Where the elk go??

Myles · 08-12-2002, 07:05 AM

I went to my elk spot in the coast range 6 or 8 weeks ago and found them at home. I've went out last week and again yesterday and no elk???? The normal well used trail has a track or two, but it appears to be the same droppings from last time I was there. Any thoughts??
There is more bear crap around this year.
Could it be that the weather is just starting to warm up?
The clear cut they used to use all the time seems to be filled with ferns, -- less forage?
The Sate built a trail within about a mile of the area, too many people??
Archery season starts soon

thanks for any ideas

myles

Bait O' Eggs · 08-12-2002, 08:22 AM

Give me the GPS coordinates for your elk hunting spot and I will do some research as to where the elk went.

kodiakfisher · 08-12-2002, 08:40 AM

There are a couple things that are possible. Elk have a fairly large range on which they will move around one bear could push them to the next spot. Chance are they will be back in 4-7 days. The next thing is that the herd composition is starting to change. The smaller bulls are starting to hang around the cows and spikes and if the lead cow doesn't want to be bothered by these smaller bulls she will round up the cows and head out to another area that she/they know well. Also bachelor groups of bulls will start to break up. The younger bulls hormone levels are starting to rise more so than that of the heard/larger bulls. The heard/larger bulls have learned to time the peak of the estrus cycle to move down and start rounding up cows. The smaller bulls that are hanging around the cows now get bounced (Satelite bulls) and all they did was use up extra energy for nothing the big bulls know better.

The last thing is that last weekend the temperatures was lower than this weekend so as the sun started to come up these elk headed for black timber were the air is cooler and there was water and wallows to help keep them cool. These next two weeks are probably the toughest time to figure out what where and why elk are doing what they are doing. Everything is changing with the bulls and heards. One thing worth trying is getting up in the middle of the night and finding a long ridge and just sit and listen you will probably start to hear a few high pitched friendship type bugles. Nothing aggressive just hey here I am. These bulls need to get there voices in shape over the next couple of weeks to impress the ladies and try and keep them together. After all it's the bulls bugle that brings in the cows. Also a good aggresive sounding bugle will help them avoid challenges with smaller bulls since the smaller bulls don't want to get their butts kicked. This is why smaller bulls 250 class will very often come in silent trying to get a look at the competition, and maybe sneak off with a few cows.

Good luck and shoot em from the top pin

Myles · 08-12-2002, 09:58 AM

BOE try 45/125, let me know how you do.

Thanks Kfisher, I'll see what I can do about the bear over the next weeek or so. If I can get off of work I'll be out east the first week of the season then try back in there.

thanks again,
myles

Bait O' Eggs · 08-12-2002, 12:29 PM

After very very little research I am sad to announce your elk have all died. :depressed:

It wasnt bears, it wasnt a disease it wasnt migration. I think they may have drowned. :shocked: :shocked:

Alligator · 08-12-2002, 12:43 PM

K-fisher, That was good! especially the top pin comment.

Myles, They are there! The elk use a 5 mile radius range cycle. Just as K-fisher says, get up on a ridge in the middle of the night and you will locate them.

Better yet, get BOE's elk hunting GPS coordinates and find a ridge in the area, then locate some new elk hunting :grin: :grin: :grin:

By the way. How many of you were at the Chinook Archers pre-season warm-up tournament this past weeken in Camas?

Remember, breath,breath andddd let it fly!

Les

Norm · 08-12-2002, 02:15 PM

Hopefully to my hunting spot :grin: :grin: :grin: . They May have moved due to water or food changes. They are probably still close. Coast elk don't usually move far, but will change bedding and feeding areas to take advantage of the best food and water. Also changes in vehical traffic will effect their movements.

Myles · 08-12-2002, 03:04 PM

BOE, maybe that's why there have been so many blue sharks spotted lately, a herd of elk in the ocean
:grin: I must have given you the wrong coordinates huh?? Didn't take you long to figure it out.

Gator, I had relatives in town so my activities were limited, although a couple of "hikes" through my hunting area with the prospects of seeing elk and deer did allow me to do some scouting with company.

thanks

myles

kampy · 08-20-2002, 01:09 AM

They're in the locals freezers :shocked:

KingFisher85 · 08-21-2002, 10:18 PM

I know where the elk have gone, to day out fishing in the ocean, 12 miles out, a spike bull elk was swimming around, the picture is on the fishing page under elk at sea, u got to see this

Myles · 08-22-2002, 07:52 AM

That's the last time I give out coordinates to my huntin spot, now someone else has found one of them and is posting pictures :shocked: Only 12 miles out?? They must have moved from 45/125, no wonder I couldn't find them. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

2 days 2 go

Norm · 08-22-2002, 09:57 AM

And all this time I though you were full of it Myles :grin: . I wonder if shooting from a boat is considered road hunting

. I better start looking for harpoon to mount on my deck . Just loaded my camper and it's off to the races Friday night.