Cold Elk

[Swede]

You are out on your rifle hunt in November with the temperature well below freezing, and you see several elk in an opening. Most of the elk have snow on their backs, but one doesn\'t. What is the most likely reason one elk does not have any snow on it? Is it a cow or a bull?

 

[bowhunter]

No fat to insulate the elk from the cold. I have seen deer walk under my stand and have frost on their rump where the fat is usually thick. This lets me know they were bedded out in an open area durring the night. I would guess the bulls would be leaner from chasing all the cows during the rut. They might have less fat to insulate them. A sick one would too. I have seen a few trail cam pics where the ribs show more on an elk and also some other bones. I would bet those elk would be cold.

 

[OldMan]

I\'ll go with a mature bull having less snow. It will have a lighter colored coat than a younger bull. That will affect how it absorbs heat, and heat melts snow.

 

[Swede]

Bowhunter A+ You are right on. Just to think, I believed I had a question that might stump people for awhile. The folks on BTO are just too sharp.

 

[OldMan]

You threw me off with the Nov date. The bulls have had a whole month to fatten up, and has been laying around doing that with no pressure.