Aspen trees
roybram
8/19/07 5:08pm
I have only been to South Western Colorado bow hunting one time about 3 years ago. I did not know much about elk hunting then and i dont know much more than i did now. So i dont know much about elk sign and other than tracks, rubs, droppings sorth of the things a white tailed deer leaves. I really dont know what to look for. And wallows.
One thing i saw alot of was bite marks on the aspen trees or anyhow that is what i was told it was. I was told that elk would eat the bark of aspen trees ? Is that true ? I only found one aspen tree where alot of the bark had been eaten off of it. But i found lots of trees where it looked like they just took a bite out of.
And even though the marks looked fresh i was told that they were old marks.
One thing i saw alot of was bite marks on the aspen trees or anyhow that is what i was told it was. I was told that elk would eat the bark of aspen trees ? Is that true ? I only found one aspen tree where alot of the bark had been eaten off of it. But i found lots of trees where it looked like they just took a bite out of.
And even though the marks looked fresh i was told that they were old marks.
15,962
Couple things to assist you in your elk education, as there's a lot to learn. I've been hunting them for 20 years, read a lot about them but my best lessons have been in the field hunting them.
Keep in mind....elk like it cool and will try to stay in black timber and gambrel oak draws. If no black timber is avaliable, elk like to stay in the aspen trees. Usually they'll bed on the north side of the mountain where the thicker, larger trees are. Personally I like to hunt the edges of black timber, glassing the edges and moving along covering a lot of ground. I like to stay in the timber and keep the wind in my face, if the wind changes, I change my direction, so the wind is always in my face. I like to use a white powder puffer to check the wind.
In most of the areas I hunt I see a lot of sign, beds, droppings..etc in the aspen trees but have learned that much of that sign was from night time, when the elk where feeding and now the elk are headed to or already in the black timber. There's a ton of info that could be typed out on the computer, I hope that helps a little. Get some good books on elk hunting and that will help you. Eastman has one that I enjoyed called Elk Hunting the West, the Eastman way. I read one a while back from Bob Dodd, or something like that, I think it was called The Ultimate Guide to Elk Hunting. It has some chapters from some really good hunters.
My cattle will seek out the coolest spots in the summer months and even the winter win it is a little warm out. And i am surprised at how hard it is to find them when they are in these cool areas.
And these places are mostly at the edges of open pastures with very few places to hid. I can see where it would be easy for elk to hid out in dark timber or aspen thickets.
where Colorado Buck lives
And for sure will eat the bark, mostly during hard times. Elk for the most part will prefer grasses.
I think mostly in the early Fall Elk will mainly feed in openings where the bunch grasses are. Early mornings and just before dark, depending on hunting pressure. Then head into heavy shade during the day. If the weather is windy and cold Elk will find the best shelter available.
Elk wallows, can be puddles, springs, marshy areas, stuff like that. Good indication bulls are nearby. Smell, you can smell a active wallow for a ways. Smell something like strong barnyard. Once you get a scent you will never forget. Usually a small depression filled with smelly, muddy water.
When i saw some of thoes bite marks i was thinking to myself that man that was one big elk ! :)) I thought that must have been a big bull to reach that high up ! :)
Boy you talk about feeling like a fool ! :)
PRO
The other name for aspens "quakies" is it a representation of something else ? I mean how did they come up with quakies as another name for aspens ?
I found where alot of people had carved their names and the dates they were there into them also. I meant to do that myself while i was there but i forgot all about it.
killerbee i am like you i am still lost on the ski resort to. :)
woody growth. The vertical growth is 100% annual. :thumb
Does Co have porkie pines ?
Thoes porkies can do some serious damage. I dont think i would want to accidently walk up on one to close ? Will the quil a human ? How big do they get ? Are there lots of them ? Do the reproduce in big numbers ?
Thanks for the picture NONYA, neat picture ! :)
you dont have to worry about them though, they only move like 1 MPH you could get on your hands and knees and crawl to outrun them. so you really would have to be almost trying to get quilled for it to happen.
What happen is, The dog is curious goes up for a sniff, the porky can't throw quills but, can flick his 6-12 inch tail. Hits the dog right in the face. More aggressive dogs then bit at the porky compounding the problem. It is a real bad mess. Sometimes just a pliers is needed. But often a emergency trip to the Vet and the dog is but under to remove quills. [been there]
We have to many up here, and they are on my kill list whenever possible.