Idaho fires and heavy smoke is nothing new and something you have to grind through often in September. In the 70s when I visited I remember our logger family talking about hoot owl and they shut the mountains down in the early afternoon. As to elk they adapt so much easier than us, as they have to. This bull was living on the right side of this fire and screaming away when I called him in. The pack out we were avoiding down trees and snapping embers from the ground. This second bull lived all September in a newly burned area with 35 cows and that September there were double digit fires across the river you can see the remaining plumes in October. I always hated chasing bulls in that heavy smoke but have some great memories. My brother was like a speed goat in it and would be smiling as I coughed away