Bedding area??

We are having a debate at work on where elk bed for the night. I always thought they tried to bed on south facing slopes in the winter so there is more warmth and food because of less snow.



What are your opinions??



Marty
3,140
9er
highlander,

your thinking makes sense, but it seems that i see more elk on the north facing slopes in the pines etc to keep out of the wind/blowing snow!! In fact saw 6 bulls the other morning, at sunrise on north facing slope up to there belly in snow

i could be wrong though

9er
5
79Ford
I'd say it depends a lot on the area they are in, and what the weather is doing at the time. I'd have to say that most of the elk i've seen in the middle of winter have been on the south facing slopes where the snow isn't so deep, but that's been in the daylight when they were feeding and/or napping in the sun. However I personally would think that it would be warmer at night on the north facing slopes where there is more cover and out of the wind. I dont know about where everyone else hunts, but in my area of choice there are almost no trees on the south slopes and dark timber on the north facing slopes. I've seen elk in both places, but most of the beds have been in the dark timber where they have the best cover and the most escape routes.
5
NONYA
WHatever side is out of the wind.
5
Default Avatar
I would agree with the above, it is weather driven, another factor is elevation, down low they tend to say on the north side during mid day, using the south sides for traveling and feeding.
I have always targeted southern facing slopes in the morning, I can see then traveling to higher areas for bedding.

One area that I hunted; was a saddle that came from a large south facing park, they would come though that saddle about nine AM. Going though this saddle traveling north, once they got into Buckeye canyon they would bed on the North Slope. But in the afternoon they would feed though the timber on the north slope traveling west, work there way around the end of the canyon and into the park at night.
Good place to hunt, only draw back, 4-5 hours on horse back to the camp sight, the saddle was about 30 min from camp. Saddle and Camp where about 9500 ft. elevation.

M. Bird
5
silvertip-co
Elk are magnetic. They go North. But like the 800# gorilla they sleep where they want.
5