Late Season Elk - novice question

[dryfly16]

I've got a question for you guys who have hunted elk later in the year i.e. into December. This is my third year rifle elk hunting and I've been unsuccessful the other years, but I really haven't known what I was doing (no partner, DIY hunts, complete novice from the east coast). Fortunately, I just found this site and got the Elk University DVD this week and I learned a ton. I need to rewatch it with pen and paper and take notes next time. Anyway, my Cow tag is good until January for the Kamas Francis unit in Utah (I hunt the public land portion of that zone). I still go out on weekends when I can get out, but the snow is getting to be about 12-18 inches deep on north slopes and as little as 1-2 inches on south facing slopes as of Today. Temps have been ranging from low teens at nights to mid 30s during the days.


My question is this: Are cow elk still around these areas or have they moved to lower wintering grounds based on your past experiences?


I see at least a dozen deer every time I go out, and when I was out over thanksgiving weekend I saw 45 deer in an afternoon. I guess I was assuming that if deer can find enough to eat, then elk can find enough to eat too, but I've never had a tag go into December or January and have never really hunted elk past mid October. Lastly, whenever I was out this weekend I found that moose had moved into the area that I am hunting. Is this a sign that it's getting too tough for moose higher up and they're moving down so that means the elk have likely moved out a while ago?


Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts with me.


Adam

 

[CiK]

I hope someone else chimes in, but from my limited knowledge of elk behavior....they have moved down.  If they haven't, you might see sign in fresh snow that indicates they are still in the area.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ribo451]

If there is only a couple inches of snow on the south slopes and there are still deer around the elk will still be around. If you aren't seeing elk sign then I would move to another area. Elk will stay where there is food until snow pushes them but a couple inches wont move them.