November News

November Elk

Elk have settled down into a long winter beginning in November. It is a time of long, colder nights and short days with little sunlight. Grasses and most plants have gone dormant or are beginning to. It all depends on the weather. If it’s a cold November with lots of snow the elk will migrate towards their winter grounds. This could take days or weeks. Elk will nibble on plants as they go. Watch the Southern exposures for elk in the open this time of year. Other popular places are near water. Fresh water is still better than eating snow. Also, the greenest grasses will be around water. Food is critical to an elk this time of year. Elk will eat the ends off of willows too. The limb is softest on the ends.

If the weather is still mild in November with little snow then elk will remain up high to avoid hunters. If you look closely for forage around wet areas you’ll see there is still enough for an elk to nibble on. Even if the food is better in lower areas elk will stay up high and nibble because it’s safe. Remember the requirements for elk? Well safety is pretty high on that list.

Creek areas are popular elk hangouts all year long but especially in the winter. It’s where the best food is this time of year. Elk aren’t shy about visiting hay fields either. You’ll notice 10-foot fences around bales of hay out in open pastures. That’s to keep the local wildlife from eating it. However, hay can only be cut so low and it will grow a bit higher even after the last cut of the year. Elk will paw through the snow after grasses and hay. They will remain on private property long enough to eat everything or until they are pressured to leave. By the property owner, predators or more snow and colder weather. Not all elk are lucky to have a winter refuge like the one in Wyoming.

If you are out in November, plan for a cold, snowy adventure in Colorado. You should consider bringing those snowshoes or skis. It can be a lot of fun to get out this time of year. Just make sure to stay dry and warm. Not too warm that you sweat (and get wet). The ONLY way to do this is to wear layers of silk, Gore-Tex and other material that wicks the wet away from your skin but keeps the warm in.

Remember elk know every inch of their areas. It is their home. It would take us years to know where elk go for every season. That’s why it’s important to isolate your searches to popular elk habitat. Also, pay close attention to the weather in your area. Snow and cold will force elk to move down the mountain where food is a little more available. However, if you know there are some smart, old bulls in your area they might remain higher than the rest of the herd. Find those small springs and deep woods and you might find bachelor groups of bulls. Bulls group up in November through the spring. Really big elk may remain solitary. If you see a single set of elk tracks in the snow it’s a good chance that it is a really big elk. Cows almost always remain with other cows throughout the entire year.

Snow makes the land look different. This could be an awesome time to bring your camera along and take some pictures. It makes tracking elk much easier. But don’t push them. They still have enough energy to out run you in several feet of snow. Pushing elk this time of year may threaten their lives come March. Tracking elk can be fun. However, they are likely bedded by time you catch up to them. They will see you first and leave the area.

Elk will often follow each other through deep snow. If you see tracks that appear as one elk follow them for a while. You’ll notice once you get to a flat area on the mountain the elk will split up. Then they will come together again when they begin to climb or walk down hill. The elk in the front breaks the trail for the others. I once followed some elk over a mile in the snow. At first they went uphill, a likely pattern they take to get away quickly. When the ridge gave way to a small bench they split up, probably to confuse me. Then they came together again before heading down hill. They repeated that pattern several times. At one point they stopped to wait for me. Once they determined what I was they left and I stopped tracking. It would be a waste of my time and energy to follow. Our legs just can’t keep up with an elk on the move.