Idaho Elk winter range

[cavalier14]

Watching weather from afar in southeast Idaho, it seems warm but curious if any locals or anyone with experience there has any input. Any guess on if Elk will start moving towards winter range by mid October based on the Fall weather so far? Or would you expect them to pretty much be where they’re at right now?

 

[idahodave]

They will not start moving in "mid-October" unless there is a drastic, drastic weather change between now and then. Looking at long-term forecast(s), I wouldn't expect to see any real movement until sometime in November.

If you're planning to hunt "winter range" in mid-October this year, I'd suggest a plan B.

Dave

 

[IDLassie]

Elk won't move without feet of snow, not inches.
We have a cow hunt in Nov if there is no weather to move them this hunt now sucks. Snow is a good thing.

 

[cavalier14]

Thanks to both of you. Not necessarily looking to hunt winter range - and truth be told I’d have a hard time defining that beyond just lower altitude. Was planning to start with 6-8k and go from there.

 

[IDLassie]

Where we hunt it's low country 6-8 thousand feet. The elk come down out of 9-10 feet.
Until you've hunted elk in winter and been around them you'll learn a lot fast.
We use to think the first snow would push animals out. It takes about 8-10 inches to start the does out and some elk out.