Why are the elk so low so early?

[Hummer]

Report from archery camp - Not seeing any Elk on top of Flattops (Rifle), appears they have all moved down into the valleys already.

it's also a fairly big burn area (nearby) so that might have forced them out of the area too. (Cabin Creek Fire I believe)

FWIW, the Cabin Creek Fire (which I've pictured) didn't touch the Flat Tops Wilderness or the Flat Tops Plateau, and the vast majority of the 20K+ elk there don't move off the top until snow builds up in late October and early November. A suggestion, the archery camp hunters might focus more time hunting and less on negative prognosticating. The elk are everywhere up there. The season is short, don't waste time in hunting camp. Be in the forest from dark to dark and you'll kill an elk. You have to decide what's important.

[gnihcraes]

FWIW, the Cabin Creek Fire (which I've pictured) didn't touch the Flat Tops Wilderness or the Flat Tops Plateau, and the vast majority of the 20K+ elk there don't move off the top until snow builds up in late October and early November. A suggestion, the archery camp hunters might focus more time hunting and less on negative prognosticating. The elk are everywhere up there. The season is short, don't waste time in hunting camp. Be in the forest from dark to dark and you'll kill an elk. You have to decide what's important.

We'll I guess you know all about us and our hunting area and skill.

I can promise you its not like you think about my family and friends hunting the same areas for 40+ years.

Buford road and meadow lake roads were closed and much of the area north was off limits for a while. I'm not there to confirm any status nor did I look recently, thus why I'm reporting 2nd hand.

Pretty unfriendly I must say of you to comment in such a way.

Sent from my SM-T813 using Tapatalk

[Hummer]

No, I don't know about your group or their hunting skill, and I offered my comments as encouraging advice, not as criticism. But when you stated the second hand report that the elk have all moved down into the valleys already, I took it as complete nonsense, because it's not true. It appeared to be the same sort of defeatist negativity I hear from hunters every year who don't actually make the effort to hunt elk. If I'm wrong about your friends based on your post, I apologize. I don't mean to insult anyone. But I do know about elk and other animals in the Flat Tops area because I've backpacked, fished, hunted, researched wildlife and have guided there since the early sixties, and my family owned property there. So when I hear defeatist comments from hunters I dismiss it and try to direct them toward being successful.

[gnihcraes]

No, I don't know about your group or their hunting skill, and I offered my comments as encouraging advice, not as criticism. But when you stated the second hand report that the elk have all moved down into the valleys already, I took it as complete nonsense, because it's not true. It appeared to be the same sort of defeatist negativity I hear from hunters every year who don't actually make the effort to hunt elk. If I'm wrong about your friends based on your post, I apologize. I don't mean to insult anyone. But I do know about elk and other animals in the Flat Tops area because I've backpacked, fished, hunted, researched wildlife and have guided there since the early sixties, and my family owned property there. So when I hear defeatist comments from hunters I dismiss it and try to direct them toward being successful.

No defeatist in this group of hunters. Younger guys have gone down in places and successfully bagged one bull that I've heard of so far. Others are in their 70's and just can't move to the deeper places like they once were able. My father being one at 78, just can't manage the physical workout anymore. He's staying more up top in our favorite spots and not seeing a lot. FYI.