Elk elevation along the eastern slopes

[Buck_Hunter]

Hey folks,

Am a rookie elk hunter planning my first serious rifle elk hunt for mid - end of September. I am planning on hunting the eastern slopes, from 0 - 5km from the BC/Alberta border. I have had hunters tell me that they have continuously shot elk at a certain elevation and that I should focus on being at a certain elevation when hunting elk in the type of area I am going into and I wanted to confirm that here on AO. Can anyone comment on this? Should I be planning my hunt to focus on finding elk within a certain elevation range? and if so, what is that elevation?! Thanks!

[RapStaff]

Get your boots on the ground. I dont think the elevation plays near as much a factor in that time frame as were the pressure has pushed them. I find elk in that time frame in the places no one wants to go and get them. Figure out where the food the water and the bedding is and you'll find the elk. Check out a topo map vs google earth and find the ****iest draw you can imagine and that's where you'll probably find them.
Good luck😀

[Flatlandliver]

Stole this from an article

“Locate combinations of water sources, vegetation and thick cover on topographical maps and aerial photos of where you plan to hunt. Take particular note of saddles (low crossing areas over ridges) and funnels (thin areas of cover or low effort travel routes) between heavy cover, water, and feeding areas.’

If it’s hot the water source is key to finding them imo.

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by Flatlandliver

Stole this from an article

“Locate combinations of water sources, vegetation and thick cover on topographical maps and aerial photos of where you plan to hunt. Take particular note of saddles (low crossing areas over ridges) and funnels (thin areas of cover or low effort travel routes) between heavy cover, water, and feeding areas.’

If it’s hot the water source is key to finding them imo.

Elk are where you find them, never sell them short. They live about anywhere from semi dessert to Boreal forest and mountain valleys.

Grizz

[RZR]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams

Elk are where you find them, never sell them short. They live about anywhere from semi dessert to Boreal forest and mountain valleys.

Grizz

This right here, I’ve seen elk higher on the mountain then the sheep.

[warriorboy10]

Originally Posted by RZR

This right here, I’ve seen elk higher on the mountain then the sheep.

And lower than you can imagine at times. Any pressure and their goin deep and dark. Wind is critical.

[Red Bullets]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams

Elk are where you find them, never sell them short. They live about anywhere from semi dessert to Boreal forest and mountain valleys.

Grizz

X2

Probably the odd bull going above the tree line too.

(not my pic)

[freshtinov]

Lots of good advice here, as mentioned I’ve seen them above the tree lines in goat country and in the lowest river bottoms. Pressured elk get pushed to deep dark places. Keep a couple things in mind the moon plays a role in the rut if its full they rut longer into the evenings which slows them down for daylight hunting as they are tuckered out. Also, just because you don’t hear them doesn’t mean there not there. Bull elk can mate from the time there horns get hard and drop the velvet biologically speaking but, it’s a cow in heat ready to mate that gets them really going which is usually middle of September give or take. A cow elk goes into estrus only for so long so the bulls are all waiting around or searching for each cow to be fertilized. Find fresh sign or keep moving!