Doom and gloom for elk hunting this season

[Laelkhunter]

After the extreme conditions of the winter kill, and the extreme heat and drought conditions presently, I wonder what the real outlook is for elk and deer hunting out West. Colorado reduced tag numbers in some units due to the extreme numbers lost in the winter. Just wondering if anyone cares to speculate....

 

[rjthehunter]

Success rates might not be as high. But I wouldn't let it hold you back from going! Still plenty of elk and NR's out there.

 

[TOGIE]

majority of units are just fine.

in the hard hit colorado and wyoming units the outlook for elk is best, then deer, and pronghorn the worst.

plenty of other colorado units you can choose on an otc tag.

 

[8andcounting]

Success rates might not be as high. But I wouldn't let it hold you back from going! Still plenty of elk and deer out there.

I’d stop the sentence after elk .

 

[Deleted member 18333]

Elk in Wyo should be as good as ever, if not better. Deer tag should be used as fire starter.

 

[rjthehunter]

I’d stop the sentence after elk .

There, I fixed it!

 

[Deleted member 18333]

Success rates might not be as high. But I wouldn't let it hold you back from going! Still plenty of elk and NR's out there.

We can hunt NR's now? I hear the UT ones taste like shit.

 

[Laelkhunter]

Still going. I hunt a private Ranch in 78/81. Already paid for, and have my OTC Bull license (rifle 2nd season) in the gun safe. I leave on Oct 21 for Chama, spend a week there before heading to the Ranch for my hunt. Year #34 for elk hunting in the area.

 

[TOGIE]

78/81?

these units didn't even see tag reductions and are literally about as far from the colorado severe winter zone as possible.

 

[LuketheDog]

78/81?

these units didn't even see tag reductions and are literally about as far from the colorado severe winter zone as possible.

 

[Laelkhunter]

Yes, that's true. I was just trying to generate some hunting talk while waiting for the season to get here. Mods can close it now since it's a waste of time. Carry on with whatever you were doing before I interrupted you.

 

[PrivateIdho]

After the extreme conditions of the winter kill, and the extreme heat and drought conditions presently, I wonder what the real outlook is for elk and deer hunting out West. Colorado reduced tag numbers in some units due to the extreme numbers lost in the winter. Just wondering if anyone cares to speculate....

I know in Idaho our fish and game dept. says that the Elk did fine but our mule deer population took a hit with our late cold snap and subsequent fawn loss.

 

[Laelkhunter]

I was thinking that the elk were less impacted by the winter since they tend to migrate to lower elevations, and the deer tend to stay closer to where they were born.

 

[Big Fin]

Elk I've seen in Montana are fat and healthy, to a degree I've never seen. Given how many bulls were killed by lead poisoning with the early snows last season, I expect fewer bulls than this time last year.

 

[PrivateIdho]

How did the early snow lead to Lead poisoning in elk?

 

[Laelkhunter]

Lead poisoning as in getting shot I guess??

 

[TOGIE]

How did the early snow lead to Lead poisoning in elk?

early deep snow = early winter range arrival then lead seems to sling itself pretty readily from roads at that point.

 

[PrivateIdho]

early deep snow = early winter range arrival then lead seems to sling itself pretty readily from roads at that point.

Interesting for sure! I don't understand it but hey..

 

[rogerthat]

Severe winters are usually not as much of a concern for timber carp. It’s not usually something I worry about. Mule deer are much more affected by winter as others have alluded.

 

[MtnElk]

its going to be terrible. I've seen like no elk in Colorado this year. I would definitely stay home.