When these bulls leave the heard post rut, weather dependent obviously, will they separate from the heard back to some of the more secluded/sanctuary areas or continue to migrate down to their wintering ranges at a similar pace?
I realize weather is a big factor in pushing them out of the high timber, but if the snow holds off, is there a good chance to find the big bulls back up in these sanctuary type of areas that are less pressured/harder to access?
I guess to sum up the question, if the snow holds, is there a chance to find bigger bulls bac up in the higher terrain again after the rut, or is late season success almost strictly confined to the foothills/lower elevations?
This is JMO from lots of days of elk observing and hunting them from archery all the way until the last rifle season (not with a tag in my pocket the entire time)
Bulls go where they are gonna go to find peace and quite. They like relatively close feed-bed-water. They don’t want to move much. I’m convinced that post rut if a bull has everything he needs and doesn’t get disturbed they can be happy in about a 2 acre area. Seen it numerous times where there aren’t any in-out tracks and you will find a small area where a bull (or 2-3 bulls) have been happily living for several weeks without ever leaving.
From what I have seen bulls will return to there favorite little haunts year after year IF they aren’t getting disturbed. If it’s a bachelor herd then generally the same bulls will be in it. Sometimes one is missing or there is a new bull but many times you can recognize bulls from previous years.
As far as high or low I have seen both. Little bachelor pads up high in nasty timber or down in the sage/pinion juniper/rimrock type country. I will say I have found more low then high. Probably 80/20. Sometimes really low with no snow to push them whatsoever. I don’t think snow has as much to do with it as simply finding an area with no disturbance.
Lots of guys think that many of the mature bulls won’t come down “until their belly’s are dragging snow” but from what I have seen this isn’t the case. A few tough it out up high for sure but IMO the majority head for low country even before the cows do. I’m sure lots of guys will disagree and that’s fine.
My theory is post rut they don’t want to work for food any more then they have to. And there is absolutely nothing easy about hunting them “low” In the thick PJ country (or flat oakbrush) you can’t glass, you can’t see 50 yards and on top of that it’s noisy. Usually it sounds like you jumped a freight train and you get to see a few flashes of elk.
I have accidentally jumped bulls while quail and waterfowl hunting. Not “elk country” by any means, but a out of the way place where they can recover and relax. And not one sane person would ever elk hunt there. Which is why they are there. And I guess I just called myself insane lol.
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