Die, or eat snow? They may come in early on their way to their bedding area. I'm not so sure that had we had more folks there with more tags, that we couldnt' have killed another elk or two off that seep in a couple of more days. That said, I certainly would sit water at least from mid-afternoon till dark. By contrast, in 50 years of hunting I've NEVER caught a mulie watering during daylight hours. This year i shot a bull out of a herd right at dark at a waterhole. Heard him coming, sounded like it was a horse. What time have you noticed elk water. I think they forget to at night due to rutting activity.Where I hunt in CO, I have hunted over wallows many times and have yet to see an elk from sun up to sun down. I killed a mature bull over that seep at 2:51 p.m. My buddy killed a mature cow over that seep at 9:30 a.m. They don't need much water when there is snow on the ground..... at minus 10 below there is no running water here. Water location is also very crucial too but I thought with minimal water elk were sure to hit water before bedding and rush to it as soon as they got up in the PM - which I know do not believe is the case most times. I have a trailcam set up on a wallow. Most all times I have observed elk watering has been in the evening right before dark. I've seen them swimming or crossing water but that's not drinking.If an elk has to travel a ways for water, it will likely tank up a couple times a day. I guess you just never know. Later in the season (Oct and later), they water much less, but I assume you are referring to the rut and pre-rut time. I have to take back that I have never had elk come into water all in the Pm Thats the way its been in Montana. There wasn't a lot of water around, it was just days before the rut peak and he came running in. But when I was hunting Utah in 2009 I had them water at all hours . Just some thoughts from what we have seen over the years. Had a buddy from Arkansas take another friend down to southern Colorado for an over the counter elk hunt. It was in a very think area where you could only see about 35 yards total. Not sure that helps but that is what I have seen and learned in 20 almost 30 years elk hunting. They seem more and more spooky every year I hunt.This question got me to take a look at a bunch of my trail cam pics of a creek where elk water.From what I've seen, elk water whenever they darn well feel like it. The area we used to hunt, surprisingly most of the nicer bulls would come in during the rut around late morning to early afternoon alone. Sometimes they quickly graze their way to the nearest water if it's really warm. Like the others, I have pictures of them watering throughout the day and night, although the majority come in between first light and 10 am. Let me narrow it down: while it is light in the AM/PM when coming/going to bed. I have been a successful archery deer hunter for many years now and decided to go after an elk this year. I've found a few water holes where it's quite open and don't find much elk sign on them. This is the best time of year to plan your hunt if you hope to take home a trophy bull. Thinking with a very dry summer in store that sitting a water hole may be a good option this fall. What do they do then? I asked this question a while back and one guy, I think it was Kelly something, he told me 1:14.I'm not sure AM or PM. I too think it depends on the location of the water in relation to their bedding area. Or maybe higher. the type of vegetation is a factor.
Have you seen them head straight fo water when getting up in the evening or do they just head to water sometime that evening? I think pressure and routine play major roles in all elk activity. What do Elk Eat And Drink?
The thing about this area is that there are NO ROADS anywhere near the wallow. What have you seen.When they want to! 1 2. I believe water such as this is used by the elk as they move to feeding areas. Most commonly the early evening. Where I live now (NW corner of Colorado), it seems tough since most of the elk around here are using the river for a water source. I've gotten thousands of trail cam pics on water during and leading up to the archery season, and I've found it depends on the area and also the location of the water in relation to other things. The wallow is out in the open and there is no bedding area for at least 1/2 mile. like whenever they want to.... As everyone else has said, they'll water whenever they're thirsty, and at all 24 hours. But we put cams on about 9-12 different water sources. I fully expect to get an opportunity every year I hunt there. 3 on private n dark on public. I do notice on late bow date hunts ~~~ when water sources are frozen...elk will water later in the afternoon if the sun has moistened the water source or has softned the hard snow melt. Wolves Elk ... How much water does an elk drink per day? I've got elk more than once that way. Made it till 11:30 am then got up and started still hunting. The seep was surrounded by thick thick cover. If the water is located closer to the daytime bedding areas or in the path of their movement down the hill to the overnighting areas, they are more likely to hit it in the evening. Elk (Cervus elaphus) are big.Very big. elk often get enough water from this moisture in their feed. The water sources getting hit during the day are closer to bedding areas than others. I believe the location of the water source has something to do with when elk will water. Made it about 15 minutes from the water hole when a shot rang out. He doesnt want want to see or be seen but does like the smell of honey dew drinking n beddi.g nearby. I don't bow hunt, but I know of guys who have arrowed elk around water at various times all through the day. when there is a perfect convergence of thirst and available water they often seem to take advantage of it and drink I have had cameras on water for many years and have seen then watering at almost every hour imaginable. If near undisturbed herd bull 10 am as mathews has learned. Load More. Granted I am talking during the hotter bowhunt type September dates----
3 2 dark is typical. Elk drink out of it as well. Just wondering what time most elk tend to water? Once we kill an elk or two, we usually went home- what we had been missing out on for years was that us killing our elk meant dinner bells ringing to the bears!