Rock Mountain Elk, Cascade Roosevelt, Coastal Roosevelt....

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I believe elk are elk, but having had the opportunity of beginning my hunting in the 1980's on the west side of the Cascades in both Green River and White River before "resource allocation" made us choose sides.
.
Due to access restrictions and spike only rules I switched to Eastern Washington and hunted the east slope of the Cascades.
Teanaway, Taneum, and Manastash for the next 20+ years.
Herd reductions, antler restrictions, and a move to SW Washington forced me to change my priorities and hunting area.
.
I now hunt coastal Roosevelt,  and have noticed a major difference.
.
I have heard that Roosevelt are not as vocal, but believe that is just because sound doesn't travel as far in the dense jungle as it does in more open regions.
.
I have heard multiple bulls and walked out to the gate to hear "they just aren't talking" from other hunters at the gate.
.
So, to get to my point..
Both bike riders and hikers seem to follow the concept of calling from an area that the sound will travel to attempt to locate.
.
If they don't get a response,  they continue the search.
.
And this concept might work at night.
.
And wonder where they went come daylight.
.
In my experience.
.
Rocky Mountain elk feed during the night in open areas and follow thermals up in the morning until they find a safe spot to bed down.
.
Coastal Roosevelt seem to feed in these upper open spots during the night and head down into the creek bottoms and find a spot where the wind swirling is actually coming in a constant direction, and gives them escape routes.
.
Little pockets,  in the bottom...
Not open hillside.
.
I can glass a herd of elk at daylight,  but they all seem to follow a drainage down as soon as the thermals start moving up.
.
I used to see the opposite on RM, they always seemed to travel up at daylight.
.
Chasing Roosevelt,  it's been spot them at daylight and follow them low.
.
They head for cover, they seem to head for the deepest hole they can find.
.
Proof?
.
3/4 of the pictures from successful Roosevelt hunters have a trickle of water in the background.
.
.
That's why I Park at the gate and take the first dead end road that is close to the creek,  then follow the creek up.
.
Find a game trail, there will be..
Get off the road.
.
When you lose the main trail?
.
You just found a spot.
.

[hunter399]

I believe elk are elk, but having had the opportunity of beginning my hunting in the 1980's on the west side of the Cascades in both Green River and White River before "resource allocation" made us choose sides.
.
Due to access restrictions and spike only rules I switched to Eastern Washington and hunted the east slope of the Cascades.
Teanaway, Taneum, and Manastash for the next 20+ years.
Herd reductions, antler restrictions, and a move to SW Washington forced me to change my priorities and hunting area.
.
I now hunt coastal Roosevelt,  and have noticed a major difference.
.
I have heard that Roosevelt are not as vocal, but believe that is just because sound doesn't travel as far in the dense jungle as it does in more open regions.
.
I have heard multiple bulls and walked out to the gate to hear "they just aren't talking" from other hunters at the gate.
.
So, to get to my point..
Both bike riders and hikers seem to follow the concept of calling from an area that the sound will travel to attempt to locate.
.
If they don't get a response,  they continue the search.
.
And this concept might work at night.
.
And wonder where they went come daylight.
.
In my experience.
.
Rocky Mountain elk feed during the night in open areas and follow thermals up in the morning until they find a safe spot to bed down.
.
Coastal Roosevelt seem to feed in these upper open spots during the night and head down into the creek bottoms and find a spot where the wind swirling is actually coming in a constant direction, and gives them escape routes.
.
Little pockets,  in the bottom...
Not open hillside.
.
I can glass a herd of elk at daylight,  but they all seem to follow a drainage down as soon as the thermals start moving up.
.
I used to see the opposite on RM, they always seemed to travel up at daylight.
.
Chasing Roosevelt,  it's been spot them at daylight and follow them low.
.
They head for cover, they seem to head for the deepest hole they can find.
.
Proof?
.
3/4 of the pictures from successful Roosevelt hunters have a trickle of water in the background.
.
.
That's why I Park at the gate and take the first dead end road that is close to the creek,  then follow the creek up.
.
Find a game trail, there will be..
Get off the road.
.
When you lose the main trail?
.
You just found a spot.
.

This quote will probably be on my headstone.
But probably not ,since my ashes will be spread in a dirt road way back.
Anyway the quote goes.....
"Hunting starts where the road and trails end"

Not sure how much truth is behind that.
I'm usually not far from the road. But I like saying it anyway.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

"Hunting starts where the road and trails end"

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

 

[optic2]

You doing archery or muzzy this year?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

You doing archery or muzzy this year?

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Archery.
Had a few chances at an elk last year, ended up with a little doe.
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Not a trophy, but sure is tasty.
.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

My question actually was about if anyone else has the experience of roosevelt elk heading downhill to bed, as opposed to heading uphill?

[freshgrease]

My question actually was about if anyone else has the experience of roosevelt elk heading downhill to bed, as opposed to heading uphill?

Almost always. I don't know if it's out of necessity or because of preference though. Nothing ever follows them into that stuff and they seem to be willing to go even where blacktail avoid. Either that or they go to somebody's yard/pasture.

The one time I went fully exploring into a well used bedroom I was practically crawling on my hands and knees to get through it. Like idk how they even do it sometimes. I stopped following them into that stuff after that lol.

These are coastal elk also.

In the cascades though I've found them bedded uphill, downhill, just sort of everywhere they hang out.

[JakeLand]

Yep head into the thick or swampy bogs

[Cylvertip]

My question actually was about if anyone else has the experience of roosevelt elk heading downhill to bed, as opposed to heading uphill?

Yep.