If you know where I live and where I work, it\'s kind of odd to see elk on my commute. Today I saw one cow this morning standing in the river and then on the way home there were a half dozen elk, one bull with antlers still, standing next to the road. Very cool to see all those critters in the cottonwoods!
Saw a half dozen elk this afternoon
- Thread starter Bullnuts
- Start date
Last week in late afternoon, I saw a small herd just East of I-25 tucked between 2 hillsides. There are not many elk east of I-25 in CO. I am hoping more of them are returning to their traditional plains habitat, although, ranchers and farmers may not like that.
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,279
There are actually quite a few elk east of I-25 as you go down the Arkansas River Valley. There is a good size heard over in the Kim, CO area as well. They seem to hang out in the canyon bottoms out that way. The elk numbers are growing pretty quick out that way since there isn\'t much at all in the way of public land for people to hunt. Pretty nice place to own land some hunting ground, unlimited tags for elk!
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,279
Yeah, they are definitely struggling for water down that way, but I think the elk find a way to figure it out. By hanging in the canyon bottoms, I\'m sure they find water. Worst case, there are plenty of watering holes for the cattle around there!
Water isn\'t really the issue out there - it\'s grass. Very little feed for the critters in the drought years but most of the elk I\'ve been seeing have been in the farm lands so as long as there\'s wheat, corn, and alfalfa growing out there the elk will be feeding good.
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,279
Good point Bullnuts...I have heard that the lack of food has done a number on the Antelope population in some of those areas. It sounds like a lot of them have moved north. One unit that I have hunted down there cut tags down to around 100 when they used to have over 1,000 before this drought!
