Struggling Manti elk

Robiland · Aug 10, 2008

I've been scouting the last 2 weeks and have only seen 4 bulls. 1 shooter 360-370 bull and 3 5x5's. I don't know if it is the sheep that have started to rome the areas, but, I am now getting nervous. The last week my tail cam had 18 pics on it, 6 from me leaving and 6 with me comming, and the other 6 of 1 bull at night and I cant tell what he is.

Has anyone else noticed this with the elk disapearing?
My hunt starts this sat the 16th.

Any ideas or suggestions would be helpfulllll!

Maybe they are still there, just not out like they were 3 weeks ago.

desertpointbrian · Aug 10, 2008

dont panic confidance goes along ways in elk hunting try other draws revines ridges you know the elk are there change it up a little

Cam@strawberry · Aug 10, 2008

Robiland dont worry im havin the same prob just north of you the elk are there. I Think with this year they dont have to move tho so they are stayin in the deep darks and not coming out. once the rut kicks in you will have no probs

Wildlife population control specialist

cowslayer · Aug 10, 2008

I read an article about Deseret land and livestock using sheep to move elk out of different canyons and drainages to prevent overgrazing.

I don't think elk and mountain maggots get along. They stink worse than the elk do.

CS

"Helping turn good tags, into great ones." - www.vipoptics.com

slamdunk · Aug 10, 2008

cowslayer-

Where did you read THAT, i must have missed something!
I work on Deseret and would like to know that theory.
Sheep will ruin more land in one day than elk will all year long.
What sheep don't eat, they trample!

Shoot me a PM or something where i can read that study, i'd like to check it out.

Rammu · Aug 10, 2008

Robiland,

Its not unusual for the bulls on the manti to dissapear right now. Be patient as they will start showing up agian. My experience is that when the bulls start to strip the velvet they will go to the deeper timber and then once they have stripped the velvet then they will start to move out a little bit more. the bulls are going to start covering alot more ground during the next couple weeks as soon as they have rubbed it off. good luck. PM sent

AWHOLELOTTABULL · Aug 10, 2008

Just about every elk I've seen have been on the edges of the timber or down in the bottoms near water. They will show up.

It's always an adventure!!!
www.awholelottabull.com

Silentstalker · Aug 10, 2008

Great advice so far! Stick with it Robiland. The last few years I have noticed the bulls really move areas right around the 2nd week of August. They will start wandering and moving into the cow/rut areas. It was very evident last year especially. I had several cameras out on waterholes. I had literally hundreds of pictures of cows/calves and spikes. Only caught 4 bulls on camera. On August 10th (I think) it was like a switch got flipped. I had bulls of all shapes and sizes hitting all 3 locations and it all started on the same day. They routinely hit the waterholes every day after that. Really weird and quite eye opening to me! Keep at it and shoot straight!

Chad

cowslayer · Aug 10, 2008

Slam,

I found it. It was an article by USU where they mentioned that

http://abstracts.co.allenpress.com/pweb/esa2000/abstracts/MIC-3-11-2.html

"Controlled grazing by bands of domestic sheep is sometimes used to displace concentrations of summering elk, Cervus elaphus, from sensitive drainages and "rest" the vegetation from continuous grazing. "

I didn't write it, just read it and remembered it... I don't know why.

CS

"Helping turn good tags, into great ones." - www.vipoptics.com

stikflikr · Aug 10, 2008

I started scouting on the 4th of July and was pretty disappointed until the end of July when a small group of bulls hit the water that my trail cam babysits. Then all the elk in the area got star struck and had to get their mug shots and wouldn't leave it alone. They seem to visit once a week and separate groups of bulls and cows come in for and hour or two at a time for about three days and are gone again for a week or so.
Here are a couple of highlights:

http://www.monsterhuntclips.com/view_video.php?viewkey=dc5d013b1abaebd2faed

slamdunk · Aug 11, 2008

Cowslayer-

I am at a total loss for words!!

I'm going to have to really keep an open mind to beleive THIS study, but there's the facts right there in front of me

Thanks for taking the time to dig that up, i can't wait to talk to the Deseret biologists about this concept so i understand.

Grazing sheep to displace elk herds brings back vegitation....WTF???

birdbuster · Aug 11, 2008

The story we have always been given is that the sheep were used to 'refresh' areas to get new growth coming. We have also been told that the sheep are constantly moved as to not overgraze any particular area. Never heard a mention of sheep used to push elk out per say. Interesting. Slam, do you work for the ranch or one of the outfitters? PM me.

hossblur · Aug 20, 2008

I scouted last weekend, Manti to Ephraim. Found only cows and calves. The usual spots that have elk later in the season were empty and signless. However I do agree they have over tagged this region. It seems as though the bigger elk are fewer and fewer every year. I have the late tag so leave me one and let me know how it goes but I don't have any good words for now.

bobcatbess · Aug 20, 2008

JUDAS FRICKEN PRIEST!!!

CowSlayer!!!

I HOPE EVERYBODY AIN'T BELIEVING THAT BULL$HIT???

MOVE SHEEP IN TO MOVE ELK OUT TO BETTER THE FEED,WTF???

YA GOTTA REMEMBER HOW SMART A SHEEP IS!!!

THEY CHEW IT DOWN TO THE GROUND AND THEN PULL ROOTS & ALL UP & EAT THEM TOO!!!

NOW IF IT WAS JUST TO MOVE ELK I CAN BELIEVE IT!!!

THERES ONE THING BIG STINKY'S DON'T LIKE!!!

AND THATS AN ANIMAL THAT STINKS WORSE THAN THEIRSELVES!!!

I HOPE PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING THEY READ???

JUST BECAUSE SOME JACK-ASS WROTE A STORY DOESN'T MAKE IT TRUE!!!

ANOTHER THING THAT PISSES ME OFF IS:::

THEM JACK-ASSES RUNNING SHEEP ON THE NORTH SLOPE KEEP SNEAKING THEM OVER ON THE SOUTH SLOPE!!!

OUR GOOD OLE USFS IS EITHER TOO LAZY OR TOO CHICKEN-$HIT TO RIDE BACK IN THERE & DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!

THIS IS MY NEW GUN,YOU MAY NOT LIKE IT,YOU'LL LIKE IT A HELL OF A LOT LESS WHEN IT HITS ITS DESTINATION!!!

THE ONLY bobcat THAT KNOWS ALOT OF YOU HAVE HAD THIS IMAGE IN YOUR PEA BRAIN BUT DUE TO POOR SHOOTING TACTICS I'M STILL KICKIN!!!