Do elk push mule deer?

Does anyone know how much elk affect the mule deer range?

The area I have hunted deer in since a kid has really gone down hill. I went out this weekend and couldn't even locate a doe. The elk population has exploded the last 5 years. Other than that the habitat hasn't changed.

My only thought is the deer don't mix well with the elk.

Any thoughts from you guys would be great.
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MuleyMadness
Simple answer, YES.
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derekp1999
They do and from what I've seen it is a very fluid relationship... I believe the deer are still there, they just occupy locations where elk are not. And there are always exceptions.
I've been watching/hunting an area for a couple years now that holds elk all summer with very few deer numbers during that same time. Then something happens and when the elk start to rut they move out (the latest I have seen them in the area is Aug 26). As elk sightings decrease, deer sightings increase... dramatically. The deer move in and dominate the area through the fall, quite literally happens within a period of a couple days.
It's an interesting relationship dynamic for sure and I'm just looking at one little bowl in the great landscape of things so my observation is very small scale.
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JDavid
I figured the deer are still up there somewhere. I just have to find where everywhere I have checked so far is covered with elk.
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