Here’s How Elk and Deer in Utah Know to Hide When The Hunt Starts

Hunters in Utah may want to camouflage their truck as much as their outfit according to a study done in Utah. It was the result of complaints of elk showing up in big numbers on private land at certain times of the year.

Surprising Behavior of Elk Revealed Using Tracking Tags

Researchers from Brigham Young University tagged elk in Utah with GPS callers to help the Division of Wildlife Resources get information working to balance the population. What they discovered surprised everyone. 

At that time, hunters could only harvest elk on public lands. On the day the hunt began, the elk would quickly move into private land areas. The day the hunt was over, the elk moved right back into the public lands where they had begun. 

How Did The Elk Know When it was Hunting Season? 

That the elk knew where they would be safe and also were aware of the date is amazing. Researchers pondered how the elk would realize the hunt had begun. Was there one extra smart elk finding its way to the internet and spreading the word? 

They think it was the number of trucks heading to the hills that tipped them off. As the hunters with tags made their way into the public lands, the elk would move to a place where they didn’t see these trucks. 

Elk are Paying Close Attention to the Slightest Changes

It is surprising that they would know when the time was over. Apparently, they noticed when these trucks cleared out and moved back. Perhaps there were some elk that were set to watch and spread the word to the rest. 

I still think the elk might have more going on than we think. If you see any of these large animals carrying a smart phone and checking the DWR website, you may have solved the mystery. 

Insight on How Deer Detect Hunters

An article from Maine looks at the detection deer have that let them know the hunt is on. Hunters have long noted how when they head to the hills to scout for deer before the hunt, there are plenty of bucks walking around.

The moment the hunt begins, they disappear and then reappear the day after it is all over. Deer seems to use their smell, hearing, and vision to detect the slightest change in their environment.

Read More: Four Animals you can Hunt Year Round in Utah

It kind of makes you wonder what other animals know about us and how to avoid detection. There might be coyotes and jackrabbits quietly living in the backyard and know just when to get out of sight.