Question on Elk Habits

[bigbone]

I know there are no set "Rules" elk follow, nor is archery elk hunting a "science" and everything varies with the amount of hunting pressure, feed conditions and a whole lot of other stuff, but my question for you guys who are constantly watching elk and documenting via trail cameras is;

When do elk mostly water in relationship to feeding schedule? Prior to feeding? Or maybe just after feeding? Or,(as I hope not) when ever the heck its convienient?

I am trying to figure out when some elk I am bow hunting are needing to drink. The waterhole is out in the open, and the grass is very, very, very dry so I assume they would want a drink late afternoon/evening after a whole day of 70-80 degrees and before the eat a whole bellyfull of dry old grass, but I am not sure they are not just drinking after they fill up, like maybe early in the morning before heading for the dry old timber where they bed.

I am hoping some of the local experts here will have time share some hard earned info on the subject.

Thanks for any info...



^BIGBONE^

 

[swbuckmaster]

90% water at night between 9pm and 2am according to the trail cameras I've put out.


Archery is a year round commitment!!

 

[cohntr6]

hey stranger! I thought you were the expert!

5 days hunting with my buddy in AZ unit 8 and most of the elk were using water anywhere from a half hour after shooting light to 4 or 5 AM.
SOme of this I observed as we walked back to camp or the truck in the dark after a day of chasing bulls and while heading out early in the morning.
I spent 4 days in CO at the beginning of Sept and the elk were using water that was out in the open at night and water/wallows that was hidden in the timber (N. slope) all through the day.
Good luck cuz.

Jeff