How far will a herd go when they get spooked

[PHo]

I came upon a herd of elk but got winded when I was making a play on the bull. They scattered and went over two ridges. How far do you guys think they might have gone?

 

[WRO]

Just depends, I’ve watched desert elk travel 20 miles, Rosie’s 500 yards. Considerations include availiable food and water sources and cover.

 

[Tmac]

Any where from two ridges to the next county/state. Difficult to say, how bad were they spooked, have they been hunted a lot, what type of cover/feed is near are some things to consider. Elk are very mobile.

 

[DenimChicken]

I think overall pressure plays into it too. How much have they been getting spooked/harassed? I've seen elk come back to the same spot for a couple days after catching wind, but then move areas when they were getting too much pressure.

 

[Bearded Bowhunter]

My experience has always been that getting winded moves the elk farther and more permanently (in general) than either being seen or heard, but if that was those elks first run in with a hunter this year, who knows.

 

[Still Hunter]

How far is the Closest Private Property?
If three idiots come blazing up their four wheelers on a "closed road" and start talking in normal voices about 2/3's of a mile up the drainage then the Elk will run about 2 1/2 miles away and up and over the three adjacent drainages in the opposite direction! It is a real special feeling watching those Elk go over the ridge in the opposite direction. Especially after working them for three days and finally having them all figured out and about to walk right into your set up.

 

[Poser]

Once blew a huge herd out of a small basin. We went to bed depressed, but were awaken by the herd moving back through the next morning -right through our camp.

 

[Wrench]

It seems to me that they like to put about 15-20 minutes as an average. Some areas thst is 500 yards....some it's 2 miles.

 

[Fogalo]

I’ve seen them go up and out of straight shale canyons. Depends how hard you bust em. They might be back in a few days though.

 

[MJB]

The old say goes.....when elk are walking you need to run to keep up....when they're running you need to be driving!

 

[Ucsdryder]

My advice…go find new elk. Those are gone. If they spook and wind is good sometimes you can catch up to them again, this happened to me this morning before I effed it up the second time, then they were gone.

 

[rclouse79]

I have never had luck catching up with elk after buggering them.

 

[choppd]

Just returned from an unsuccessful elk hunt here, and a similar thing happened. Anyone have any insight on when it would be good to return to the busted area? (I know that's probably a tough question) Or is it really even worth checking the spot again?

 

[wapitibob]

Been winded multiple times in the last week, they go a few hundred yards and settle back down. Where you’re hunting can make a difference. AZ where I am now they don’t get too excited, OR where I live they tend to go quite a ways unless it’s in a low tag area in the NE.

 

[jmez]

I came upon a herd of elk but got winded when I was making a play on the bull. They scattered and went over two ridges. How far do you guys think they might have gone?

About 2 ridges. Like any animal they have a home area where they live. They don't vacate that home area. Even with pressure. They get quiet and harder to find.

 

[trophyhill]

Been winded multiple times in the last week, they go a few hundred yards and settle back down. Where you’re hunting can make a difference. AZ where I am now they don’t get too excited, OR where I live they tend to go quite a ways unless it’s in a low tag area in the NE.

Go get em Bob! My buddy is having an off the hook rut hunt in one of your favorite NM units right now! Hope it's the same for you in AZ!

 

[Mcribs]

Probably depends on what cover they have around, but I see them go down basin 1/2 mile into adjacent thick cover. It’s all about pressure. They’ll go where people stop messing with them. Here it less distance than expected.

 

[nphunter]

Like WRO said, I’ve bumped herds in thick cover and had them calm down instantly and stayed with them. I’ve also bumped them in desert terrain and they will go 5+ miles easily without even looking back.
We’ve been on the same group of elk for the last week and have blown opportunities 4 times all within bow range. The elk are still in the exact same 600 yard drainage, it’s also so thick you can’t see 20’.

 

[choppd]

Like WRO said, I’ve bumped herds in thick cover and had them calm down instantly and stayed with them. I’ve also bumped them in desert terrain and they will go 5+ miles easily without even looking back.
We’ve been on the same group of elk for the last week and have blown opportunities 4 times all within bow range. The elk are still in the exact same 600 yard drainage, it’s also so thick you can’t see 20’.

How are you finding them in the thick cover? Looking for prints on the ground or calling or what?

 

[swoody_72]

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