Weather effect

[BeardownAZ]

General question: If its cold out(and it will be the day after Thanksgiving in the White Mountains) but no snow do the elk still move lower or is it the snow that drives there movements? Never been drawn before until this year so just trying to get an idea what to expect or look out for .

[Str8Shot]

I have always been told and witness to the fact that the temperature will not move them much unless there is not enough exposed vegetation for those big bodies to keep fueled up. Once the snow gets deep and starts hard packing over the grass ... start looking for lower surrounding areas with good vegetation still exposed. Sometimes you don't have to go very far.

 

What hunt and unit ?

[.270]

about the only thing that'll move elk much is snow and their own opinion. usually. last year where we were there was a real big buncha elk that went low without any snow to speak of. they knew it was coming. but there were a buncha bulls that stayed real high, even after it put down about 18 inches. if it gets 50 below for a few days they might wander off the peaks, but that kinda cold usually takes a storm anyway. as long as they can get to enough feed to keep em going, they like it high. that's why you see the quakie bark all gnawed off in some places. they're trying to hang out in the high country a little longer. but sometimes they just know it's a comin' and get off the mountain. so baiscally, it's sorta like old people diapers. depends. Lark.

[BeardownAZ]

Unit 1-Late Bull. Its right about the time it starts to snow but with Arizona weather you never know. Temperature wise it will definetly be cold enough, or least it normally is. Now whether or not we get moisture is a different story. I was just curious what there main driving factor was or anyone who has ever hunted that area or lives close by may see what the trend is that time of year up there.

[elkaholic]

just to add one other comment - water - elk need water reguardless of now much snow - try melting snow for a water supply - takes huge amounts to get a glass-

some may say the elk just eat snow - which maybe true to some extent--

 

water supplys start frezzing solid - move to lower elavations - or concentrate on moving water areas

anyplace i've been where the tanks /ponds were frozen - no elk to be found

[BeardownAZ]

Anyone live in the Round Valley area got any weather advice for the Thanksgiving time of year?? Cold doesnt bother me to much, I think I'd rather deal with it than the 105-110 degree heat. Thanks everyone so far for the info. These forums can be alot of help !

[.270]

expect and plan on horrible cold weather. may not happen, but it dang sure can. it's gonna be cold no matter what. the big herds can start moving down, just because. they are pretty good at predicting the weather. if you get some snow, the tracks show up better. a great thing about unit 1 is that there are 2 seasons. friday, saturday and sunday. most folks have either killed one or go home after sunday and about tuesday the elk start calming down and it's like a whole new season with about 25% of the hunters. it's one unit that is just as good, or maybe even better, on the last day as it is on the first. Lark.

[billrquimby]

expect and plan on horrible cold weather. may not happen, but it dang sure can. it's gonna be cold no matter what. the big herds can start moving down, just because. they are pretty good at predicting the weather. if you get some snow, the tracks show up better. a great thing about unit 1 is that there are 2 seasons. friday, saturday and sunday. most folks have either killed one or go home after sunday and about tuesday the elk start calming down and it's like a whole new season with about 25% of the hunters. it's one unit that is just as good, or maybe even better, on the last day as it is on the first. Lark.

 

Lark, darn it, you know there are no elk in Unit 1. They and every mule deer in the unit moved into units 27 and 3 or across into New Mexico a couple of years ago when the feds first released all those wolves.

 

Bill Quimby

 

[nanoHunter]

I had a elk hunt last year up by flagstaff and it was cold. It was the cow elk hunt in December. We filled both tags that we had. Anyways all the water around us was frozen solid. They were not even pawing the ice to get water. So the eating snow might not be that far fetched. It was about 1-15 degrees over night and maybe get up to 30-40 during the day. We were talking to a lot of hunters and they were heading to the southern part of the Unit. We decided to stick it out. So the day before the big storm that was going to hit when many hunters actually got stranded in the mountains last year was when we were out during the middle of the day and what were the elk that we shot doing? They eating fierce like. They knew something was coming. So as far as it being cold as heck and elk out with snow on the ground everywhere it is possible, but I would think that they would get real tired of chewing grass that was frosted eventually their tongue's gonna get raw or it taste real bitter as I heard someone say one time. I hope that helps a little. Just a little experience I have and guess what his December I have the same hunt and I am sure that I can throw all that advice out the window and roll with what works for the moment. I hope that you score a big ELK. But like Lark said dress for coldest possible weather and if it's windy it's even worse.

 

[mje1]

Im taking my Brother in-law on the same hunt, its a great hunt and the bulls are still up top. If you read the unit 27 hunt details on the GF website it actually says the mature bulls migrate down regardless of snowpack but thats 27. weve had alot of sucess in 1 on that hunt, the only tough year was about 10 years ago when we couldnt get around the snow drifts to get up top. I was told years ago from a local friend up there that the bulls dont move down until they cant break through the ice to drink and last year in 27 we found alot of ponds with hoove marks where they were trying but im sure all the bulls are different.

 

Mark

[BeardownAZ]

Talkin to a few people around, the ones I talked to didnt have major snow issues but said there was some snow a few days into the hunt. 2 of them where hunting high still cause the snow was minimal but they said it was darn cold. They all said that finding elk wasnt to hard but that the wind sucked when it blew. Said most hunters seemed to be cruisiing the roads. Maybe the 5 degree temps had something to do with that ! Right now I have a few strategies and mulitple areas I will try if it snows alot, alittle, or not at all. That time of year and that elevation, being open minded seems to be the way to go based on what I am hearing.

[bobbyo]

Opening day, Unit 1 2008:

 

I learned one thing on this hunt. During a storm with whiteout conditions you are not going to see elk. No visibility and the ELK are hunkered down.Of coarse, like a moron, since i am a take no prisoner hunt from dusk to dawn, extreme hunter dude I was out all day and didn't see a living thing except for those mean ravens that mockingly caw at your stupidity. If I wasn't afraid of scaring off the "ELK" I would of sent a 7 mag their evil way. If this happens this year i am going straight to Greer lodge to drink hot toties and watch soap operas. You are all welcome to join me.

 

After the storm cleared i was expecting to see a great migration of elk to the low lands. Sort of like a buffalo stampede in a cowboy movie. To my disappointment this was not so, Seems the Elk could give a crap about the snow or cold weather. In fact they seemed to like it. We were seeing elk in the same spots you would see them in September. On the forth morning of the hunt I was able to take this 400 bull on one of the highest peaks in the unit. I'm sure many of you will recognize the spot.

Bob

[BeardownAZ]

So it seems once the storms subside and the snow is laid out like a carpet they are back out again. I am sure our winters arent as harsh as lot of typical elk states are. I was in Show Low last year in January and while there was lot of snow still there was still alot of areas that animals could eat and still remain high. I'm all Gung Ho now but it is also 75 degrees outside too! Your pics by the way.......... !