Advice for a dry hunt?

[Paul in Idaho]

I am hunting elk today. I am on a ridge 8000 ft elevation. It is my third season here and I haven't seen it so dry before. I walked a 5.5 mile loop through my favorite area this morning. There was a lot of elk manure, but only one semi-fresh pile. Only a couple somewhat fresh tracks. No elk tracks on the mud around ponds.

I started glassing yesterday, and did more today. So far all I have seen are bighorns. Both times I spotted sheep, they were far below me.

All of the springs are still flowing, but the grass is dry. I am wondering if the elk have moved down the mountain to mooch the ranchers' alfalfa.

The low country is extremely barren. There is no cover between it and the timber, except in the creek bottoms.

Rain is predicted for tomorrow. I am trying to figure out my best options. I figure I can either move miles from here, or try much lower down on the mountain, to try to intercept them on their way up from alfalfa.

What do you think?

 

[SWMontana1]

I think you answered your own question.... would you rather hang out up in barren dry lands or down in the alfalfa field, water, and timber.... if it's raining too heavily they won't "move up" too willingly, especially if they are not pressured. But if there is a break in the storm, look out, could be PERFECT!!
Sounds like there are at least elk relatively close, so I sure wouldn't pack up and "move miles from here".

Good luck whatever you choose!

 

[mdunc8]

Oh...dry hunt. I'm waaaaay off. Thought it said something else. Sorry, I'm not much help with dry hunting.

 

[shoots-straight]

Oh...dry hunt. I'm waaaaay off. Thought it said something else. Sorry, I'm not much help with dry hunting.

You a bad man!

 

[fowladdict]

Oh...dry hunt. I'm waaaaay off. Thought it said something else. Sorry, I'm not much help with dry hunting.

Uhhhh you mean....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTT4...14.0...0.0...1ac.1.F_3bykcEwkQ&has_verified=1

 

[JoseCuervo]

Was up yesterday, and all the elk we found were between 7k and 8k elevation, suprisingly.

 

[Paul in Idaho]

SWM1, thanks for the input. I'll stay in the area at least one day after the rain, if it rains. I have a spot a few hundred yards further down that was torn up with rubs and fresh sign last year. This is a big unit, so I have options.

Mdunc8... Ha. It took a while to get my mind far enough out of hunting mode to get that joke.

Jose, I talked to other hunters who saw elk at about 7k today.

Now, to see is the rain arrives as forecast.

 

[Paul in Idaho]

The storm was more wind than rain. It was dusty again the next morning. I stuck with my plan and hunted the best area I know of on top, despite finding well over 200 elk holed up on a ranch on the river below. My effort was rewarded, and I will have lots of elk steaks in the freezer.