“Locating elk is easy, closing the distance is what’s hard”. Overall, I agree with that timeless saying. However, it amazes me how many people never even see an elk on their hunting trips. Here’s my take on how to find elk quickly so you can focus on what matters.
Now that you know where to look, let’s talk about how to find the elk as quickly as possible. This article will explain how elk behave, what signs to look for (with pictures of each sign), and how to find elk. and wrap up with tips for what to do if you aren’t seeing elk.
As an elk hunter, you know how the slightest sound or scent can send a bull sprinting in the opposite direction. Elk have extremely sensitive hearing and an uncanny ability to detect danger. So what happens when high winds limit their ability to hear and smell approaching threats? Do elk move differently in windy conditions?
Understanding how elk behave in high winds is crucial for hunters. Their patterns and responses can fluctuate based on wind speed, direction and variances. As a seasoned elk hunter, I’ve spent many cool days in the mountains and forests watching elk do their thing. Here’s what I’ve learned about hunting elk in windy conditions.
Do Elk Move More or Less in High Winds?
Elk don’t inherently move more or less during windy days. However, the wind impacts their ability to detect danger which influences their movement patterns
During moderate steady winds
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Elk feel more secure moving through open areas since scent is dispersed.
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They may graze more openly on wind-blown slopes versus sheltered areas
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Bulls will bugle and herd cows/calves through openings less cautiously.
In strong, gusty winds:
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Elk seek shelter in thick forests and side-hills to feel protected.
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They reduce movement due to impaired hearing and wariness of falling trees or branches.
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Colder winds drive elk to lower elevations with better cover and food sources.
How Do Elk Use Wind to Their Advantage?
Elk use windy conditions to increase security while moving and feeding:
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Elk prefer to feed into the wind so they can smell predators approaching from behind.
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When bedding down, elk position themselves facing the wind and open terrain to detect threats.
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Herds time movements based on wind direction to conceal scent from predators downwind.
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Bulls avoid bugling downwind where scent can give away position. They instead bugle upwind.
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In gusty winds, elk wait to move during lulls when hearing and smell improve temporarily.
By positioning themselves strategically based on wind patterns, elk can browse and migrate while minimizing vulnerability.
How Do Hunters Adapt to Hunt Elk in High Winds?
To close the distance on elk in windy conditions, hunters must adapt their strategies:
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Stalk low on the leeward side of ridges using wind as cover when approaching elk.
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When bugling, position yourself downwind and call more aggressively to overcome wind noise.
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Focus efforts on semi-sheltered pockets out of the brunt of winds but where elk may feed or travel.
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Spend more time glassing from vantage points early and late when winds tend to settle slightly.
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Use a wind checker to regularly monitor direction; adjust stand placement accordingly.
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If gusty, time calling and movements for occasional lulls in the winds.
With the right adaptations, the wind can become an asset versus hindrance for sneaking close to elk.
How Do Elk Respond to Changes in Wind Speed and Direction?
In general, elk become more reactive when winds are variable. Their responses to shifting winds include:
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Strong gusts send elk seeking shelter in dense timber. When winds calm, they re-emerge cautiously.
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Quick 180 degree wind shifts often spook elk into fleeing downwind of the new wind direction.
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As fronts move in and winds strengthen, elk retreat to safer terrain.
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When winds die down around dusk/dawn, elk use the improved hearing to venture from cover to feed.
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Bulls will end bugling and withdraw from open meadows when winds pick up speed suddenly.
Savvy hunters anticipate wind changes based on weather forecasts or wind indicators and adjust stand placement accordingly.
General Tips for Hunting Elk in Windy Conditions
Here are a few more tips for boosting your odds when hunting elk in gusty winds:
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Pack wind indicator flags to regularly check for shifts in direction.
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Use a wind meter to monitor mph; elk respond more when gusts exceed 25 mph.
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Focus hunting efforts in semi-protected yet active pockets out of the heaviest winds.
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Aim to hunt mornings and evenings when winds tend to be calmer.
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Equip yourself with windproof outerwear to endure extended stays in blustery conditions.
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Practice calling more aggressively to carry sound farther in wind versus calm days.
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Adjust your stocking route and stand placement frequently as winds change.
While the winds present
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How to locate elk quickly (Run the loop)
If you don’t mind quoting the scouting article again, you should have several waypoints marked in a place you want to check out before you start. That way, you can quickly find places where they are likely to be (water, meadows, trails, etc.) instead of having to spend an extra day or two looking for them.
I usually make a “loop” of the places I’ve marked on a map so I can check all the important spots in about a day. That way you know if it’s worth investing time or moving to somewhere with higher odds. How do you know if there are elk in the area? That’s what the next part is about.
General elk behavior for locating elk
Create a rule for elk hunting and it’s bound to be broken. Even so, there are some general rules you should know about how elk act during the day before you try to find them. I’ll walk through a few before we dive into the tactics themselves:
An elk’s eyesight isn’t that great and sound isn’t as important since they tend to make a racket. So how do they stay safe? Answer: their nose. It’s impossible to underrate the importance of the wind to elk behavior. It controls where they’ll be during the day, the paths they use, and when they decided to move.
That means two things for hunters. To begin, you need to be in the right places at the right times. Elk move at different times of the day depending on the wind. Second, you can never, ever be upwind of the elk. Elk can smell you from far beyond where you can see them in most locations. The biggest mistake when locating elk is spooking them all before you even begin.
Wind is so important it actually governs where elk go during the day. In general, mountain winds blow downhill when the air gets cooler and denser (at night and in the morning). Then in the afternoon, the air warms up and begins to rise uphill as it expands.
The elk will always travel into the wind so they can sense danger ahead of them. That means that in most areas they walk downhill to water/meadows in the evening as the wind rises. As the sun goes down, they eat low down. In the morning, with the wind in their faces, they go back uphill. During midday, they bed up high where the swirling winds give them a sense of security.
One of the most underrated times to hunt elk is midday. They stay in one place more often, making them easier to hunt because they are more used to coming to calls. However, that comes with a big warning: elk intentionally bed down in areas with swirling winds. That way predators (like you) have a difficult time sneaking in on them while they rest.
If you’re looking for elk midday, know that they won’t be down in the meadows or creek beds. Make sure to stay far away from them unless you’re certain the wind is steady and predictable.
As I said in the eScouting article, the average elk needs 10 gallons of water and 15 to 25 pounds of green grass every day! If they’re in the area, you should see elk signs everywhere that has those two things. Make sure to check them out as you make your rounds.
Also, I said in when to go elk hunting that elk are more active during the day when there isn’t a full moon. Regardless of moon phase, you’ll notice they often bed near a water source during the day. They drink so much water that they can’t go without it for more than a few hours.
HOW TO HUNT WHITETAIL DEER IN HIGH WINDS
FAQ
Where do elk go in the wind?
How do elk react to wind?
What kind of weather do elk like?
What time of day are elk most active?
How does the wind affect Elk?
Wind is so important it actually governs where elk go during the day. As a general rule, mountain winds flow downhill as the air cools and becomes more dense (nighttime and morning). Then in the afternoon, the air warms up and begins to rise uphill as it expands. The elk will always travel into the wind so they can sense danger ahead of them.
How do elk travel in the wind?
The elk will always travel into the wind so they can sense danger ahead of them. That means that in most areas they walk downhill to water/meadows in the evening as the wind rises. They feed down low at night and then head back uphill in the morning with the wind in their face yet again.
How do elk move?
Flank Him “Elk typically move with the wind in their faces. In order to keep the wind in my face, I parallel the herd.” If there’s a slight angle to the breeze—and there usually is—he sets up on whichever side gives him an edge.
Do elk sleep in the wind?
While bedded, they’ll often lie with the wind at their backs, looking downwind for any potential danger they can’t otherwise smell. In hilly terrain, elk will bed down in areas where the prevailing thermals travel. But when there’s swirling or high winds, they become skittish.