Warm Fall Pushes Wyoming Elk to Higher Elevations, Hunters Adjust Strategies

Unseasonably warm temperatures this fall have led to changes in hunting strategies for big game hunters across western Wyoming, Wyoming Public Media reports.

The unusually high temperatures, which have hovered near record highs, have made it more challenging for hunters to track down elk and other large game that are staying in higher, cooler elevations.

In places like Pinedale, September saw above-average temperatures, with some days reaching into the 80s. Raegin Akhtar, public liaison for the Jackson and Pinedale offices of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), explained how the heat affects wildlife behavior.

“On hot days, animals are going to seek areas of cover and maybe areas where there’s a water source,” Akhtar said.

This means that elk and other big game are less likely to be on the move and are probably staying in higher altitudes where the temperatures are cooler.

As a result, hunters are rethinking their strategies. Akhtar recommended focusing on hunting during the cooler parts of the day—early morning or late evening—and targeting areas near water sources where animals are more likely to be found. Additionally, hunters may need to hike or ride horses farther into the backcountry to find their targets.

While hunters are still managing to fill their tags, the warm weather poses an additional challenge: keeping the meat fresh. Akhtar suggested quartering the animal, removing the hide, and boning the meat out quickly to allow heat to escape. She also advised hunters to have a cooler with ice or a plan to get the meat to a processor as soon as possible.

Last week brought some cooler weather, especially in the Pinedale and Jackson areas, with a few snowfalls that could help drive elk to lower elevations. However, warmer temperatures returned over the weekend, keeping conditions tricky for hunters.