Elk and Water

[cohunter14]

I had an interesting thought come up during my hunt this year and I wanted to share it with you all to get your input. This year, my buddy\'s father joined us, not to hunt, but to just get away from town for a bit. He also brought along his mule in case we got something down deep into the think stuff. One day we were talking and he mentioned that the mule hadn\'t needed water at all. He had taken it to water, but the mule wasn\'t interested. He said it was because the grass the mule was feeding on was so lush and we had also gotten some rain and light snow while we were there.

This got me to thinking: are elk the same way? I know elk tend to regurgitate their food, so I have always thought that they needed water to help with that process and with digesting. Mules, on the other hand, do not regurgitate. Personally, even in wet years like this one, I think the elk would still need a water source close by. Granted, they tend to be easier to find in years like this, but I can\'t imagine that the grasses are wet enough to provide significant enough water for them.

While I am on that question, what about snow? We never had a ton of accumulation this year, but in years where you do get some decent precip, what are your thoughts on this? I have always believed that elk can use the snow, if necessary, but prefer water if they can get to it.

Some food for thought...only 350 days or so until next season!

 

[Swede]

I have noticed over the years, water use varies, depending on the weather. If it is hot and dry the elk will come to water more often than when it is cool. When it is raining, sitting in a tree stand is going to be boring and wet. I am satisfied they are like the mule or like people: When we exercise and get hot, we need water. When we are cool and if we have soup for a meal, we need less.
In late August and early September water holes are much better than in later September. In late September, it is better to tree stand hunt along trails, saddles and passes.

 

[cohunter14]

So with that theory, by the October rifle seasons, water is even less important? Everything you said does make sense. I just always thought they needed water for the regurgitation/digestion aspect as well, not just when it is hot and dry out.

 

[Deertick]

It\'s really frustrating to lead a horse to water and have them not drink ... and no, I don\'t want to hear a tired old worn out saying about horses and water even one more time in my life.

They do seem to get a lot of water from lush grass. Enough? Depends on their use. I would never count on it for even short times.

I\'m sure elk are the same.

 

[F M]

The area we hunt is all ways hot and normally dry during early bow season. There are a few seeps and a creek that usually have elk hit them every day. This year it rained allot just before bow season started. We never saw a elk at any of the water spots for over a week. There is a ranch behind where we hunt that does wounded warrior hunts that sets up the vets on some big water holes on the ranch and the elk where not using them either. The only thing we could think of was the elk were getting the water they needed from what they were eating.