Do mule deer and Elk mix?

[Centi]

After an 8 year wait I drew my bull elk tag For the 208/210/220 zones. So far everywhere that I have found elk sign, even had bulls on my trail camera in the middle of the night, during the day seems over run with mule deer.

Will elk and mule deer share the same land?
It seems like once the mule deer show up, they show up in force, and the elk signs dry up.

[Rhino81]

Originally Posted by Centi

After an 8 year wait I drew my bull elk tag For the 208/210/220 zones. So far everywhere that I have found elk sign, even had bulls on my trail camera in the middle of the night, during the day seems over run with mule deer.

Will elk and mule deer share the same land?
It seems like once the mule deer show up, they show up in force, and the elk signs dry up.

the mule deer are just there. The elk will typically pattern and especially in 208 and 166. Are they visiting your camera every night or every 2-3 days?

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by Centi

After an 8 year wait I drew my bull elk tag For the 208/210/220 zones. So far everywhere that I have found elk sign, even had bulls on my trail camera in the middle of the night, during the day seems over run with mule deer.

Will elk and mule deer share the same land?
It seems like once the mule deer show up, they show up in force, and the elk signs dry up.

Have you considered that you are looking at this backwards?
Perhaps the Mule deer are showing up because the elk have left.

Your camera proves that they will share the same land
Now you need to figure out where the bulls are during the day.

[Centi]

So far on that piece I've only gotten 1 picture of a bull, that was a week ago. I haven't gotten them passing by the camera again.
I did have something rub against my camera, knocking it out of place, which must have been an elk by the size of it.

The day I set up the camera the ground was muddy, there were fresh tracks all over. I figured I'd be getting tons of pictures, judging by the trail I set it on.

I'm wondering if the Mules moving in does signify the wln aren't there anymore.

One day I'll find elk tracks galore, couple days later it's swarming with Mules.

It has been rather frustrating.

[Jamie Black R/T]

Originally Posted by Centi

It has been rather frustrating.

Welcome to elk hunting.

They have a much larger range than a deer. They are there one day, gone the next 3...complete nomads.

Its nothing for a herd to feed 5 miles from where they bed.

Im not sure how large of a tract of land you are hunting...but its likely not enough...they cover a huge area...especially down in that open country.

Get on google and look for the nastiest deepest river valley or drainage within 4 or 5 miles....that's likely where they spend their days. If not there, then a big pc of posted land is the next most likely spot.