Snow Depth - When do Elk Retreat?

[jakeaba]

Hey all,

Headed out on my first elk hunt. It’s for cows in Montana. I’ve been watching the snow depth on google earth pro overlays. I haven’t been able to get an answer on where people think they are at this time of year, which seems to be in part due to it depends on food and snow levels.

So far in the area, the deepest looks like maybe 18” on top of mountains in the area in the 8-9k mark. Randy Newberg said he considers “transition” range to be 6-9 feet, so I’m thinking I should be e scouting in that 6-8 k range where it looks like the snow depth is in single digit inches at the max. Or will that depth of snow have pushed the elk and deer out as well?

This is my first year hunting and it’s extremely intimidating to be flying across country with no idea what I’m doing, going solo I have a cow elk and doe mule deer tag. I’ve spent hundreds of hours on YouTube and forums trying to teach myself by all your guys’ awesome help. I appreciate all you do for people who know nothing like me! I’ve been putting this off for 20 years hoping I’d meet someone to show me the ropes, currently stationed in Louisiana so it’s a bit of a big investment to make this trip. Again, thank you all!


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[Tod osier]

Hey all,

Headed out on my first elk hunt. It’s for cows in Montana. I’ve been watching the snow depth on google earth pro overlays. I haven’t been able to get an answer on where people think they are at this time of year, which seems to be in part due to it depends on food and snow levels.

So far in the area, the deepest looks like maybe 18” on top of mountains in the area in the 8-9k mark. Randy Newberg said he considers “transition” range to be 6-9 feet, so I’m thinking I should be e scouting in that 6-8 k range where it looks like the snow depth is in single digit inches at the max. Or will that depth of snow have pushed the elk and deer out as well?

This is my first year hunting and it’s extremely intimidating to be flying across country with no idea what I’m doing, going solo I have a cow elk and doe mule deer tag. I’ve spent hundreds of hours on YouTube and forums trying to teach myself by all your guys’ awesome help. I appreciate all you do for people who know nothing like me! I’ve been putting this off for 20 years hoping I’d meet someone to show me the ropes, currently stationed in Louisiana so it’s a bit of a big investment to make this trip. Again, thank you all!


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Good for you making the leap, best of luck! I have no useful info on snow, sorry.

Only advice I have is to just keep moving until you find elk.

 

[jakeaba]

Good for you making the leap, best of luck! I have no useful info on snow, sorry.

Only advice I have is to just keep moving until you find elk.

Thanks Tod, appreciate that. Movement is the name of the game eh? How many miles would you say you typically cover per day? Or are you breaking your days up by glassing location. Like two hikes per day, each one to different glassing knobs? Thank you!


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[jakeaba]

Good for you making the leap, best of luck! I have no useful info on snow, sorry.

Only advice I have is to just keep moving until you find elk.

Thanks Tod, appreciate that. Movement is the name of the game eh? How many miles would you say you typically cover per day? Or are you breaking your days up by glassing location. Like two hikes per day, each one to different glassing knobs? Thank you!


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[Tod osier]

Thanks Tod, appreciate that. Movement is the name of the game eh? How many miles would you say you typically cover per day? Or are you breaking your days up by glassing location. Like two hikes per day, each one to different glassing knobs? Thank you!


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No expert advice, but you just have to find the animals by the means that work where you are and when you are there. Depending on where you are, that may be walking to cut trails if you can't glass, but it may be glassing. I don't know your area, but a there is always a lot of talking about glassing, but not all areas are glassable on the scale of finding the herds. You can see tracks/trails a long ways off if the light is right when glassing. Things are rarely like you plan, you just have to keep an open mind and try different things.

 

[TL406]

The good thing about snow is you can see tracks…get on knobs(but don’t skyline yourself) and glass for tracks across large areas. Figure out what elevation they’re at, start focusing your glassing on that elevation band. Cow elk move in herds, don’t spend time glassing/following single sets of tracks, likely moose or bull elk.

Elk are always hot. Unless it’s single digits, elk will still be in the shade in the middle of the day. Bulls will tolerate more snow depth than cows, if you’re finding bulls, look lower on the mountain.

My biggest advice is just spend the first two glassing sessions finding elk, don’t hunt elk that aren’t there. Look over big areas and find the elk, don’t make any big hikes until you have elk located.

Edit to add: find the wind-blown ridge tops that obviously have less snow than the surrounding area, that’s where they’ll feed if the snow is actually deep.

 

[MTSasquatch]

Biologist here. Summer range, transition range, and winter range have no particular elevational restrictions. The elk will be where conditions are such they can maintain a caloric surplus, or at worst avoid a deficit as best they can during winter. They can often be in ranges not preferred in response to hunting pressures. In highly migratory herds, you can see them fluctuate between two of those ranges during the same time period based on conditions. I have managed areas where winter range and summer range overlapped at high elevation based on aspect and exposure that kept large grassy mountainsides relatively snow free during the winter period.

Cow elk will be less tolerant of deep snow than bulls, and they will typically seek easier conditions when the energy they expend to acquire food through snow is greater than the energy they will get from that food. The depth that occurs varies based on the condition of snow, not simply depth. Iced over rotten snow of 2” is harder to graze in than 10” of loose powder.

Like previously mentioned, continue moving until you find fresh sign, and best of luck to you.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

If there is snow on the ground and decent roads you could always drive them until you get to an area of elevation where you start seeing recent tracks crossing. Road hunting for elk is not usually a recipe for success but it may get you a starting point or general idea of where they are or where they are headed.

Glassing is still your better option though, especially if you can find a spot where you can see a mile or two in any direction.

 

[gabenzeke]

Thanks Tod, appreciate that. Movement is the name of the game eh? How many miles would you say you typically cover per day? Or are you breaking your days up by glassing location. Like two hikes per day, each one to different glassing knobs? Thank you!


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I usually put on 8 to 10 miles a day. Biggest day this year was 18 miles. Sort of depends on the area you're in. Single digits or even a foot of snow isn't going to move elk. I would probably be looking more for the steepest nastiest thickest areas in your unit and glass those.

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[Whisky]

Good question, and good info.

What are the best sources for estimated snow totals in various mountain regions? I found a USDA Forest Service "current snow depth" maps. I'd like something to compare that with though..I also thought I remember there was a site were you could select remote weather stations in various areas, that measured snow depth in the mountains. Does anybody know what i'm talking about, and have a link to that?

 

[southLA]

National Snow Analyses 3D Interface​

This is what I have been looking at but I don't live in Colorado (which is where I am looking) so I can't speak to the validity. You do need Google Earth to bring in this .kmz as far as I am aware.

 

[RS_Non-Res]

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/wcc/home/

The snow site you are looking for may be "SNOTEL." It looks like it's been integrated into big brother's All Things Weather(b)y. The link above has links to data from individual collection/measurement locations and regional mapping.

 

[Whisky]

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/wcc/home/

The snow site you are looking for may be "SNOTEL." It looks like it's been integrated into big brother's All Things Weather(b)y. The link above has links to data from individual collection/measurement locations and regional mapping.

Yes, SNOTEL, thank you!

 

[mtwarden]

when using Snotel- look at several sites surrounding the area you're looking at; also look at the site info that shows elevation and aspect so you can compare/contrast with the other sites and the area you're interested in

it's not a perfect tool (unless you happen to hunting right at a Snotel site! ), but should give you at least a general idea

 

[Poser]

To add to the complexity, snow does not distribute evenly, is subject to wind loading, sun, layers and compaction. 18 inches of fresh snow today is a compressed 8 inches 2 days from now with South and West facing slopes completely cooked off, north facing slopes redistributed to wind loaded pockets and East facing slopes being frozen and icy from freeze thaw cycles.

The reality is, unless there has been a lot of consistent snow, inches of reported snow are only guidelines.

Here is a pic I took in January of 2021. On your left is a North facing slope deep enough to ski on. On your right is a South facing slope that you could sun tan on.

 

[a_noob_hunter]

Just got my first elk in sw mt. Ive been hunting in 1 ft to 3 ft of snow. The elk are still up high (up to 9k). Hard work for sure!

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[S.Clancy]

Most cows won't move until 18"+. Bulls will move when the snow starts getting chest deep, unless there are mitigating factors (high wind swept ridges with lots of food). Keep in mind what a true 12", 18", and 24" of snow is like. Most people will call 6-8" a foot. Walking all day in a foot of snow sucks. Good luck

 

[Indian Summer]

In general 18 inches of snow will move elk. Yes they will move sooner at times and they would certainly like to but they don’t care for being shot at so they stay high longer than you’d think.

My advice to you would be to hunt as high as you can. Where the snow is at or just below your knees. Yes this means work hard. That’s the answer to most things with elk hunting.

Look on south slopes and you’ll find the snow isn’t quite as deep. Find which particular south slope they’ve used to stage before making the real drop and you’ll be into plenty of elk.

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

Elk will tolerate a lot of snow, especially if it means avoiding the pressure of hunters. Let your glass do the walking, you will find elk. The Caloric intake is big, the better the feed and easier to access the better your chances. Good luck!

 

[Behlftball]

Good luck on your hunt!