NW CO elk habitat questions

[jtn]

Hi all,

I got a tag in a unit that I'm pretty excited about. Went scouting there a couple weeks ago and realized I don't know what I don't know. I've always chased elk in thick, treeline timber in other units, and this one was 8k ft high desert, knee-high sage with visibility for miles. So, I have some questions about elk behavior in that environment in order to help build a hunt plan for next fall. (I watched the CPW video on the unit, and will give the ranger a call once I have some more specific questions I can ask). My beginning questions are these:

- Do elk actually bed down in sagebrush on the shady aspects? I would assume even if they're out of the sun that wouldn't given enough visual cover. But, I've seen them in burn areas thinking they're hidden behind the burnt-out tree trunks, so who knows. Trying to decide if its worth while to set up in a good glassing/ambush area looking over the sagebrush or not.

- Do they use the stock tanks as a water source? There are some ranches in the area and I ran across a few tanks on the BLM land. Again a possible ambush area, I don't think stalking in would be very easy. Or maybe I just need to get better at stalking in and getting over my fear of being bit in the face by a rattlesnake. I haven't hunted before around ranching operations so not sure how they interact.

- What kinds of plants are they eating in that environment in late Sept/Oct?

- There's various kinds of public land and private across the unit, I suspect they may migrate quickly across the huntable public and winter on the private ranch/ag areas. The unit number rhymes with 'men' for those of you who know the area, we can chat via DM and share stories if you've seen this behavior or not.

- Since it's so wide open, the truck is visible for miles, literally. Does this freak out the elk? If so I'll cover it with some camo or nosedive it into a ditch and just hitchhike home with gigantic backstraps in my pockets.

Thanks folks.

 

[35WhelenAI]

 

[spike camp]

WTH?!

 

[35WhelenAI]

OP, if you know anything about this forum you are so far in right field you're going to get popcorn, WTH and then crickets. Wow, super on the down low, rhymes with "men".

The collective already knows you don't know ANYTHING despite trying to come across with good freeloading intentions. Read the rules and bylaws of the forum, possibly. Or if that evades you, think about what you're asking.

 

[jtn]

OP, if you know anything about this forum you are so far in right field you're going to get popcorn, WTH and then crickets. Wow, super on the down low, rhymes with "men".

The collective already knows you don't know ANYTHING despite trying to come across with good freeloading intentions. Read the rules and bylaws of the forum, possibly. Or if that evades you, think about what you're asking.

Buddy, chill TF out. I'm asking about elk behavior in a type of terrain I don't have experience in but exists across many states in the US, so maybe it's helpful to more than just me. Not interested in anyone's spots, that defeats the whole purpose of this thing.

 

[35WhelenAI]

The fact you mentioned a unit number by doing a rhyme, and the questions you ask after six posts on the forum in a month are getting the response they are, it's reading the room my friend.

 

[fngTony]

our rule about FNG‘s not being able to post specific unit numbers is two part. Part one we want you to put in a little bit into the community before asking for such information. Part two is that specific unit numbers blow up spots because they show up and searches all the time. The way you put the unit number in there with a rhyme won’t show up in a search, but it still circumvents part one of the rule. If you had left that part out, I would let the threat go on.