Looks like there\'s going to be a general lack of snow over the next couple weeks, including 4th season. Last year we had a great snowstorm that started the day the 4th season opened and the area I was hunting was loaded with elk. My question is...do elk start to move to lower elevations as we get later in the year (mid november) or will they stay high until pushed down by deeper snow?
Elk migrations
- Thread starter Ucsdryder
- Start date
colorado russ
New member
- Aug 10, 2017
- 1,083
Not an expert by any means but don\'t believe elk migrate according to a time of year. My experience has been it takes lots and lots of snow not cold weather but something covers up their food source before they go to lower elevation. Read somewhere it takes elk 25% more effort to stay cool when it\'s warm than they do staying warm when it\'s cold.
Will wait and see what more experienced elk hunters have witnessed.
Will wait and see what more experienced elk hunters have witnessed.
This year in Colorado is weird.
With the drought conditions [and no snow] we are experiencing, I have heard that some of the elk have migrated due to pressure, but this may be the animals that were near the lower elevations anyway.
As we know, this time of year elk/deer risk being caught in the high country by a sudden, deep snow storm.
Granted it takes some pretty deep snow for the elk not to make it out, but nature will do whats best.
Here is a pic of a bull that got caught up near Steamboat a few years ago.
[pic taken by a guy that lives up there and saw the elk while snowmobiling]
The bull never made it out. He went back in the spring and found the rack...
Moral of the story?
The elk may be still high...
Or not...
With the drought conditions [and no snow] we are experiencing, I have heard that some of the elk have migrated due to pressure, but this may be the animals that were near the lower elevations anyway.
As we know, this time of year elk/deer risk being caught in the high country by a sudden, deep snow storm.
Granted it takes some pretty deep snow for the elk not to make it out, but nature will do whats best.
Here is a pic of a bull that got caught up near Steamboat a few years ago.
[pic taken by a guy that lives up there and saw the elk while snowmobiling]
The bull never made it out. He went back in the spring and found the rack...
Moral of the story?
The elk may be still high...
Or not...
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,326
Was there much for snow before that storm last season? I am trying to remember and I don\'t recall a lot of snow prior to 4th season last year. If that\'s the case, you should still have a good chance to see elk in that area. Of course storms do get the elk moving around, regardless of the amount of snow. But unless that storm dumped feet of snow at higher elevations, I doubt it made the elk migrate to the area you hunted.
I went to bed Tuesday night last year to dry ground and woke up 6 hours later to a foot of snow at lower elevations. Elk moved in that night with the storm. At first light they were wandering around in the sage flats. Looks like there might be some weather in different parts of the state Thursday but I don\'t think it\'s enough to drive them down.
colorado russ
New member
- Aug 10, 2017
- 1,083
Depending on where you\'re at, it may get snow tonight. Cold front moving in later today in Colorado Springs area. Was 33 on my drive to work. Expecting 1-2\" in Monument/Palmer Divide area.
retired112000
New member
- Apr 27, 2016
- 55
:clap: :clap: snow is coming. 15 days until my NM muzzy hunt. Hope we have a foot or so up high. Planning on hunting lower in burned area.
Never saw another elk. The spot last year that was covered in elk when the snow pushed them was void of elk. Went back to the spot we jumped some and they were gone too. Not a track in the fresh snow. Disappointing to say the least. That puts a wrap on 2016. It started with a bang and then fizzled. Can\'t complain as I look up on the wall every single day and remember my archery hunt! I\'m already thinking about next year and trying to figure out what to do with a B list cow tag. I don\'t like putting all my money on a big storm during 4th season to move elk into my area.
\"Ucsdryder\" said:
You\'re learning the hard way Pilgrim...
It took me a few years to learn that in some areas, its best to hunt elk as early as you can, when the pressure and/or weather hasnt affected them yet.
If I dont buy both my E/S tag and my B list tag for archery, now I will only hunt the 1st rifle season with the B list cow tag.
Bottom line - I hunt elk early season and deer late season.
But thats just me
Brad pretty much nailed it. If you are a rifle hunter, statistics show that the first day of the very first rifle season is when more elk are harvested than any other time. And, the late season for deer is during the rut. Those big bucks that you rarely ever see through out the year just seem to pop out of the woodwork around the end of the first week of November.
Usually (not always) but usually snow and weather conditions have little or no effect during those times. :wtf:
Usually (not always) but usually snow and weather conditions have little or no effect during those times. :wtf:
Been scrolling through the draw results and trying to figure out what to do next year. Nothing makes your head spin like early season, muzzle, archery, cow/bull/e-s...holy crap!!!!!
If I put in for a cow tag that shows 96% of 0 point applicants drew, but I am also putting in for a bull tag that takes 1-2 points which I have, will I not draw the cow since it will be my second choice? I might need to make a trip to dfw and have someone answer all my dumb questions!
If I put in for a cow tag that shows 96% of 0 point applicants drew, but I am also putting in for a bull tag that takes 1-2 points which I have, will I not draw the cow since it will be my second choice? I might need to make a trip to dfw and have someone answer all my dumb questions!
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,326
Gian,
To clarify more on what Brad said, you can only draw one tag in the drawing. So if you get your first choice tag, you won\'t also get a second choice tag. If you want an additional tag after the drawing, you can look at leftover or OTC tags. Keep in mind that you can only have one List A tag, but can have two tags if one of them is a List B tag. You can find out if a specific tag is List A or List B by looking at the Big Game Brochure under each specific hunt code - it\'s listed on the right part of each page.
To clarify more on what Brad said, you can only draw one tag in the drawing. So if you get your first choice tag, you won\'t also get a second choice tag. If you want an additional tag after the drawing, you can look at leftover or OTC tags. Keep in mind that you can only have one List A tag, but can have two tags if one of them is a List B tag. You can find out if a specific tag is List A or List B by looking at the Big Game Brochure under each specific hunt code - it\'s listed on the right part of each page.
