our river. You could put on a bunch of miles but that won’t do you much good until you get off of the main trails and do the same thing by putting some geographic barrier between you and the rest of the pressure.

Everyone knows that whitetail deer have super sharp instincts. But I also consider them to be pretty smart. Masters of hiding and vanishing. They get a lot of exposure with humans and hunters so they spend their whole lives learning how to make it through hunting season. Or they don’t live very long. Elk have their animal instincts, but they’re not nearly as smart or spooky as whitetails. You might know that a white tail deer is living within one square mile, but barely see him and never kill him. Finding elk is the challenge. Once you find them hunting them isn’t nearly as difficult. BUT… they are nomadic. Once you find them, you have to make something happen because within a day or three they may move on naturally.

To answer your question, there is no magic number when it comes to elevation. The areas I hunt in Wyoming top out at 9000 feet. The stuff in the area that’s over 10,000 isn’t the best elk hunting. In Colorado it’s common to hunt from 10,000 feet up to 11,500 or more. I don’t worry about the numbers. Look at the lay of the land. Every mountain has a top a bottom and benches in between. Those benches will most likely have travel routes that lead to and from bedding and feeding areas. Those benches are bedding areas.

Try hiking in on a trail that starts down low such as in a river bottom and goes to the top of a high ridge or to a peak. Along the way look over every elk trail that crosses the forest service trail and drop way points at them. Look them over and see which have sign. You might not see much sign because they are on the move when they cross through bottoms and over tops. You might have to walk the trail a little bit in one direction or another. Lots of times track are easy to spot because elk follow the foot trail here and there.

Also look at your map. If you were on a trail and there’s a steep ridge to one or both sides and you see an elk trail crossing look at the map and see where it’s heading. There’s a good chance you might see a low spot or saddle in one of the ridges on either side of the trail. Or on both sides. (hell yeah!) Good chance that game trail comes through those saddles. Hike all the way to the top of the main trail. While you are up there spend every minute looking around for sign and getting to know the area a little bit. Maybe peek over the top if you see a good reason too. Plan B could be on the other side of the top. The next day, your plan should be to determine what elevation you saw the sign at, take the forest service trail to that elevation and leave the trail behind.

Follow those benches as far as you can and you will learn a lot. How’s that for an answer? Good luck!

Wow much appreciated. Thanks for the tips