Elk and Sheep Flocks

[TheSillyGoose]

Hey Everyone!
Long time lurker here!

Was wondering what everyone's experience with flocks of sheep in their hunting areas is like. I have an archery hunting area that consistently holds a large amount of elk. This September I found sheep herders, their flock and a few dogs in the area. I hunted it pretty hard for a week and didn't have much luck finding anything. From the looks of it the elk completely blew out of the area. There are some spots where it looks like the sheep tore things up pretty good but it isn't all over. Can I expect the elk to return fairly quickly or could this have a long term affect?

Thanks in advance for your insight!

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Elk will come back but in my experience it can be a few weeks

 

[LostArra]

I completely quit hunting Colorado because of repeated sheep/dogs/sheepherder encounters in a wilderness area. Same with cattle that flattened our camp on occasion. It was just easier to change states to kill elk and I was doing my part to reduce crowding.

 

[Idagnome]

I had a similar experience this sept, but I would say the elk came back sooner than expected. Sheep were in there Labor Day weekend and they brought more in as we hiked out. Elk were within 1 mile of sheep but definitely not mixing areas.
2 weeks later went back to same area and elk were all over where the sheep had been. We weren’t sure they would come back given the vegetation chewed, but it didn’t seem to bother them. It was the stinky humans they stayed away from that time.

 

[TheSillyGoose]

I had a similar experience this sept, but I would say the elk came back sooner than expected. Sheep were in there Labor Day weekend and they brought more in as we hiked out. Elk were within 1 mile of sheep but definitely not mixing areas.
2 weeks later went back to same area and elk were all over where the sheep had been. We weren’t sure they would come back given the vegetation chewed, but it didn’t seem to bother them. It was the stinky humans they stayed away from that time.

Glad to hear they came back! Hopefully it was just the luck of the draw that the sheep herders chose my area this year to set up shop through the month of September but I'll be sure to have a solid plan B for next year.

 

[Serrano]

I found this out accidentally, it worked for me.

Tell the sheepherder you saw a coyote (spanish sounds like coy-yo-tay) or maybe try lobo, if it looks like they are heading for your honey hole.

 

[nphunter]

I don’t think the sheep bother the elk but the guardian dogs and Sheppards defiantly do. Once they are gone the elk come back if there is still good feed and cover.

If I see sheep while hunting elk or deer I relocate.

 

[lintond]

It took me too long to relocate last fall when I got into my spot and there were sheep and herders covering the ridge. I thought they were leaving the area but that wasn’t the case. Like a bad dream I kept hearing a faint “bugle” in the wind only to realize the darn sheep were back.

Lesson learned next time I’ll relocate immediately.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wapitibob]

Best advise I've gotten in the last few years for where I hunt in E OR was to find the sheep dogs and I'd find the Elk. HIs theory was the Elk will follow the dogs because the wolves would stay away.
Worked like a charm, we were bugling bulls and had dogs 20' away.

 

[midwestcowboy]

Lots of sheep scattered throughout my hunting units. Typically by October they are coming down from the mountains. Occasionally I'll find signage along forest roads that document what drainage and how long the sheep will be in there for.

As a general rule of thumb I try to stay away from the herds, regardless of if they push elk/deer away or if the elk/deer take refuge alongside the sheep dogs. I have yet to experience a positive encounter with a Great Pyrenees. Plenty of other land around me to hunt elk and deer without encountering them or dealing with those dogs.