Elk Response to Rain

[Fireant11]

A buddy and I were having a discussion regarding elk habits.  We're at a bypass with respect to what they do when it rains.  He was saying that they don't care and will move around normally.  I was thinking they would remain bedded and you pretty much need to jump them in order to get moving.

Any inputs? 

[mfswallace]

I think it depends on the type of cover they have.  Timber they move around-- sage and grasslands they bed down.   

I could just be 

[Moose22]

If the Hoh river elk stayed in their beds during rain they probably wouldn't move for months. Just saying.

[PA BEN]

If the Hoh river elk stayed in their beds during rain they probably wouldn't move for months. Just saying.

[JimmyHoffa]

I see them (roosies) feeding out in the rain, but not as much when the rain is pouring hard and the wind is blowing.  And fwiw, I've been in the hoh, queets and bogey forests during some serious storms and only got hit buy a few drops.  The tree canopy can get thick enough to redirect all the drops.  I usually see the elk moving around in the timber when it gets that bad, but mostly it's the noise of the rain/wind.  They start looking all over the place--using their eyes more than their ears and noses.

[bucklucky]

Some of the very best elk hunting in the early season has been in the rain , drizzle, and down poor type days. The bulls were screaming all day long . But I have also had some chitty days in the rain. Just depends on how you hit it.

[mfswallace]

If the Hoh river elk stayed in their beds during rain they probably wouldn't move for months. Just saying.

Pretty generic call on that... I think we all know that if they didn't move in the rain they wouldn't move for months and probably wouldn't survive due to lack of forage but take a second to really think about it and when are they more apt to be on the move is what I think the point of the question is.

[buglebuster]

I've killed most of my elk in the rain. Definatly called in more bulls when its raining that's for sure.

[steen]

On the westside I see more deer out in the rain and I'm sure it is the same with elk.  Heck us Westerners do everything in the rain why wouldn't the deer and elk.  Duh!  I ride horse in the rain- raingear.  The critters around here have raingrear also.

[Houndhunter]

Rain tends to shut the elk up where I hunt, cold clear weather seems to be the best for early archery. Now in Nov rifle I prefer snow, but that's just me and my opinions

[mfswallace]

On the westside I see more deer out in the rain and I'm sure it is the same with elk.  Heck us Westerners do everything in the rain why wouldn't the deer and elk.  Duh!  I ride horse in the rain- raingear.  The critters around here have raingrear also.

 
More movement in the rain

Are there days when it is raining that make it a little bit harder to get out there and you just don't...

If you want to say absolutely zero movement then it doesn't matter what the f-ing weather is doing because they are gonna do what they have to do to survive which is move so fireant11 your wrong!

[mfswallace]

Rain tends to shut the elk up where I hunt, cold clear weather seems to be the best for early archery. Now in Nov rifle I prefer snow, but that's just me and my opinions

 

[PolarBear]

Rain tends to shut the elk up where I hunt, cold clear weather seems to be the best for early archery. Now in Nov rifle I prefer snow, but that's just me and my opinions

[HighCountryHunter88]

really cool damp, drizzly, foggy days are where where its at!

[6x6in6]

Falling barometer, sit tight unless you know where they bed in the peak of the rain and can pull off a stalk.
A steady low BP, they need their groceries too, hunt the heavy stuff with small open grazing areas nearby.
Rising BP, get after it since the rain is near it's end or at least getting lighter, particularly if there is another low pressure event coming.

[wraithen]

I'd venture to guess it's the same as people. If it's raining on the eastside they probably hunker down and wait it out. If it's a typical wetside day (i.e. drizzling with random bouts of rain,) they probably ignore the rain a little easier. I have NO IDEA what I'm talking about, just throwing a hypothesis based on everyone else's experience.

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

They feed in the rain. Especially if it was. Cloudy the night before.

[Fireant11]

Thanks guys!  We're hunting the east-side (archery).

[bloodhound]

yah ive found over the years that in early season rain=good. gets them moving more since its cloudy and they cant see at night as well. late season on the other hand doesnt bother them unless its really pouring then they tend to come out in the open more to escape the noise of the drops hitting stuff, and the big water drops falling from the trees. who likes getting pounded relentlessly by huge water drops(natures water boarding). so they move in the open where they can hear and see better and are not getting pounded.

[kentrek]

if its just rain i dont think the elk are going to go try an stay dry but like said above,the holy schit storms from the hot place down under tend to have the elk look for cover..also ive seen lots of elk feedn like it was a 80 deg day during an real nasty storm up in the south toutle so hard telln