Elk/deer behavior in the snow

[KayLee]

I'm finally getting out for late season archery elk this weekend and my husband still has his mule deer tag. Either sex for both tags. It's looking like it'll be snowing (90% chance) at the elevation we'll be at. Assuming the snow level allows us to even walk the trail, we plan on staying at that elevation. The terrain is rolling desert hills with plenty of timber patches. Shot placement will be crucial since the blood trail could get washed away.
I'm expecting the deer and elk will be in the timber if it's really snowing, but otherwise walking around. What behavior have you seen for both elk and deer (in the rut) in the snow?

 

[Idahomnts]

I bet they just be ruttin roun, snow doesn’t mean much to them if they are already in their winter range or migration process, good luck

 

[Jimss]

If you are talking blizzard wind plus snow....they will likely be a lot less active. If it's just a little snow it may not matter. It sounds like you aren't hunting at super high elevation or area where they may migrate out of when there's deep snow? Snow often makes it a lot easier to see critters and find fresh game tracks/sign. Be sure to bring white camo. It may be super tough to get into bow range when using other camo colors against a white background! Yep, you may not have as much time to track blood if it's snowing hard. You'll definitely be able to follow their tracks in the snow though!

 

[KayLee]

We definitely had to walk through some snow (3-4") when we got up there and the visibility was good. We were surprised to see the deer still bedded down for a while in the morning after a stormy night. Early in the afternoon, it started snowing and visibility got bad. We actually did see quite a few deer moving around still, but it ended up getting so bad that we didn't even want to be out there anymore. Luckily we had the gear for it though. No harvest, but saw a lot.

 

[silverbullet555]

I only have one experience like that. Hunted the morning after rain the previous day and snow the previous night. No wind.

2-3" of snow on the ground. Buck and some does bedded at sun up on a slope near bottom of a draw in sage brush. They were feeding and milling about. Shot the buck when he stood up 2 hours later.

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[sneaky]

3-4" of snow really isn't a lot, and certainly not enough to interrupt deer or elk. I was chasing deer last week in thigh deep snow, was surprised the deer were still that high, but they certainly were. The elk were everywhere, saw over a hundred head and it was business as usual for them. They've since gotten over a foot of new snow so it will be interesting tomorrow to see where they've moved to.

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[sneaky]

This was today, he just stood up out of his bed

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[wiles]

Awesome pic!

 

[noisy]

Yeah nice photo!

 

[WV Mountaineer]

Never experienced elk in the snow. But, whitetail deer do NOT see as well in the snow as when there is no snow. As far as getting the blood washed away in snow, that's a non issue. 'if it's snowing that hard, you won't be hunting.