Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 191 Location: Western Oregon
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 1:20 am Post subject: bedding and feeding areas...and scat
I really want to understand bedding and feeding areas. I understand the concept, but I'll be damned if I could find one or the other. Most of my hunting is in heavy timber where the timber seems to look the same as far as growth of trees and vegetation. I see elk in the timber many times eating as they walk around. They are obviously going somewhere and probably bedding areas when I'm on them early in the morning. There aren't any pillows and blankets out there so I have no idea how to find these bedding areas. Is there something that that elk like in their bedding areas which makes the type of area consistent? I have learned so much hunting by myself and these pieces of the puzzle still aren't connecting with me. What makes a bedding area, how do find them, how do you know you in one or around one if the elk aren't there?
Feeding areas I know elk love grass and they browse....is that what constitutes a feeding area? if so is there a type of grass, length of grass or other indication that its an elk feeding area? I'll see some areas that look like it should hold elk .. grass in small meadows and there is no sign....then I'll walk an old skid road with grass growing up through the gravel and the elk will be standing in the road eating that grass.....thats why the connection hasn't clicked with me yet on what makes the feeding area.
If I could figure these two things out I think the scales from my eyes would drop off and I would be able to see and understand much better and actually have a plan. To date...its up early and boot leather and calling.........but it would be nice to have an idea where to put that boot leather rather than just going on nature hikes and stumbling across and elk or two by chance or by cold calling.
Lastly...as far as scat goes....I pick up elk scat and squish it between my fingers and try to determine freshness....other than it steaming or being rock hard I don't really know how to judge scat for indicating if its fresh sign..or if elk are nearby enough to start calling...what do you all do?..thanks
Bedding areas are usually in cool dark timber 3/4 the way up the mtn on a north facing slope. They are not always on north faces but when you find one there are huge spots in the grass that are patted down. There will be two to three of these together. They are about 3 times the size of a white tails.
The feeding areas are a little tougher to find because if you are hunting dark timber with no low lands close than they feed mostly on the browse.
But if you are hunting near meadows and wheat fields ect then thats where they feed.
So far as the scat. I look for how dry it is and if it still smells elkish there. For real fresh scat you can smell their pee and the scat still has some smell to it. When I'm scouting I look for places that the elk smell is really strong and most of the time when you find some where like that it's real close to their beds. Just walk around and look for those grassy spots that are smashed down. Then get down on your hands and knees and smell it. If it doesn't smell like elk then it's a mule deer bed. Believe me if it's an elk bed the smell will knock you over!
Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 195 Location: Northwest Montana
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 8:53 pm Post subject:
csrbowhunter wrote:
Bedding areas are usually in cool dark timber 3/4 the way up the mtn on a north facing slope. They are not always on north faces but when you find one there are huge spots in the grass that are patted down. There will be two to three of these together. They are about 3 times the size of a white tails.
...definitely agree with csrbowhunter on the bedding areas. Every one I have discovered has met this criteria.
Feed. It definitely depends where you are hunting. I hunt in an absence of nearby farm fields (i.e. within 10 miles), so it came to doing some identification of the natural mountain vegetation. I did some studying on the vegetation that elk prefer to eat in my general area, and it really opened my eyes. Dark timber and cedar forests predominate my range, and cedar stands basically sterilize the ground around them...just a bunch of blowdown and needles on the the ground. If you find good concentrations of feed, it's usually a slam dunk.
By the time archery season rolls around, elk are starting to change their diet from grasses to forbs, however this year could be a slight change if we get a ton more rainfall! Where there are openings, you'll find bunchgrass/elk sedge, wheatgrass, and clover(at least in my area), and if you can identify it, it becomes pretty evident whether they're eating it or not...you'll see some scat and a bunch of plant stubbles that are nibbled to the ground. My favorite discovery, however, is of the Forbs, and 3 particular forbs gained my attention...Miner's Lettuce, Goldthread, and False Huckleberry. I have found that elk definitely hang out where I've found concentrations of these plants - hell, the Miner's Lettuce is a tasty treat for the hunter as well!
Scat. I've found Fresh elk scat has a "grease" layer over it, and with a quick squeeze, you can always do the temperature test. The grease isn't water, but it's like the consistency of "flemmy" saliva. I'm sure you've seen it. I became curious how quick this grease disappears, and similarly, how long it takes for a set of fresh terds to cool off under typical September conditions. I'd always wondered, and made a point to check it out, as I previously went on the premise of soft, mushy terds = elk very close, but found this doesn't mean crap...literally. Three years ago I hunted an area for a few days where I harvested an elk a couple days earlier...late September...clear hot days and cold evenings...the bull dropped a couple loads of steaming fresh crap just before he was shot in the early evening.
While we were quartering/hauling the elk, I went back to the terds to check them out with the squeeze test between loads. When the first load was going out about two hours after the shot, the terds were still greasy and just slightly warm to the touch. By the time we were hauling the 2nd load of quarters out at about 3.5 hours later, there was no warmth left in the terds - still greasy, but didn't feel warm to the touch any longer. Mid-day of the next day, I passed by the harvest site again. The terds were cold - grease was mostly gone but they were still fairly soft and mushy to the touch, and had plenty of scent left.
I came to the conclusion of the following:
Hot Terd - The elk was there within 15 minutes or so.
Greasy Terd - The elk was there within 3-4 hours, temperature of the terd refines further.
Soft, Stinky Terd - It seems like elk may be nearby, but a day could have easily passed.
Overall, it was a good test and I'm glad your post reminded me of it. I believe humidity is a big factor in figuring out how fast the grease disappears, but the grease is gone in a day under normal, dry September conditions. Clearly if you're hunting in extreme hot/cold conditions, these results probably don't mean crap! However, the fact that you have moderately fresh, soft elk scat within a day should tell you that it's probably an area to consider!
I disagree about the bedding areas. Elk bed were they feel the most secure, and it isn't going to be 3/4 up the mountain in dark timber. Many times we've had elk bed within a 1/4 mile if their feeding grounds, on east slopes. In Utah last fall, the elk were actually traveling down through the dark forest to drop into the aspens to bed, on west facing slopes or south facing slopes. And when a bull is rutting and looking for cows, he will bed any where as long as he has the wind.
Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 191 Location: Western Oregon
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 11:41 pm Post subject:
Well I think I'll try the 3/4 up the mountain on North sides first. Otherwise they could be east, west of south 1/4 down...and I'd be in the same boat...nature walking.
I always hunt with gloves on even when its hot out. I guess I should take them off some time and squeeze and feel for temp.
I'll do a picture search on those forbs you mentioned.
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