so what's the secret on elk movement

if you havent already read some of my posts this is my first season ever elk or mule deer hunting..

just wondering if there is i guess a way to understand their movement or migration if you call it that..my understanding is in the heat of summer they start out in high elevation and slowly work there way down as temperatures cool towards winter and snow also pushing them down...im wondering if elevation is really a major factor, yesterday i started out hiking at 6000ft and ended up at 9000ft....wicked terrain, looked like a good area, but no elk or really any elk sign, think it was all moose.

im just trying to gauge when and where i should be hunting as far as temps, time of year, elevation....or if it's all just a crap shoot, they're there or they arent..
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Elk actually are more able to stand heat than desert mulies. They sweat and cool themselves, but need lots of water. I can't believe where I find them sometimes here in Az in the summer. One biologist told me that the only thing that kills them is lead! Elk will be where they want to be and they will move long distances when disturbed and it doesn't take them very long to do 5 or 10 miles. It takes quite alot of snow to push them out of high country. This year the forecast is for a warmer than usual fall and winter so they won't go anywhere for awhile. They will usually be where their food and water needs are met and they are undisturbed. Water sources are a good place to start looking.
Mark
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GUTPYLZ
Elk are crazy on movement. Last year we scouted the week before and just knew we were going to be into them. Anyway, we got up there and nothing. We moved and scouted for 6 miles in the unit and found nothing. Finally got a call from someone and told us where they were. We just needed to move another mile north. We went there and sure enough, it was no problem finding them. People will hunt forever and not see Elk. I just tell people, "they are, where they are."
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