Elk can be broken down into five time periods. During each of these periods, Elk have distinct needs: food, water, security and breeding. As the hunting season progresses, these needs will change in priority, and these needs will dictate where you find the elk.
Here are the Five Periods of Elk;
3. Peak rut (Mid-September and into Early October)
4. Post-rut (Mid to late October)
5. Late Season (November and Beyond)
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Elk have 4 primary needs, food, water, sanctuary, and breeding. These needs fluctuate with every season.
You probably already understand what is meant by food, water and breeding as a primary need. But here’s a quick explanation of sanctuaries. These are places, due to topography, distance, and/or blowdown, hunters just don’t want to go. BUT, that’s where the elk are going to be because they know you’re not going to go there. Sanctuaries are places far away from open roads. At the same time, a sanctuary can be a ranch that doesn’t allow hunting. And once rifle season starts, these are likely places elk are going to run.
Post-rut
This Post-Rut calendar period runs from mid- October to the end of October. This is the hardest time of the year to take a bull elk on public land. Bull elk will be solo and away from the herds. They don’t want anything to do with anybody; all they want to do is recover.
During this time, bull elk depart their groups and go to their deepest sanctuaries. Basically, all they want to do at this time is hide from predators (like hunters) and focus on recovering from the rut while also building up reserves so they can get through the winter months. So, it’s your job to locate those deep, dark sanctuaries by climbing higher, going deeper, navigating boundaries and trudging through vegetation. You have to be willing to go where no other hunter wants to go.
This is also when many rifle seasons begin, and this pushes bulls even deeper into sanctuaries. Once rifle season starts, use hunting pressure to your advantage and go where no other hunter wants to go. The elk will be waiting and hiding.
The needs of bull elk during this Post-Rut period have a simple priority;
