“It’s over until tonight,” said my guide. The “it” in question was the hunt. This is because rising temperatures are causing changes in the mountain thermals that are hard to predict, and a changing weather pattern is bringing in breezes. Some guys just don’t like to gamble.
Understanding thermals should help you navigate elk country hour-by-hour. Specifically, it will tell you which direction to travel when approaching a herd. To get within bow range of an elk, which is the undisputed champion of the smell challenge, all you need to do is know the direction of the wind.
To put it simply, cool temperatures push air down a mountain, carrying scents with it. This is what causes morning thermals. As the sun and daytime temperatures warm the surfaces around them, thermals start their journey uphill, which lasts for most of the day. Toward nightfall, cooling once again causes air to plunge.
Weather fronts, brisk breezes, prevailing winds, and other meteorological events change the flow of air in uncertain ways. This is why many elk hunters give up in the middle of the day. If you don’t want to waste time on your annual archery elk hunt, one of these ideas might work when the wind blows in the middle of the day.
Scout for steep, deep and sheer elk country. There’s no guarantee, but cliffs, deep valleys, gorges, and other unusual landforms may actually act as a funnel to catch and move wind in a steady direction during times of the day when the weather isn’t clear. In open forest settings, wind direction may bounce as cooler air bumps against warmer pockets. On the other hand, a cliff can direct wind along its face, giving you a hunting area until dusk, when thermals take over again.
One location in Colorado I’ve hunted several times sits below a sheer granite cliff. Pockets of woody plants strewn among boulder fields provide cool bedding for herds, and the cliff’s location ensures a steady wind direction when winds elsewhere are unstable.
Wallows can also be good bets. Visit a wallow in the middle of the day to see if the air flow is steady enough (or if there is a pocket of stillness) for work to be done from the ground. If not, embrace your inner whitetail hunter and take to the trees. You might be able to get your scent high above the heads of elk coming toward you from a treestand, or at least farther up the mountain and away from where you are. If you can’t bring a treestand with you, look for steep sides and ledges above a wallow to get the same height advantage.
Elk like to sleep in places where they can control the wind instead of being snatched by a gust every few minutes. This is why it’s so important to know the area you’re hunting. Knowing where animals have slept in the past or actually following a group of animals to its bedroom gives you an advantage when wind reconnaissance. Back away from the suspected hideout and reconnoiter the area for a locale with a reliable, downwind advantage. Move to within hearing distance of the likely herd lair and call.
To sound like a riled suitor, you can imitate a stray cow, an angry satellite bull, or just rake a tree. Use any clues from the morning bugling ruckus to determine the bull’s brashness and match the calling strategy. And remember, elk can hear you, sometimes even see you, and not spook. But one whiff of you and the party’s over.
As an experienced elk hunter I’ve spent many days studying how elk behave and move in varying wind conditions. Wind can have a significant impact on elk patterns and behavior. Understanding these responses is key to hunting elk successfully on blustery days.
In this article, I’ll share how elk behave in high wind based on my observations over the years. I’ll cover how wind affects elk movement, feeding, bugling and more. I’ll also provide useful strategies for locating and hunting elk effectively when gusty winds blow through elk country.
How Do Elk Detect Danger and Stay Safe?
Before diving into wind impacts, it helps to understand how elk stay aware of threats in general Elk have mediocre eyesight and make plenty of noise themselves So their number one defense is their nose. Elk have an incredible sense of smell for detecting predators and danger.
This makes the wind direction paramount for elk. It determines their movement patterns, feeding locations and sense of security. Elk always travel into the wind so they can smell what’s ahead. And they are extremely wary of predators who try to approach from downwind where they can’t smell danger.
Understanding wind direction is critical for hunters too. You must hunt elk with the wind in your favor and avoid approaching from downwind at all costs when locating and stalking elk.
Do Elk Move More or Less in Strong Wind?
There is no definitive rule that elk move more or less during windy conditions. However, the wind does impact their behavior and willingness to move around in the open.
Here are some general patterns I’ve noticed in elk movement related to wind:
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In moderate steady breeze: Elk feel secure moving openly since scent disperses. They may graze more in wind-blown open meadows than sheltered areas.
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In very strong, gusty winds: Elk seek thick shelter and move cautiously. Loud winds and falling branches make them skittish.
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Cold winds push elk to lower elevations with better protection and food.
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Elk time movements based on wind direction and lulls, moving most during calmer periods.
So wind can alter both where elk choose to move and how readily they move around. But elk don’t inherently move more or less overall based solely on wind speed. Their behavior aligns more with the wind conditions at that time and place.
How Do Elk Use Wind to Their Advantage?
While wind impacts elk movement, elk have also adapted to use windy conditions to their benefit as well. They leverage the wind when feeding, bedding down and traveling to enhance safety:
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Elk graze into the wind so they can smell predators approaching from behind them.
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When bedding down, elk face into the wind and open terrain to detect any threats.
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Herds time their movements to walk with the wind at their backs when traveling so their scent blows away from predators.
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Bulls avoid bugling downwind where the wind can transmit their scent and reveal position. They instead bugle upwind.
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In gusty winds, elk wait for periodic lulls when hearing and smells improve before moving to new areas.
By using the wind strategically, elk can continue grazing, herding and migrating while reducing their vulnerability to predators that could approach undetected.
How Do Hunters Adapt Their Strategy for Hunting Elk in Windy Conditions?
To close the distance and ambush elk in blustery winds, hunters must adapt their tactics accordingly:
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Stalk in low along ridges using the wind as sound and scent cover when sneaking close to elk.
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When bugling, position yourself downwind and call aggressively to overcome wind noise.
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Focus efforts on semi-sheltered pockets just out of the worst winds but where elk may continue moving and feeding.
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Spend more time glassing early and late when winds tend to subside slightly.
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Monitor the wind direction frequently and adjust stand location based on shifts.
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Time calling and stalking for lulls if winds are very gusty.
With the right adaptations, the wind can become an asset versus hindrance for ambushing elk undetected.
How Do Elk Respond to Changes in Wind Speed and Direction?
In general, elk grow more cautious and reactive when winds are variable and unpredictable:
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Strong gusts send elk rushing for thick protective cover. They re-emerge slowly when winds die down.
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Sudden 180 degree wind shifts often spook elk into fleeing downwind of the new wind direction.
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Approaching weather fronts with strengthening winds push elk toward safer terrain out of the open.
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When winds calm at dusk or dawn, elk take advantage of improved hearing to move from cover to feeding areas.
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Quick wind shifts during bugling send bulls withdrawing downwind of the new wind line.
Savvy elk hunters monitor weather forecasts for incoming wind changes. They adjust stand locations accordingly to stay downwind as winds shift.
General Tips for Hunting Elk in Windy Conditions
Here are several more useful tips for finding and hunting elk successfully on blustery days:
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Pack wind indicator flags to regularly check shifting wind directions.
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Focus efforts in semi-sheltered zones out of worst winds but where elk remain active.
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Hunt mornings and evenings when winds are typically calmer.
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Use windproof outerwear to endure long sits in harsh winds.
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Call aggressively to override wind noise and reach elk ears.
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Adjust stalking routes continually based on wind changes to stay downwind.
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Watch treetops and grass closely to anticipate gust strengthening and direction shifts.
With the right mindset and tactics, the winds don’t have to ruin your elk hunting. A successful hunt hinges on your ability to adapt and take advantage of the conditions at hand.
Summary: Elk Move and React Based on Specific Wind Situations
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In steady moderate breeze, elk may move openly and graze more in open wind-blown areas.
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In harsh gusty winds, elk grow cautious and seek sheltered cover to ride it out.
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Elk leverage winds strategically when feeding, bedding and traveling to enhance safety.
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Hunters must adapt to wind to ambush elk successfully on blustery days.
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Elk grow more reactive to changes in wind speed and direction.
Understanding how elk respond to different wind scenarios allows hunters to anticipate elk behavior and make smart adaptations to improve success on windy days. With the right strategies, the wind can become an ally versus enemy in your elk hunting pursuits when the gusts start blowing.
Key Points on Elk Movement in Windy Conditions
- Elk rely heavily on their nose for early warning of danger
- Wind impacts elk patterns but they don’t inherently move more/less due to wind alone
- Elk take advantage of steady breezes when moving and feeding more openly
- In harsh gusty winds, elk seek shelter and move cautiously
- Elk become more reactive when winds are shifting rapidly
- Hunters must adapt tactics for changing wind directions to ambush elk effectively
Understanding these insights allows hunters to make better decisions and adjustments to find and hunt elk successfully on blustery days in elk country.
How to Use Thermals while Mountain Hunting, with Randy Newberg
FAQ
Will elk move when it’s windy?
What do elk do in the wind?
Is it worth deer hunting in high winds?
What time of day are elk most active?
Do elk eat wind?
Elk are not bothered by light to moderate breezes; they use the wind to help them travel safely between their feeding and bedding areas. They also prefer to bed and feed in open, windswept areas where they can see and smell predators from a long distance away, and quickly flee if they sense danger.
How do elk react to weather?
Elk react differently to various weather conditions, changing their habits and movements as the forecast changes. Warm weather generally suppresses their movements, for example, reducing their daytime activity. On the flipside, cold weather typically spurs on activity. Rain, wind and snow can also play a role.
Do elk get up after a heavy rain?
After a heavy rain, elk will usually get up and move around, making it a good time to fill your tag. Elk generally bed down in thick cover during heavy snowstorms, and stay there until the snow lets up. When this happens, it’s possible to quietly still-hunt and catch a bull in his bed.
Do elk migrate?
Snow is inevitable in elk country and is usually the factor that triggers migration, although lately several years of mild weather have minimized elk movement. The late season is from November on, but some states have already closed their general rifle seasons. The later you hunt, the better the chance of snow.