What Elevation Do Elk Prefer?

What elevation do elk prefer? First, most elk hunting in Colorado occurs

above 7,000-feet

in elevation. While not technically considered high altitude as defined above, you’ll definitely start to notice the effects, especially if you’re coming from a much lower elevation.

Do elk like high elevation?

Generally speaking,

most elk will be at higher elevations (i.e., summer range) during archery and muzzleloader seasons and usually first rifle season in Colorado

. In mild years, elk will remain at high elevations throughout the second rifle season and occasionally into the third season in many areas.

What elevation do elk live at?

That said, one of the states with the highest altitudes that you will find elk in, is Colorado. Not all of Colorado of course has elevations with elk in excess of 9000 ft, but a lot of your best areas include altitudes well in excess of

12,000 ft

.

Where do elk like to hang out?

In warm weather, look for elk to bed

high on north slopes where timber is thick but breezes keep flies at bay

. Elk like to forage in the open, mostly early and late in the day. Alpine basins and wet meadows wedged between blocks of timber offer succulent forage and quick access to security cover.

What slopes do elk prefer?

Elk use increases with the steepness of the slope to a maximum of 30 to 40 percent, with preferred slopes

between 15 and 30 percent

. There is a noticeable decline in elk use when slope angles exceed 40 percent. Upper slopes are preferred over middle and lower slopes in both the summer and winter.

At what elevation do deer turn into elk?

According to Teton Park biologist Gregor Chauncey, his study identified a causal relationship between altitude and species, with ungulates residing

below 8,500′

identifying as deer and those above identifying mostly as elk, although some exceptions are common in specialized populations.

How do you attract elk?

Provide forage plants

: Some good options include aspen, cottonwood, big leaf maple, hazelnut, huckleberry, thimbleberry, trailing blackberry, bear grass, cow-parsnip, false solomon’s seal, dandelion, serviceberry, red-twig dogwood, red alder, fireweed.

What time of day are elk most active?

Time of Day: Elk, like many animals, are most active during the

morning and evening hours

. Middle of the day hunts may be effective during the rut, but if you are looking for the most activity, shoot for early morning and dusk.

Does a full moon affect elk hunting?

Whether the official number is 12 or 13 per year,

each full moon gives elk a chance to cut loose

. Biologists have observed that during the full moon phase elk are particularly active at night because they can see better to feed and spot predators more easily.

What is the best state to elk hunt?

• Montana: Best State for Residents and a Public Land Bull.
• Colorado: Best Opportunities for Elk Hunting.
• Utah: Best State for Drawing a Tag.
• Arizona: Best State for Typical and Non-Typical Elk.
• Wyoming: Best State for Affordable and Available Elk Hunts.

How far do elk travel at night?

This isn’t as easy as it sounds, since a herd of elk can cover dozens of acres in a night. If you find the trail, follow cautiously. If you don’t find elk within a mile, don’t give up. They often walk

three to four miles

to bed, sometimes more.

Where do elk go when its cold?

On cold, sunless days or at night, elk head for the

north and east slopes

. There they bed beneath dense stands of trees. The trees hold warmer air near the earth, catch snow before it hits the ground, and break the wind. On sunny days, elk move to open south and west slopes.

Do elk move when snowing?

According to CPW Biologist Brian Dreher, it is pretty well established that

once snow depths reach the 15 to 18 inches, elk will migrate to areas with less snow for easier access to food

. However, if they have to run a gauntlet of hunters they may stay a little bit longer.

Do elk like steep terrain?

I love steep timber, and so do elk

. Agreed. If it’s rock cliffs, then it’s probably too steep. If not, the elk probably don’t mind.

How close do elk stay to water?

For the most part, elk stay within

half a mile

of water (if you need 4 gallons a day you don’t want to have a long commute). That means the farthest elk travel to get water is about half a mile (source).

What do elk do in the morning?

Bulls may bugle throughout the night as they feed, and may pick up the pace in early morning as they

stake out their bedding locations

. Bull elk may even bugle some in the daylight hours as they wake from their naps to “check in” with each other.

What elevation do deer live?

Various types of mule deer zones:

Subalpine zone – 9,000 to 11,000 feet

. Dark timber, pine and aspen – 7,000 – 11,500 feet. Transitional zone – 6,000 to 9,000 feet. Sagebrush winter range zone 4,000 to 7,000 feet.

What do elk like to eat the most?

Judging by sheer quantity consumed, grass would appear to be the favored food. Elk gorge on grass year-round where it’s available, getting choosier about which kind during the summer when grasses are most abundant.

Bluegrasses, wheatgrasses, bromegrasses, bunchgrasses and fescue

are all popular picks.

Do elk like salt licks?

Elk will habitually flock to salt licks

, so much that some have seen for hundreds of years’ worth of lapping tongues.

Is alfalfa good for elk?

During the winter months deer and elk are fed to maintain a consistent body condition regardless of weather. Deer are fed 5 pounds of alfalfa hay or pellets per day and

elk are fed 10 pounds of alfalfa hay or pellets per day

.

How do you find elk when they are not talking?

Where do elk go when it’s windy?

Elk prefer to

bed in locations where they have command of the wind

instead of a surprise draft every few minutes, which is why learning the area you’re hunting is so key. Knowing past bedding haunts or actually dogging a herd to its bedroom gives you the advantage of wind reconnaissance.

Is Camo necessary for elk hunting?

So, do you need camouflage to hunt deer, elk, antelope, sheep, goats, or pigs?

Probably not, if you’re hunting with a rifle

. If you avoid colors that the animals see best — such as blue — and dress in drab grays or browns, you shouldn’t be terribly obvious to them.

Do elk like the rain?

jmez said:

Elk won’t mind the rain

. My experience has been when it is cool, overcast and rainy they spend more time on their feet during daytime hours.

What moon phase is best to hunt elk?

The first half of the month (1

^st

– 15

^th

)

will be good from the moon phase standpoint. With little to no moon, the elk will be staying out a little longer in the mornings and coming out a little earlier in the evenings to feed.

What do elk do after rain?

Rainy days

During light to medium rain activity, elk seem to be primarily unphased and continue their daily activity. If it is the rut, they will still rut; if it is pre or post-rut, they will

feed into the morning hours and bed down in an area with cover

.

What state has the highest population of elk?

Today,

Colorado

has the largest herd in the United States, about 300,000 animals. Elk in Montana, Oregon, Idaho and Wyoming number between 100,000 and 150,000. New Mexico, Utah and Washington have 50,000 to 80,000 elk, and Arizona, Nevada, California and Kentucky have 10,000 to 25,000 elk.

Where do the biggest elk live?

The American elk are the most populous elk and can be found

west of the Mississippi

with the largest herd of elk living together in Colorado.

What state has the cheapest elk tags?

What time do elk go to sleep?

The middle of the day

is sleeping time for an elk. After a night of eating, watering, and socializing, the elk will typically retreat to a thickly wooded area to sleep for the day, often near the top of a high ridge.

How do you call an elk?

How close can you get to an elk?

Feeding, touching, disturbing, and willfully approaching wildlife within

50 yards (150 feet)

, or any distance that disturbs or displaces wildlife, are illegal in the park. If approached by an elk, visitors should slowly back away to put distance between the animal and themselves creating space for the animal to pass.

Is rain good for elk hunting?

Registered.

Many experienced elk hunters will tell you its fine to elk hunt in the rain

, since your scent is not dissipated and you can still hear bulls bugling. They will tell you, however, that you better make DARN sure of your shot before taking it if its raining. Elk can be the toughest animal you ever shot.

Do elk come out when its raining?

During rainy weather,

elk will often be up feeding

, you need to move slow enough to see them moving before they spot you.

How do you hunt elk in the evening?

What is the best month to hunt elk?

For hunters that want to fill the freezer, late season cow hunts are a good bet. During

December and January

, elk hunting can be both easier and harder than in fall. Snow will likely be deep, which can limit a hunter’s ability to reach distant herds.