Q:
We found a herd of about 200 elk on Saturday but it was too late to hike up to them. we are planning on going back this thursday but the weather is going to be rainy and snowy. Is it worth our time to go or should we wait until after the storm to see if they move down?
Question by jeffo52284. Uploaded on November 10, 2009
Answers (8)
This weather front just may work to your advantage by pushing them to a lower elevation
I would doubt that that herd wil be where you left them on Saturday unless they are on a huge patch of private land that no other hunters have access to. Either the weather or hunters have probably bumped them out to nether regions.
Find the deepest, darkest creek, drainage or hole with some good feed in it that is nearest to where you spotted them. Prepare to glass for most of the day.
Two hundred in one herd! Gad, where are you? Either on the edge of Jackson Hole or some private canned hunt situation. A dozen was a big herd to see in hunting season when I was in the game (about thirty years). Anyway, wait till the storm breaks. Then get up there. Unless it dumps a huge amount of snow, they probably won't move from the area. This would especially be true if they're in a place where they're not being bothered (both situations above). You'll have fresh snow for tracking and with that many elk you're a cinch to get up close and personal with a lot of them. Elk are so sociable they'll almost always wait and see what you are when they're in bunches. Sometimes even if the wind is wrong. False sense of security. However, do not come down on them from above. They'll duff if they hear you even if wind is in your favor. My guess is this is because cats generally can't get them in mountainous terrain unless they come down from above.
Addendum: If you're talking about "snow and rain", I don't think the weather is going to be bad enough to move them down very much. But, of course, that depends a lot on the elevetations your dealing with. And don't shoot anything you can't pack out right now! Remember, it's getting late in the season and higher elevations can get snowed in literally overnight.
elk moose and deer usually move before during or after a rain or snow
As an ex-guide, I'd say use the weather to your benefit. If it's not going to be BAD. Quieter "stalking on wet ground.
Good Luck and Good Hunting !
Go for it they might be moving around before the storm hits trying to find food.
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Find the deepest, darkest creek, drainage or hole with some good feed in it that is nearest to where you spotted them. Prepare to glass for most of the day.
This weather front just may work to your advantage by pushing them to a lower elevation
I would doubt that that herd wil be where you left them on Saturday unless they are on a huge patch of private land that no other hunters have access to. Either the weather or hunters have probably bumped them out to nether regions.
Two hundred in one herd! Gad, where are you? Either on the edge of Jackson Hole or some private canned hunt situation. A dozen was a big herd to see in hunting season when I was in the game (about thirty years). Anyway, wait till the storm breaks. Then get up there. Unless it dumps a huge amount of snow, they probably won't move from the area. This would especially be true if they're in a place where they're not being bothered (both situations above). You'll have fresh snow for tracking and with that many elk you're a cinch to get up close and personal with a lot of them. Elk are so sociable they'll almost always wait and see what you are when they're in bunches. Sometimes even if the wind is wrong. False sense of security. However, do not come down on them from above. They'll duff if they hear you even if wind is in your favor. My guess is this is because cats generally can't get them in mountainous terrain unless they come down from above.
Addendum: If you're talking about "snow and rain", I don't think the weather is going to be bad enough to move them down very much. But, of course, that depends a lot on the elevetations your dealing with. And don't shoot anything you can't pack out right now! Remember, it's getting late in the season and higher elevations can get snowed in literally overnight.
elk moose and deer usually move before during or after a rain or snow
As an ex-guide, I'd say use the weather to your benefit. If it's not going to be BAD. Quieter "stalking on wet ground.
Good Luck and Good Hunting !
Go for it they might be moving around before the storm hits trying to find food.
Post an Answer