conditions on the FS roads I will need to use
I wouldn’t bother asking G&F a road question - they will get a funny look on their face and suggest you ask the Forest Service about their roads.
It can snow anytime in October and have anything from a trace to a foot or more. Personally I’d ask that with someone at the Forest Service.
Water for the elk isn’t an issue in Forest Service land at altitude anywhere in Wyoming - I wouldn’t ask it. Water for you isn’t a G&F question - it’s like asking a car mechanic which drive through is good for lunch.
typical elk movement after season opens,
You’ll get a generic response that elk know the area well and will move into areas that don’t get pressured. Anything more exact would be like the person giving out a honey hole - never going to happen. Great advice is simply expecting the elk to know where they can go to avoid pressure. The exception to this are late season hunts 100% geared to the migration to lower ground.
and elevations that may be best to look at.
Wyoming elk will be everywhere from below the elevation of the trailhead up to timberline. Walking around at different elevations looking for fresh sign is a normal part of elk hunting in the forest. You may get an odd look when asking this one. Exceptions are late season hunts where elevations are low, but during October elk are where you find them.
In general I doubt you’ll get someone to talk to who actually knows the area you’ll be hunting - Joe Blow who covers a different area drew the short straw and gets stuck answering calls because he’s stuck in the office - even if he was in a great mood because his new gf sent a nudy pic, he doesn’t know the specifics of areas he doesn’t work. Even for residents the only time any useful information is given by biologists or game wardens, it’s in small talk when someone enjoys chatting with you. It’s kind of like calling a doctor office you don’t know, and asking a medical question over the phone - the odds of a response from someone that might know are next to zero unless you are another medical professional then you might get a nurse or doctor. Same doctor playing poker might enjoy talking about your sore hip or bum knee all night.
However, every year I’m impressed when the stars align and someone has perfect timing and randomly calls the right phone number and actually talks to someone who has useful information and isn’t burned out on answering questions.
Don’t forget to ask at the Forest Service, taxidermy shops, gun shops, gun ranges - anywhere the person might be a hunter in the know.
