How long does it take for elk to move out of the area?

[h5c5o5]

Hi fellas

I am going bow hunting for elk this year and I wanted to avoid one of the issues from last years trip.

We saw some elk in an area last year and decided to hunt that region for the next couple days. We found out later that the elk had been fairly heavily pressured there and had moved to another hilly area about 3 miles away. While we found them over there again eventually, half our trip was running around an elk-less area.

My question for you guys is, if an area is receiving moderate to heavy hunting pressure (archery), how long will the elk stick around in that area on average? I know this will change depending on the conditions but hearing your thoughts/experiences would be a great help.

Thanks

[dscubame]

Over night.  Seriously.

[grundy53]

Over night.  Seriously.

or on the flip side they might not leave at all. It really depends on the herd.

sent from my typewriter

[snarkybull]

Find where they enter/leave the area and sit on it.  if there is enough pressure they will get pushed right by you.  if there isn't that much pressure, they will almost assuredly come back.  you've got 13 days,  elk don't stay away from spots they love for that long.

Unless, of course you are thinking about my super secret spot.  No elk here, look somewhere else...

[Jonathan_S]

Over night.  Seriously.

If that.  I think Roosevelt elk don't spook and move as far as Rocky Mt Elk, so I've been told. 

[washelkhunter]

3 miles is not far for a herd to travel and should be expected as normal behavior in the more open areas of the state. Theyll go 20 just because they can. Follow the bugles, but stay out of bedding areas!

[CP]

if an area is receiving moderate to heavy hunting pressure (archery), how long will the elk stick around in that area on average?
Thanks

A few seconds -

[b0bbyg]

I guess my question is did you find the same Elk 3 miles away or just some elk 3 miles away.

Where I hunt the elk are always moving around. They frequently pass through areas but will sometimes seem like they have "moved".  Really its just we have not found where they are for those few days.  They usually are not far but can dig into some deep areas where you can hunt all around them.

[h5c5o5]

Why stay out of bedding areas? Will sitting near one of those push them out of an area more potently than anything else? Also, wouldnt those be decent places to identify and sit near as far as getting off a shot goes?
Thanks

[h5c5o5]

Oh and I am not sure if those were the same elk 3 miles away, good point

[washelkhunter]

You want to identify bedding spots and stake out the approaches and exists but as a common sense rule of thumb you  do not want to go in there. You blow them out of there safety spot and they may not come back for a week or longer! Find the groceries and hunt that.

[JPhelps]

The only thing for certain when hunting elk is the uncertainties. There are no rules but here have been my observation:

Roosevelts will run circles around the same area all day
Rocky Mt. Elk will be three main ridges over in the matter of minutes

Or vice versa....sometimes

Here is my take on bedding areas:  Unless the season is winding down I always avoid bedding areas because if the wind switches or I spook them I may have just ruined my chances for the rest of the short season.  Besides I feel it is easier to kill them transitioning from feed to bed or bed to feed.

[D-Rock425]

In the area I hunt we don't get the big herds mont of the time you see a small handful of elk say 2 to 6 regularly.  A dozen is a big group where I hunt.  We may bump elk one day then there will be elk there the next day.

[WSU]

It depends.  East side elk can really move out.  West side elk may run 30 yards and stop in the reprod.  I've bumped the same herd of elk in the same clearcut 3 evenings in a row.  I bumped a herd in a clearcut one night and killed a bull in the same exact spot the next morning.  Sometimes they just don't go far.