ALSATIAN makes a good point, although you need to remember how far elk will range for food. I work at a VA hospital, and I talk to EVERY vet who comes through my office from near my hunting area. Word on the talkbox is that the elk are already moving down into agricultural areas to feed on irrigated fields. They stay just above and out of sight during daylight hours and move in to feed during the cooler, darker hours. Many springs have dried up completely as the snowmelt ran dry weeks and even months ago. When the food and water are gone, they will likely migrate en masse to a whole other area where resources are more plentiful and competition is lighter. Unfortunately, that is frequently private land, and permission to hunt is a lot harder to get these days.

Now, judging by the current weather patterns, the very recent increase in rainfall might bring the elk back up. Then again, they might just stay where they are. If nothing pushes them out- hunting, weather, food, etc.... then they'll just stay put. If hunting pressure gets them moving scared, they could head for the hills again. It's hard to say. I guess when it comes down to it, there's no substitute for time spent scouting.