Unit 39 Rifle Elk Migration Q's

Hi all,

I hunted a little bit around Cottonwood Creek this year and did not see any elk. I had very little time which is why I headed up there. Other hunters I spoke with didn't see any elk, but there was one killed near the road.

I have spent more time hunting closer to Atlanta-- a little more than halfway up middle fork road-- during the season. There seemed to be more elk in that area. Do you think that the elk generally migrate a little later than the rifle season?

Any idea of whether a larger migration happens closer to the middle fork or 5-10 miles away from the river? My theory is that regardless of the migration, it is easier to find elk the farther away from roads as possible during the hunt.

I think the hard part is that the bigger bulls are very wary and holed up by the time that early November rolls around. Lots of activity during the 39 deer and cow elk hunt to bump them.

Kyle

Cows will migrate down the main drainages, they often take main ridges down to lower country. The bulls typically stay up the drainages, but move to the south facing slopes. I really believe a lot of the bigger bulls move out to bordering units, I've seen them move along ways late during the rifle deer season, and I also believe some of them find a nasty hole to hide in. Cottonwood creek gets hammered, I live over the ridge.

You are right about this: "it is easier to find elk the farther away from roads as possible during the hunt."

In terms of the rest, in my opinion, you are partially right. Elk aren't like deer, they are where they are and don't occupy all suitable habitat as they are herd animals. They also react, like most antlered critters, to pressure, which they find in much of this popular unit.

I do find some areas are popular with elk and will usually hold elk until pressure gets too great. Find some of those places and try not to talk about them on here, or with friends, but honestly either people or fire will find your spot eventually.

Well, you are reinforcing what I thought. Unless there's a great pinch point that a lot of animals are migrating through, it's easier to hunt quite a ways back. I have seen elk at 8500 feet in November with two feet of snow near one of the lookouts in unit 39. In that same area I have seen them feeding on wind-blown south-facing slopes. Do you think that most bulls stay up pretty high?

Yes, I believe the bulls stay fairly high. I pick up sheds around 6000' often.