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This year's hunt might be interesting for everyone. As far as the severity of this coming winter, it's supposed to snow a lot in some parts of the mountains, but be very mild almost everywhere else.
"There are no finger prints under water."
Overall I'm done with cold weather altogether, but seeing as this may be my last winter here, I wouldn't mind going out with a bang!Originally Posted by Irving
Probably no correlation with current weather and elk being seen low. Some elk live "low" year round, such as those out around Elbert, and those around Sedalia. That's where they live and you can bet there's still lots of elk up high right now, right where they live all summer long.
Laws aren't "preventable" measures. IOW, more gun laws won't stop mass shootings.
True, and I'm not expecting a particularly early or severe winter given the current drought. What we can count on is that water will be the primary influence on the presence and movement of elk this year. It's very dry in the high country, especially on the Western Slope.
Yesterday we drove across the state with a detour to the area outside the Flat Tops where I've hunted elk for the past 34 years. My hunting grounds have been on fire since late July, and we watched a flare up on the mountain.The burn licked to within 50 feet of my campsite. But the burn area isn't nearly as complete as the fire maps indicate. Overall, I was pleased to find the fire had burned in a matrix of fingers through the forest leaving enough untouched habitat for elk and other animals to continue using the area. It will be interesting to see the changes in an area I know very well. I have two elk licenses and a bear tag for the area and can hardly wait to get back up there.
Do you feel that the elk may be easier to find because there is limited greenery? Like limited water for antelope?
"There are no finger prints under water."
Maybe, but I've never hunted a fresh burn area. It will be quieter walking because the dry branches and twigs are burned off, but so is the soft duff layer in the dark spruce-fir so those areas might be noisier, and there will still be dry aspen leaves scattered over it all. With most of the grasses and shrubs gone, it will be easier to see and be seen through the forest. As always, I'll hope for a fresh 4" layer of powder snow.
To quote one of the old guys that taught me a lot about Elk hunting...they are where they are and it takes us years to figure them out, just like Women.
It's been dry, I think the Elk are just following the food on top of yeah, there are some permanent heards in areas where you wouldn't think. I've read that based on eye witness accounts from forest fire fighters that Elk and other wildlife move back in to burn areas pretty much right after the fire passes by. I think a good bet would be to find untouched islands inside of burn areas this year.
Last edited by def90; 09-06-2018 at 20:56.
I think you're right and that's what I plan to do. One thing that's interesting is that when the oak, mountain mahogany and sage burns off, the game trails are still intact and become plainly visible. The trails are most likely to continue for decades until growth and falling trees reroutes the animals on new pathways.
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)
Sometimes people trip and fall down stairs.
Sometimes assholes push people down stairs.
That doesn't mean "stairs are bad" nor does it make someone who pushes someone down the stairs any less of an asshole.
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