Elk Hunting and Snow

albubba · Sep 22, 2006

For those of you lucky enough to get a tag. How has the rain and snow affected your hunt?
I have a friend hunting Manti who had a big bull in the crosshairs when the clouds rolled in and he couldn't get the shot off.

DidIDraw · Sep 22, 2006

We helped a 70 year old friend hunt on the Manti. We pushed it hard and had the same experience that you did - fog would roll in before we could complete a stalk. He finally called his hunt OVER yesterday afternoon. I'm sick that we couldn't get him on a bull but the weather made it really tough for someone who can't do too much intense hiking.

albubba · Sep 22, 2006

That is too bad. Waiting for years to draw and then not get one.
Maybe you could talk him into road hunting and then get lucky.

Tuffbucker · Sep 22, 2006

DidIDraw,

If you can talk him into going back out, I know of a few places on the Manti that you might be able to find a decent bull, without having to do much hiking. Let me know, I can send you some info if you go back out.

TUFF

DidIDraw · Sep 24, 2006

Thanks - I'll give him a call this afternoon and see if he's game for one more day.

DonVathome · Sep 25, 2006

I have this exact question on bowsite, I bowhunted northern NM and think the snow changed elk a lot. A couple times I hiked areas normally loaded with elk and cut zero tracks after miles of hiking with snow. I am not sure if elk moved because of snow, hunting pressure (a few guys were in this area before I was there) or more water then normal.

I am fairly sure while it was snowing hard they were not out as much, but after snow elk were out.

What do you guys think?

DidIDraw · Sep 25, 2006

Tuff:

This guy is visiting his daughter in Idaho and won't be coming back to hunt. Thanks a bunch for your offer to help get us get into elk. The herd we were hunting had a 350 and a 360 bull taken. We had a bead on the bigger bull but the guy was afraid that he couldn't make the 1 mile hike in the mud. That's hunting some times.