Are you an avid hunter or wildlife enthusiast looking to track elk in the great outdoors?
Finding fresh elk tracks can be an exciting moment, but it’s important to know which way they are headed to increase your chances of spotting these majestic creatures.
In this article, we’ll share some tips on how to read elk tracks and determine their direction of travel.
From understanding their feeding and bedding habits to paying attention to the wind, we’ll cover everything you need to know to become a skilled elk tracker.
So, grab your gear and let’s get started!
How To Tell Which Way Elk Tracks Are Going?
Elk are majestic creatures that roam the great outdoors, and tracking them can be a thrilling experience for any wildlife enthusiast or hunter. However, it’s important to know which way their tracks are headed to increase your chances of spotting them. Here are some tips on how to tell which way elk tracks are going:
1. Look for open parks and clearings in the timber: Elk feed and bed in these exposed areas only at night, pawing through light snow to search out sedges. The animals will be gone before dawn, but you will have a good chance of finding fresh tracks at first light.
2. Move back into the timber: To make sense of the mess of prints you will find in the open areas, move a few yards back into the timber. Here you’ll find where the trails funnel together, and you’ll be able to isolate specific bands of animals.
3. Pay attention to the size of the tracks: Elk tracks are longer and more robust than other hoofed animals like deer or moose. This can help you identify them and determine their direction of travel.
4. Don’t focus solely on where the tracks are headed: Nine out of ten times elk will double back on you. Elk that know they are being followed will do their best to use wind to their advantage.
5. Pay attention to the wind: 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.
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. During midday, they bed up high where the swirling winds give them a sense of security.
By paying attention to these tips, you’ll be able to read elk tracks and determine their direction of travel with ease. Happy tracking!
Understanding Elk Behavior And Habitat
Elk are highly adaptable animals that can be found in a variety of habitats, from the high deserts of the southwestern United States to the tundra of Canada. However, most of the elk in North America are found in the Rocky Mountains. Understanding their behavior and habitat is crucial for tracking them effectively.
Elk tend to make their beds in thick, wooded areas, where they feel secure and protected. Since they are primarily grazing animals, elk prefer to feed in large open meadows, but they also enjoy browsing on the leaves of young aspen, oak, and other plants found in their environment. Elk are herbivores and consume an average of 9.1 kilograms (20 lb) of vegetation daily. Their diets vary with the season, with native grasses being a year-round supplement, tree bark being consumed in winter, and forbs and tree sprouts during the summer.
Regardless of the date on a calendar, elk move to and from three core resources during their daily routine: bedding areas, feeding areas, and water sources. Elk tend to take a direct route from one resource to another. When connected, these three core resources and direct travel corridors that elk utilize on a daily basis form a triangular shape. Although use of these resources and travel corridors may change on a daily basis – and throughout the year during normal migrations – these “elk triangles” can be used by hunters as a means to predict elk movement and increase the chances of a successful harvest.
Preferred habitat for elk includes drainages where evergreens meet aspen, alder, willow and shrubs, and where those species meet meadows or wetlands. Studies have shown that the edges between two different types of habitat provide twice the number of species and amount of food than 50 yards into either habitat. As a result of this, elk use of the habitat declines after 100 yards into specific habitats. Habitats covering 30 to 80 acres satisfy the normal biological needs of elk for feeding or cover.
Elk are highly adaptive herd animals that thrive in forest habitats. They graze on various grasses, plants, and bark. Elk will feed in both the morning and then hide out in dark timber to digest their food and to conserve energy. They will typically return to feed around dusk. Elk will migrate for both comfort and food. During the summer months, elk will go high into mountains to take advantage of cooler temperatures. In the winter, they will migrate to lower elevations for shelter from bad weather and for more available food sources.
Identifying Fresh Elk Tracks
Fresh elk tracks can be identified by their crisp edges and defined top indentation. They will not have any debris like sticks and leaves in the tracks, indicating they are recent. If you find debris in the tracks, it could mean the tracks are more than a day old. Additionally, you may be able to tell if the tracks are from a cow or bull elk.
It’s important to note that in powder snow, during a cold snap or in deeply shaded areas, a three-day-old track may look fresh to the untrained eye. Conversely, a recently made print drifting in with snow can appear old. Therefore, it’s best to rely on your sense of touch instead. In powder, the edges and midline will set up and feel firm within an hour or two of the animal’s passing.
Another way to identify fresh elk tracks is by looking for signs of rubbing and scraping. Fresh rubs will still look shiny with sap running down and some elk hair will be stuck to it. The bark scrapings will be on top of all the stuff on the ground beneath the tree, and they will still have a fresh color if it was done recently. Elk scrapes are hard to find, but they are often made near bedding areas.
Fresh droppings are another sign of recent elk activity. They will appear shiny, soft, and emit an organic, sweetish smell. Fresh lances of urine give to the slightest pressure. On the other hand, crusty urine streaks or pellets that crumble when squeezed mean the trail is cold.
Finally, pay attention to the wind direction as it governs where elk go during the day. Elk will always travel into the wind so they can sense danger ahead of them. By following these tips, you’ll be able to identify fresh elk tracks and determine their direction of travel with ease.
Deciphering The Direction Of Elk Tracks
When looking at elk tracks, it can be difficult to determine which way they are headed. However, there are a few clues you can look for to help decipher their direction of travel.
Firstly, pay attention to the shape and size of the tracks. Elk tracks are longer and more robust than other hoofed animals like deer or moose. This can help you identify them and determine their direction of travel.
Secondly, don’t focus solely on where the tracks are headed. As mentioned earlier, elk will often double back on themselves if they know they are being followed. Instead, pay attention to the surrounding terrain and try to anticipate where the elk may be heading.
Thirdly, pay attention to the wind. Elk will always travel into the wind so they can sense danger ahead of them. This 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. During midday, they bed up high where the swirling winds give them a sense of security.
Lastly, look for open parks and clearings in the timber. Elk feed and bed in these exposed areas only at night, pawing through light snow to search out sedges. The animals will be gone before dawn, but you will have a good chance of finding fresh tracks at first light.
By following these tips and paying close attention to the surrounding terrain, you’ll be able to read elk tracks and determine their direction of travel with ease. Happy tracking!
Paying Attention To Wind And Other Environmental Factors
When tracking elk, it’s important to pay attention to the wind and other environmental factors that can affect their behavior. Wind direction can have a significant impact on where elk go during the day. They will always travel into the wind so they can sense danger ahead of them. This means that they will walk downhill to water/meadows in the evening as the wind rises, feed down low at night, and then head back uphill in the morning with the wind in their face yet again. During midday, they bed up high where the swirling winds give them a sense of security.
It’s also important to keep in mind that wind is strongly affected by geography. Things such as canyons, mountains, ridge lines, and other geographical features all affect the speed and direction of the wind, causing it to continually change direction. Altitude can also affect wind direction and speed. In general, the higher one goes, the fewer obstructions there are to interfere with the passage of the wind.
When tracking elk, it’s important to survey every inch of your hunting property to study the wind direction and how it relates to the actual prevailing wind direction. Use a wind checker or other indicator to test the wind in different areas and compare the observed wind direction to the prevailing wind direction. Pay attention to how terrain and vegetation alter the prevailing wind direction and use this to your advantage.
Finally, remember that elk behave differently during different weather patterns and moon phases. If it is hot, do not expect elk to move late into the morning or mid-day, except to water. If it is raining heavily, you can bet on finding elk bedding in thick cover with good protection from the elements. Find a glassing point and be ready for when the rain stops. If there is a wind, you can assume elk will move into it as they move up or down the mountains. Ultimately, a successful hunter understands and adapts to all of these changing aspects and is willing to find a way to make any weather work. By paying attention to these environmental factors, you’ll increase your chances of successfully tracking elk.
Tips For Successful Elk Tracking
If you’re planning to track elk, there are a few things you should keep in mind to increase your chances of success. Here are some tips for successful elk tracking:
1. Check open parks and clearings in the timber: Elk feed and bed in these exposed areas only at night, pawing through light snow to search out sedges. The animals will be gone before dawn, but you will have a good chance of finding fresh tracks at first light.
2. Move back into the timber: To make sense of the mess of prints you will find in the open areas, move a few yards back into the timber. Here you’ll find where the trails funnel together, and you’ll be able to isolate specific bands of animals.
3. Pay attention to the size of the tracks: Elk tracks are longer and more robust than other hoofed animals like deer or moose. This can help you identify them and determine their direction of travel.
4. Don’t focus solely on where the tracks are headed: Nine out of ten times elk will double back on you. Elk that know they are being followed will do their best to use wind to their advantage.
5. Pay attention to the wind: 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.
6. Look for broken limbs or dead pine needles knocked off overhead branches: This means that an elk with antlers has passed by, which can give you a clue as to which way they went.
7. Keep notes while scouting and hunting: Journaling what you see, how the animals reacted, and where they could be headed is important information when figuring them out.
By following these tips, you’ll be able to track elk with greater success and have a more fulfilling hunting experience.
Conclusion: Becoming A Skilled Elk Tracker.
Becoming a skilled elk tracker takes time and practice, but with the right knowledge and techniques, you can increase your chances of spotting these majestic creatures in the wild. It’s important to remember that elk move based on their needs, and understanding their behavior can help you track them more effectively.
One of the most important things to keep in mind is the direction of the wind. Elk will always travel into the wind so they can sense danger ahead of them. By paying attention to the wind patterns in your area, you can predict where elk are likely to be and which direction they are moving.
Another helpful tip is to look for open parks and clearings in the timber. Elk feed and bed in these exposed areas only at night, so you’ll have a good chance of finding fresh tracks at first light. Moving back into the timber can also help you make sense of the mess of prints you’ll find in these open areas.
Pay attention to the size of the tracks as well. Elk tracks are longer and more robust than other hoofed animals like deer or moose, making them easier to identify and determine their direction of travel.
Finally, don’t focus solely on where the tracks are headed. Elk will often double back on you if they know they are being followed. Instead, try to think like an elk and anticipate their movements based on their needs for food, water, and shelter.
By following these tips and practicing your tracking skills, you can become a skilled elk tracker and increase your chances of spotting these magnificent animals in their natural habitat.
