Elk bedding areas

[SGM R]

Do Elk use the same bedding area through out the years/seasons? Last weekend during late Bow for deer I came across several elk beds that were all about the same size (see picture) and the area looked very well established, I mean this was not a hasty occupation.

For you Elk-o-holics, can I expect to find elk here next year?

[Elknut1]

 It is certainly an area of interest at the least! Bedding areas are established according to weather such as hot sunny days or inclement weather. Hot times they want areas that keep them the coolest where as cooler & windy & rainy times they may seek out a slightly different area. But just the same the bedding area is a bedding area, take note the time frame when you feel it's being used.

  Elk will not necessarily use the exact spot to bed but will use the general vicinity but yes, they can & do use these same spots, finding them there is the un-predictable part! (grin) Also keep in mind that elk can get up & move around midday for water & light feeding & not return to the same bed but relocate for various reasons such as the sun is now on them where it wasn't earlier in the day. There's different factors why they can & do move around for their personal comfort or staying hid from hunting pressure! Good Luck & great observation!

  ElkNut1

[SGM R]

Hey Elknuts,

This is why I subscribed to this site...Your comments make a lot of sense and have got me thinking about a dozen more questions...I am excited to return to that area and continue to observe the area from a distance. I really want to learn this group of animals and have a understanding of their habits and movement patterns..

Thanks for your comments,

Are you the Elknuts that has the playbook?

Brian

[high country]

I have found that timing is quite dependandt on elk. if you stumbled on hot beds during a time of high pressure, then you have a good thing going. if this was not a high pressure time then the area you found should be analized. you will find elk like the same things in their bedding area....cover is important, but so is the ability to view long distances. escape is a huge consideration as well.....you will rarely find elk where there is only one way out.

typically I find elk will return to the same areas they freequent till pushed out, but as any elk hunter can tell you, elk do odd things that don't always make sense to us.

[bonkellekter]

Bedding areas may change from year to year depending on several different factors. The Elk herd that I have hunted for the last two years have used the same bedding area but I noticed that their route to the bedding area changed due to available vegetation to and from. These Elk are in a very low pressure area. Elk in high pressure areas can be a bit more challenging to pattern and even if you do pattern them their patterns can change very quickly. I would be inclined to check out the area within a few weeks or a month of the season you plan to hunt them in.

[Austrian Hunter]

Hey Elknuts,

This is why I subscribed to this site...Your comments make a lot of sense and have got me thinking about a dozen more questions...I am excited to return to that area and continue to observe the area from a distance. I really want to learn this group of animals and have a understanding of their habits and movement patterns..

Thanks for your comments,

Are you the Elknuts that has the playbook?

Brian

 

[SGM R]

High country and Bonkellekter,

Thanks for your feedback.

You know I've been hunting elk for twenty + years, running from clearcut to clearcut and pushing thru the timber chasin' elk. This year is the first year that I have slowed down enough to really take a look around and ask the question, why are the elk here and why now? Do you think it is old age? and maybe I've slowed down, because I can't go fast anymore?

Thanks again,

[Elknut1]

 SGM R---Yes, I'm the ElkNut that put the PlayBook together! If you have it you will see much in it about bedding areas & how to find them & what ones are daytime bedding areas & which are night time bedding areas. This feature is important when hunting especially midday/evening bedding areas! The bed you show is a daytime bedding area. Did you know that? There's a big difference between the two & when to hunt the areas.

  ElkNut1

[SGM R]

I was hoping santa would bring it for Christmas. I guess I was a bad man! I did not know that this was a day time bedding area, in fact, I'm finding out that I know very little about Elk. My intent is to buy your book and become a subject matter expert on this piece of land near the bedding area in the picture.. Thanks again for all your help and hope all is well in McCall.

SGM R

[MIKEXRAY]

It really depends on what kind of area you are hunting , if the elk will return with any regularity. My father owns property & the elk move in late summer and reside in the valley he lives for one month or so. Until the good browse is gone. Beds every where ! But come Sept hunting you would think the area was thick with elk with all the sign , they are long gone by then & moved on.  On the contrary where I hunt on the east side of the cascades the elk bed down in the same timber area every year / all summer until it snows. I have also found that after a couple of days of hunting season, the bedding areas become higher up the ridge, & deeper in the canyons. Mike

[SGM R]

Mike

I'm not sure what these Elk do yet. They live on a virtual island that is surrounded by small towns and a large city.. I'm not sure if they migrate outside of this area and if they do they don't go far.. I will be excited to find out and I'm looking at trailcams to document my finds..

Thanks for the reply,

[SGM R]

Spent some time poking around this area last weekend and it was all but abandoned..Really quite and no fresh sign. I'll keep checking back and see if I can pattern them.

Thanks for everyones input I really appriciate it.

SGM R

[coachcw]

It's true for local elk , they like that spot for a good reason . Don't hunt the beds though , if you bump them you probibly wont find them there for atleast eight days .=

[SGM R]

Thanks Coach! I went back last weekend and the beds did not even look like beds. With all the rain and wind we are having it was hard to discouver the beds. I am going to continue to look into that patch of timber through out the summer winter and summer and try to pattern the elk.

Thanks for your reply.

[fisheral87]

So as far as the picture being a 'Daytime bed',

Timbered
Dark
Cool
Good cover, elevated and range of sight

Correct?

What else am I not thinking about that makes it a daytime bed?

Guess I should buy the book to find out.