What elevation are they?

[nclonghunter]

After some elk photos were posted I was wondering at what elevation they were seen, which they were still in velvet. Most everything I read and hear is that elk are high early in the season to beat the heat and bugs. Rain fall and food sources can and will change what is normal.  For those of you that live in elk country and get to scout now or those that hunt every year from August to October, where do you find elk in your area???


I have camped just above 7000 feet and hunted up to 9000 the last few years in Colorado. I have found elk between 8-9000 feet and it has been dry as many of you know..I am curious if I should be going higher or not, what elevation are you guys finding them and what time of year?

 

[G.W.H.]

Where I am at the highest you can get is about 9600. There are elk anywhere from 7000 all the way to the top

 

[Hycntryhtr]

Went scouting yesterday, I had bulls at 11,700. My first trip up above timberline this year.. Thought I needed an air tank!!!

 

[COarrowchucker]

I live/hunt in western CO, and i see them everywhere from 5 to 12,000 feet.

 

[Bullhunter]

i have seen them on the oregon coast from Sea level to 3000 ft.  Here in Idaho where i hunt i usually see them between 5k and 8000k

 

[hank4elk]

Where I am in SW NM they are 7k to 10k. I'm at 7500' and see them daily here as I have water. It depends on where you are but here with lack of water and feed they are everywhere low all day. and all along the roads at night feeding.

 

[beran_10]

I hunt between 9600ft and 12,000ft. Tree line is at about 11,500ft ish. I have seen bulls in mid to late September at all elevations and above 12,000ft also. Hard to close the distance on them without trees.

 

[Heynekamp]

Last fall I saw a large herd in November on the northern flanks of Mt. Harvard at 14,000'....

 

[Trapper]

I was just out scouting this weekend and seen elk everywhere from 8,000 to 11,200 (timberline where I was at in Utah). During the rut I find more bulls between 9,000 and 10,000 than anywhere else.