Hot & Dry

[Swede]

Sunday 7/12 I missed Church, as I had gone scouting elk in eastern Oregon. At church yesterday a lady commented it was good to see me back. In the ensuing conversation about my scouting trip, she commented that she thought it was too hot and dry for hunting. I have heard that several times in the past from other people. I think they believe hunting is a fall, cool weather challenge. Here is my question to you. Does it ever get too hot and/or dry for you to elk hunt? For those who hunt private lands that get restricted due to fire danger, do you wait or just go somewhere else to hunt?

 

[iccyman001]

If you are passionate about something, hot and dry will never matter.

I hunted antelope last year where the temps were 95-100 everyday.
I hunted whitetail early season last year and the mid day temps were 90.


Cliff and Jeff are about to have their deer season open and I would imagine that it\'s very hot out there in Cali.


My point is, if my hand dealt was hot and dry, then I work with it. I\'ll change up my tactics for sure.
Luckily, I do not have to worry about this though. I\'ll be hunting in 30s-60s.

 

[cnelk]

About a dozen years ago there were fire restrictions in the fall when we elk hunted.
It wasn\'t that much of an adjustment. Still hunted the same spots.
We did very well.
But back then the elk herd was high in numbers too so it\'s not a fair comparison if hot/dry weather made elk hunting better or worse.

We have had more restrictions due to logging the beetle kill than any else lately.

 

[Jaquomo]

Elk are still elk. Two years ago it was hitting 90 by mid day opening week, only down in the low 60s at night. We spot-stalked in the morning and hunted waterholes from natural ground blinds in the evening.

The only real change was that they were quieter than expected and hit some waterholes in the middle of the night.

Both our bulls were killed at waterholes in the evening

 

[Guest]

For us the last couple years it has also been hot and dry and this year is shaping up to be the same. The one thing that really gets me is all the yellow jacket wasp\'s when it is hot and dry ! When you get an elk down they are so fast to get on the blood and they are very aggressive.

Other than that I follow the elk to their beds and I wait them out and more times than not the herd bull will leave his cows at mid day and go for water !! That is a great time to get in on him if your careful and ready when he gets up !! Most hunters are back at camp by mid day but this is where a lot of action can and does take place.

 

[Swede]

Most hunters are back at camp by mid day but this is where a lot of action can and does take place.

Amen to that.
You know that if you kill you animal in the late evening, you don\'t have to bother with flying Yellow jackets after dark. So shoot your critter late in the day. I hate those wars with flies and stinging insects in the heat of the day. I received a bad cut one afternoon when I jerked back my hand after being stung.