Deer with elk herds?

[Pete112288]

So I have experienced something over the last couple years that has become a pretty good pattern and I was wondering if anyone had similar experiences or maybe opposite experiences.
In the main couple areas I hunt, whenever I find a herd or group of elk say 10+ I always find deer nearby. It has gotten to the point that when I deer hunt I am still looking for elk. The bigger the herd the more likely I am to find deer near by and the better quality deer. There was a herd that I was watching all summer and into October a couple years ago that I knew if I watched them long enough I would see a specific 3 pt buck and 2 fork horns with him near by. A lot of times they would be feeding right along with the elk, mostly at the closest spot to cover. If a few elk started acting spooky the deer would sneak off. If even just a couple elk busted me and ran off. The deer would be gone before the elk covered 20 feet. Then one October when I busted a big herd with a rowdy 5 pt I saw 2 of the biggest blacktail bucks I have ever seen slip off as the elk took off making all sorts of noise. So far I can only think of one time in the past few years that I have not seen deer within 50 yards of a decent group of elk. Most of the time the deer near them were bucks as well. That is of course till the deer rut hits then this pattern is lost.

[bobcat]

I haven't noticed that but I wonder if it's just that they both are using the areas with the best feed.

[Rainstorm Hunter]

Have heard many stories from my father and grandfather about this. In one instance, while my father was sneaking up on a herd of elk, twin 4 point blacktails busted him and ran right through the middle of the elk, spooking them off through the timber. Don't know why they do but it's too much of a coincidence that it happens so often.

[PlateauNDN]

There's an area I go to that has a nice branched bull bachelor herd that winters there and at the same time there's a herd of close to 15-20 does/fawns nearby as well as small bachelor herd of bucks 3-5. Closest I've seen them together was about 50yds,  feeding/bedding.

[Bean Counter]

I was out shed hunting this spring and saw a few deer in tow with a cow elk herd.

[RadSav]

I've been noticing this in areas with high cougar numbers.  Not sure if that is a coincidence or if those big smart bucks use the elk as protection and/or their early warning system

[kentrek]

I've seen it, seems to be almost myth like occurance but I believe it

[3nails]

 When I'm whitetail hunting in western Montana and come into elk I can be sure a big buck is nearby! Happened just last year. My son and I were working down a ridge looking for a place to rattle. I crept up to a small knob and poked my head up to look at the flat below. Not 60 yds away is huge buck staring right at me. (Which is actually the worst thing I could have seen. I really wanted to rattle there.) I dropped down to my knees and motioned for my son to catch up. I told him about the buck and he lifts his head to look. Couple seconds later he drops back down and says all he can see are elk! I poke my head back up quickly and sure enough I see a cow up and nervous. The buck had enough and bolted about 50 yds and stopped. The elk never moved so I guess he was confused. He stood there for several more minutes until a cow finally barked. At that he took off like he was just shot at. I think they find a tremendous amount of security among all of those eyes and noses. I don't think I'll ever forget the image of that dark horned buck when I first saw him. Several inches past his ears wide, very tall, dark antlers, huge swollen neck, big bodied. I debated on shooting him but since I didn't rattle him in........

[7mmfan]

When I'm whitetail hunting in western Montana and come into elk I can be sure a big buck is nearby! Happened just last year. My son and I were working down a ridge looking for a place to rattle. I crept up to a small knob and poked my head up to look at the flat below. Not 60 yds away is huge buck staring right at me. (Which is actually the worst thing I could have seen. I really wanted to rattle there.) I dropped down to my knees and motioned for my son to catch up. I told him about the buck and he lifts his head to look. Couple seconds later he drops back down and says all he can see are elk! I poke my head back up quickly and sure enough I see a cow up and nervous. The buck had enough and bolted about 50 yds and stopped. The elk never moved so I guess he was confused. He stood there for several more minutes until a cow finally barked. At that he took off like he was just shot at. I think they find a tremendous amount of security among all of those eyes and noses. I don't think I'll ever forget the image of that dark horned buck when I first saw him. Several inches past his ears wide, very tall, dark antlers, huge swollen neck, big bodied. I debated on shooting him but since I didn't rattle him in........

...... I should have shot him to teach him a lesson. Or let my son shoot him. Either one would have been a good idea.

[Jonathan_S]

I debated on shooting him but since I didn't rattle him in........

You're crazy 3nails 

[hunter_sean08]

I've wondered if they might use elk herds as a security blanket sometimes. Was hunting down in the Willapa Hills one December on a cow hunt. We spotted a herd that we had been patterning for a few days down in a field and saw them cross the river over to the hillside they were living on during the day. We worked our way over to the other side of the ridge and climbed up the backside, putting us right where we knew they'd be. I began my stalk along the ridgeline in the thick timber with my muzzleloader. It was foggy and damp, and I was barely creeping along, making basically no noise. Next thing I know, 2 does go bounding off down the ridgeline and bump right into the herd of elk, pushing them down the mountain into places unknown. I was 75 yards away as they crashed through the woods. If it wasn't for those deer, I would've snuck right up on them. Last day of the hunt too.. was really frustrating.

[RadSav]

Failing light and unsteady hands leads to poor pictures, but I did get this one a few years ago.  Quite common in this spot.  There were three deer and nine elk there before I started fumbling and cursing my camera

[fishnfur]

Good thread!  Interesting stuff.  You would think that the noisy elk would have the deer on edge at all times.  I think RadSavage has it right.   Probably just a safety in numbers deal - more noses, more safety from predators, fewer chances to be the subject of an attack.

[Watimberghost]

Last year we watched a bachelor herd of bulls that was 8 strong. Some real good bulls in the group too. The 9th member of the group was a big 4 point muley. Maybe he felt like he'd gotten too big to play with his own kind, haha

[Skyvalhunter]

cool picture Rad

[Gringo31]

Don't tell WDFW!

They know that deer and elk can't sustain populations in the same area.   

[sagewalker]

I have noticed this the past several years, but only in the winter time!!! 

[Firedogg]

And when there are no elk around the deer hang with turkeys.

[vandeman17]

I see it a lot

[3nails]

When I'm whitetail hunting in western Montana and come into elk I can be sure a big buck is nearby! Happened just last year. My son and I were working down a ridge looking for a place to rattle. I crept up to a small knob and poked my head up to look at the flat below. Not 60 yds away is huge buck staring right at me. (Which is actually the worst thing I could have seen. I really wanted to rattle there.) I dropped down to my knees and motioned for my son to catch up. I told him about the buck and he lifts his head to look. Couple seconds later he drops back down and says all he can see are elk! I poke my head back up quickly and sure enough I see a cow up and nervous. The buck had enough and bolted about 50 yds and stopped. The elk never moved so I guess he was confused. He stood there for several more minutes until a cow finally barked. At that he took off like he was just shot at. I think they find a tremendous amount of security among all of those eyes and noses. I don't think I'll ever forget the image of that dark horned buck when I first saw him. Several inches past his ears wide, very tall, dark antlers, huge swollen neck, big bodied. I debated on shooting him but since I didn't rattle him in........

...... I should have shot him to teach him a lesson. Or let my son shoot him. Either one would have been a good idea.

Nope. 

[Bulldozer77]

you gotta look close, but she's there. hanging with 6 bull elk.

[Piscatory_5]

I did see this last October. I had been looking over this one clearing for a couple hours and crossing through some nearby timber. Came back to the clearing and there were elk in the bottom, 5x5 bull and a few cows. Watched for about 45 minutes then cruised back to the other end of clearing where I saw a nice fork horn and a doe about 150 yards from the elk. Shot him with the elk still standing there. Nice rainy day.

[buglebrush]

I have observed this as well. 

[squires14]

For many years I have noticed this same trait. especially when elk are feeding in thicker cover like repro'd or viney maples. It seems like the elk take up all the good feed where the deer especially blacktails like to spend a majority of there day. once the elk feed through the deer move right back in to the thickets where they were before the elk moved in.

[fishnfur]

That makes good sense too.  Deer bumped out of their beds by elk, then just hanging out until they can go re-bed.

[LeviD1]

I get elk and deer feeding on cam together every year. Not sure if its really normal but happends in my area farely often it seems like.

[Jonathan_S]

This has nothing to do with the OP but I have a cam video of a large bull moose with two tiny whitetail fawns walking all around him.  He was completely unconcerned