Do elk and deer coexist?

[OR Coast Range]

I know of a great little field. Its about 3 or 4 years old, the planted trees are about 6 to 10 feet tall, and there are a lot of breaks so visibility is fairly good. The best part of this field is that there is only one entrance and you have to walk down a skidder road to get to it so if you get there early enough you can hunt it will very little pressure.

This field is criss crossed with game trails. I have found fresh deer droppings and prints (but no rubs) and when scouting this field for the first time I jumped a doe and her yearling.

I have also found fresh signs of elk. There are fresh elk droppings and prints all over the field. Last weekend while sneaking into position before shooting light we observed a small herd of elk making its way through the field. They didn't know we were there, and they made there way slowly to the upper treeline.

My million dollar question: was it a waste of time to hunt that field for that morning? Did the elk push any deer in the field out? How much to elk and blacktail ranges overlap? How do deer react to elk? (OK, more than one question [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] ).

[Norm]

Even though Blacktail don't really like elk, they seem tolerate them. I have seen Blacktail and Rosevelts feeding 50YDS from each other. If the elk get to close to a doe with a fawn, the doe will often times drop her ears down and snort at the elk warning them off. Even though I use different techniques, I often hunt the same areas for both.

[Bait O' Eggs]

Just because you are looking at elk, doesnt by any means rule out the fact deer may be present.

A couple weeks ago I saw a little rag bull laying not 5 yards from a doe. Sort of looked like they were covering each others back, laying there looking each direction.

I hunt deer and elk on the same turf.

[SureSet]

In my experience, as long as neither one is in rut or "season", or have small young, they get along just as if the other species doesn't exist. It's only when young, hormones or basic survival are involved that they get spooky around each other.

Steve

[Firedog]

I hunt both in the same areas. Can use it to your advantage once in awhile to. If there are elk around and you are deer hunting use a cow call once in awile if you happen to make to much noise. Makes the deer a little more at ease if they think it is just an elk crunching through the brush.

[Dogfish]

I usually carry a cow call with me, as well. I have hunted one area that holds elk and deer for 4 years. There were three elk gutpiles, and a doe and two fawns were feeding nearby. I haven't seen them interact, but they do use a lot of the same territory.

Andy

[OR Coast Range]

Thanks guys.

The cow call idea is a good one. I am not the most silent person during a still-hunt (I need more patience) and them elk sure are noisy creatures. I was listening to that small herd make its way through the oldgrowth an hour after they entered it.