JohnFitzgerald
New member
- Mar 31, 2014
- 1,108
What is an elk staging location? I\'ve heard the term many times but just don\'t know what it means.
Elk Staging
- Thread starter JohnFitzgerald
- Start date
iccyman001
New member
- Apr 30, 2014
- 5,489
To me it\'s the area that spend their time waiting for last light to come in.
It could be 50-a couple hundred years in a tree line or timber line to a field, food source, water, etc.
It could be 50-a couple hundred years in a tree line or timber line to a field, food source, water, etc.
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,420
\"Swede\" said:
This is how I\'ve always understood them. Where multiple herds of elk all meet up before beginning their migration.
x3\"cohunter14\" said:
They have this get together to brag about how they fooled a bunch of hunters from September to early December. It is like a New Year\'s Eve or Holiday party. The cows\' brag about their brats accomplishments for the past 6 months. The old bitties tell the others about how some cow\'s brat went right up to a hunter and got swatted away by the hunter. The bulls brag about how many cows they had in September. Basically the same as we humans listen to at our Holiday parties. Once they get to their Winter area, they all stop talking to each other because they are mad at each other...or they are too busy eating to chat. In May & June, they can\'t wait to get away from each other. :roll: Remember, everything written on the internet is true.
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,420
\"mtnmutt\" said:
:haha: that was pretty good mtnmutt
G
Guest
Guest
Staging takes place in early September prior to the rut. It\'s where the Bulls start sounding off and establishing their heiarchy before the rut
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,420
I think we\'re seeing that there can be a lot of different definitions of staging areas. What the Mark Kayser video referred to is more what Dan mentioned: an area where the elk will meet up or go prior to heading out and feeding.
No matter what the staging area is in reference to (migration, feeding, etc), the main thing to know is a staging area is where the elk are all meeting up at before going somewhere.
No matter what the staging area is in reference to (migration, feeding, etc), the main thing to know is a staging area is where the elk are all meeting up at before going somewhere.
Elk are social animals and herd up. On the ranch near where I hunt, you can watch 200 together in one field, then go see another 200 in different pasture. These are not in planned staging areas. They are there because they have gone to the ranch to avoid hunters, excessive cattle, to find good forage, etc. They are in herds because of their instincts.
When the elk come out of the mountains and travel in great herds, there is no planning or staging on their part. The snow and the weather brings them together and drives them down. They all return when the snow recedes and the grass greens up.
There is no thought and no planning involved. Just instinct. Anyway that is my opinion.
When the elk come out of the mountains and travel in great herds, there is no planning or staging on their part. The snow and the weather brings them together and drives them down. They all return when the snow recedes and the grass greens up.
There is no thought and no planning involved. Just instinct. Anyway that is my opinion.
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,420
Swede, when you say \'the snow and weather brings them together and drives them down\' this is what many refer to as staging. I don\'t hunt late enough to see it, but I have heard of many areas where the elk will \'stage\' or come together in the same place every year to begin the migration, whether that\'s a specific drainage or some other location.
In doing some internet searching, it looks like Paul Medel talks specifically about elk staging in one of his DVD\'s. I don\'t personally own any of them, but maybe someone who does can share what he says about them.
In doing some internet searching, it looks like Paul Medel talks specifically about elk staging in one of his DVD\'s. I don\'t personally own any of them, but maybe someone who does can share what he says about them.
Derek, I think you are right. I don\'t remember what Paul specifically said about staging. I have heard the expression, but never had a definition for it. It seems to be environmental conditions that usually bring them together in one place, at one time. Of coarse it could be what Mutt said. She is pretty smart for a girl. 
G
Guest
Guest
Paul/Elknut refers to staging along with displaying as early season ritual where they establish their heiarchy. I can\'t remember the rest of the explanation. He covers it in Vol 4 worse than wolves
