Elk cold weather.

[gonzo04]

Question.

Do elk tend to move down due to cold weather alone. Or does it take significant snow for them to start moving down and into winter range?

 

[GASoline71]

Elk are tough and can withstand extremely low temps. But when the snow is too deep to forage anymore... they'll move down. At least that's been my experience when hunting late seasons here in WA.

Gary

 

[Cogreeny]

Elk like the cold. Significant snow will move them lower. However I’ve seen bulls in the late seasons in belly deep snow that feed in wind blown meadows up high.

 

[Focus]

Elk are tough and can withstand extremely low temps.

Elk like the cold.

Not to highjack the thread but.......define cold. Are we talking 30's-40's or are we talking zeros and teens or lower? I always hear about elk and deer staying on north-facing slopes and staying in the shadows of trees, etc while bedded....they get up and move to shady spots if the sun shines on them. At what temperature point do they start liking the idea of basking in the sun on south-facing slopes?

 

[Cogreeny]

Not to highjack the thread but.......define cold. Are we talking 30's-40's or are we talking zeros and teens or lower? I always hear about elk and deer staying on north-facing slopes and staying in the shadows of trees, etc while bedded....they get up and move to shady spots if the sun shines on them. At what temperature point do they start liking the idea of basking in the sun on south-facing slopes?

If it gets below zero and they’re not pressured they’ll seek out some sun on south slope. But in general elk like the cold and will seek out snow to lay in and eat so they don’t have to go to water as often.

 

[Muley_Stalker]

Gasoline's post is spot on. That's what moves elk to lower altitudes. Food, water, and shelter is their whole world. Survival.

 

[kmott]

some elk winter at timberline. an elk will do what an elk will do

 

[Muley_Stalker]

I've never seen that in Colorado unless it's a really mild winter with little snow. They have to eat and can't do that when the feed is under 4ft of snow.

 

[gonzo04]

Thanks guys. Yea so we are heading out to Colorado this year again for 3rd season. And last year we found them at around 10k elevation with knee high snow in area and we hunted what is said to be winter range.

However, this year noticed little to no snow where we are going so I am thinking we may have to look in different areas maybe higher elevation and more summer range ish.

 

[mtnrunner260]

I think they will stay high for the most part.
It's my understanding that the grasses elk favor are affected like a forb that deer favors when it is subjected to frost.
But I have seen a few inches of snow move elk out if it warms and freezes into a hard crust.