Late Archery Little Naches

[Guitarnbow6213]

I've been hunting the late archery elk/deer hunt,for several years....which is around Thanksgiving.My question is about the elk migration habits in this area... How much snow does there have to be ,to drive the herds out of the area.     I usually have a rough time locating elk,during this time....I'm sure most of herd ,uheads down towards oak creek....but when....I've seen years when there is hardly any snow,and years when it hits hard.. 

[yakimanoob]

It's very difficult to predict, as it doesn't neatly correspond to snow fall / depth. Obviously a massive blizzard over the course of a week right before season would have me starting in the low country, but short of that it's just a game of cutting their trails and seeing which direction they were heading. If they're actually starting to migrate, you'll see evidence of multiple different groups all headed downhill.

Personally I'm curious how the Retreat Fire (which burned the vast majority of the feed in the Oak Creek area) will affect their early winter migration patterns. Part of me things not much as they're based on memory of previous years, but surely the lack of feed in their historic corridors will shift things around a bit?

Anyway wish I could be more helpful. Good luck!

[hughjorgan]

I think a guy would have better luck hunting the umptaneum or the border of 342/346 imo

[royalbull]

Usually snow just has to be in the forecast for elk to move out of little naches