Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: NOCK NOCK on April 29, 2019, 10:21:19 AM

Title: Elk crossing fences
Post by: NOCK NOCK on April 29, 2019, 10:21:19 AM: In your experiences, do they typically jump them, or just plow through them?

Was up the Colockum on Sat. And watched a small herd running towards a fence (3-4’ tall, wire with flags on it) the lead cow never even attempted to jump it, just plowed right into it. Not a good experience for her, azz over teakettle, then got back up, reversed direction and proceeded to do it again. She ran off fine so didn’t seem to be hurt.
Fence was pretty easy to see so it surprised me of the out come.
Title: Re: Elk crossing fences
Post by: Stein on April 29, 2019, 10:37:45 AM: I've seen both, depends on the size of the herd and how spooked they are. If the herd is big and they are spooked hard, it's going to get crashed one way or another. I don't remember seeing the lead animal ever plow through without jumping though.
Title: Re: Elk crossing fences
Post by: teanawayslayer on April 29, 2019, 10:39:03 AM: If it’s a few elk I will see them jump it. You get a large herd spooked they generally plow right through it
Title: Re: Elk crossing fences
Post by: Hilltop123 on April 29, 2019, 10:42:21 AM: If they are leisurely walking along, they will jump it. If spooked, well its fence fixing time.
Title: Re: Elk crossing fences
Post by: vandeman17 on April 29, 2019, 10:54:59 AM: agreed with above. I have seen them when really spooked just bulldoze the fence over. When just trotting or not really scared I generally see them actually turn and run along the fence until they find a place to cross or slow down and jump it.
Title: Re: Elk crossing fences
Post by: NOCK NOCK on April 29, 2019, 11:59:17 AM: Quote from: Stein on April 29, 2019, 10:37:45 AM
I've seen both, depends on the size of the herd and how spooked they are. If the herd is big and they are spooked hard, it's going to get crashed one way or another. I don't remember seeing the lead animal ever plow through without jumping though.

Pretty much what I was thinking. Figured the lead cow would see it/jump, then harder for rest of group to see fence instead of other elks butts.
Title: Re: Elk crossing fences
Post by: Pegasus on April 29, 2019, 12:35:59 PM: They can certainly jump it if they want. I have seen a deer clear a nine foot apple fence and I have seen an elk herd clear downed old growth fir trees that were at least eight feet in diameter like they were nothing. Calves not so much.
Title: Re: Elk crossing fences
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on April 29, 2019, 02:03:57 PM: Elk are capable of jumping an 8' fence, but when panicked they run.
Title: Re: Elk crossing fences
Post by: pianoman9701 on April 29, 2019, 02:17:30 PM
Title: Re: Elk crossing fences
Post by: gaddy on April 29, 2019, 04:29:44 PM: It has been my experience that elk will go where they want to go regardless of a fence or not. I have seen them blow through barbed wire like it wasn't there, Seen them burrow into the nastiest thorny patches no man would venture into and seen them in my moms front yard jumping the fence to get into her apples.
Title: Re: Elk crossing fences
Post by: pianoman9701 on April 30, 2019, 07:05:16 AM: Quote from: gaddy on April 29, 2019, 04:29:44 PM
It has been my experience that elk will go where they want to go regardless of a fence or not. I have seen them blow through barbed wire like it wasn't there, Seen them burrow into the nastiest thorny patches no man would venture into and seen them in my moms front yard jumping the fence to get into her apples.

What unit is your mom in and do you have a tree stand set up? Asking for a friend.
Title: Re: Elk crossing fences
Post by: gaddy on April 30, 2019, 08:20:21 AM: She's been gone now for several years. Her property was out side of Onalaska and no she woulden't allow us to shoot one of "her" elk. She even had a couple of the big bulls named. We used her house as base camp a couple of years and after a hard day in the woods and rain with no luck, we had to sit on the deck waiting for dinner and watch them eating her apples at 50 yds :bash: :bash:.
Title: Re: Elk crossing fences
Post by: pianoman9701 on April 30, 2019, 08:45:35 AM: My mom is the same way with wildlife in her yard. Plenty of whitetails and red foxes to be had. She'll allow nothing of the sort.
Title: Re: Elk crossing fences
Post by: gaddy on April 30, 2019, 08:56:12 AM: The bad part is that she was also a hunter and would be out hunting with us all day. We had to quit going over there, it was too much to take :chuckle:
Title: Re: Elk crossing fences
Post by: NOCK NOCK on April 30, 2019, 12:11:02 PM: Quote from: pianoman9701 on April 30, 2019, 08:45:35 AM
My mom is the same way with wildlife in her yard. Plenty of whitetails and red foxes to be had. She'll allow nothing of the sort.

Since you started it..... :chuckle: what unit is your Mom in? Red fox is #2 on my list. Never seen one, but definitely want one on the wall. Does she take bribes? :chuckle:
Title: Re: Elk crossing fences
Post by: pianoman9701 on April 30, 2019, 12:12:14 PM: Quote from: NOCK NOCK on April 30, 2019, 12:11:02 PM
Quote from: pianoman9701 on April 30, 2019, 08:45:35 AM
My mom is the same way with wildlife in her yard. Plenty of whitetails and red foxes to be had. She'll allow nothing of the sort.

Since you started it..... :chuckle: what unit is your Mom in? Red fox is #2 on my list. Never seen one, but definitely want one on the wall. Does she take bribes? :chuckle:

That would be the Kittery, ME unit. :chuckle: