Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: gee_unit360 on September 16, 2019, 11:13:46 AM
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Looks like it’s going to be raining for the remainder of archery season where I hunt. What are some tendencies you guys see in elk activity during heavy rain. Are they active? Do they bunker down? Do they generally come out to feed after a big 2 or 3 day storm. Does it quiet down the bugle activity? What do you think? Does it effect rut activity in any way? Thanks in advance
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One anecdote from a newbie rifle hunter that has never even tried to use a call:
I was out scouting for rifle this weekend and it rained all night and all morning. There was a herd around me (literally) going absolutely crazy for about an hour starting at dawn. I laid there listening to them yell at each other from all sides of me. It was a lovely way to wake up :tup:
You're on your own turning that into practical hunting tips though :chuckle:
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Only if a heavy storm, otherwise business as usual.
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I was debating this over archery season this year as well. I reviewed my Elk 101 notes and found a section where I noted they said elk don't like getting wet anymore than we do so they will bed down until it passes. It was then that I realized the Elk 101 stuff may be a bit focused on the Colorado area where it originates. If bed on the wet side bedded down every time it rains I think they would have bed sores!
I would agree I think a big storm (biblical rain - like we had a couple days this season) would bed them down for a bit but in general I can't imagine they give a rats but about rain.
Take this with a grain of salt from me I guess because I also didn't locate any elk this season.
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Rosies are like big blacktails ! Hunt them the same
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Last year in late season i saw no difference in driving rain and wind with gusts to 40+.
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What I have noticed is sudden changes in weather gets them moving, but when its constant then they ignore it.
When its dry, and starts to rain, or when it rains for days and clears up.
The change might get them moving.
Honestly, in my opinion, wind makes a bigger difference.
When everything's moving, and its noisy, they get pretty nervous.
When they cannot smell, see, or hear, they tend to be on their feet more.
Makes them easier to see :)
Otherwise they just do what they normally do..
And that is bed down. (They do it anyway)
An elk eats a lot, but once it is in its first stomach, they bed down and chew their cud.
They have hollow hair, they don't care about getting wet.
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Elk where I hunt could care less about a "normal" rain and will feed in open areas and do everything they normally would
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My opinion the elk come out into the clear cuts when its blowing and raining. At least the cows do. I don't think they like being in the big timber where they can't see or hear anything coming so they tend to get out in the open. Also if they are cold and wet and burning energy then they have to eat more. :twocents:
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On the huge rain day I found a bull bedded in the wide open all by himself. I assume they don't feel safe in the thick stuff where they already can't see danger coming and notw they can't hear it either.
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Just checked my cameras on the East side. Elk stayed out later in the morning on the rainy days and came out earlier in the evenings.
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Elk 101 guys are out of Northern Idaho where it can get good rain just like the west side here. IMO rain has no effect on the rut. Elk are gonna rut regardless, if anything I think it can heat it up a bit.
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Early archery, I'd about 100X rather hunt before/during/after rain than when it's steady hot and dry :twocents:
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Seems to get them fairly wet
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One thing i notice that they talk much less during the rain, other then that seams stay the same.
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I have hunted Rockies and true Roosevelt’s for nearly 20 seasons and killed many. Light rain and calm wind doesn’t really affect the rut vocalizations on coastal elk. Heavy rain and or wind shuts them down vocally. The best days to call both Rockies and Roosevelt’s are overcast cool and calm days. You will find them bugling all day long on these days. September 7th was the perfect example in western wa this season. I heard nearly 200 bugles and spotted 14 bulls over the course of the entire day. It was high 50s for temps, and overcast all day long. September 8th was raining 75% of the day and windy. I heard 6-8 bugles and saw two bulls in the same area. Rocky Mountain elk pretty much hate the rain. A light mist is fine, but they shut down most of the time in the rain. This also goes for snow. This season in Montana was terrible for weather.
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