Being a elk "rookie-veteran" I am fully addicted. There is always something new to learn, and that is part of what makes it fun. So here is what I have been mulling over lately, something that I haven't seen much of in writting or heard much discussion on. The timing of the elk rut. Sure, mis to late September. Sure, hunter and ATV activity can change things. But what about the moon? Cold snaps? Drought? My hunt is variable, year-to-year, this year I am of the 13th - 21st. I based it on the old farmers almanac and the moon phase. I think that during a fuller moon, the elk are more active at night, so if there is a fuller moon during September 15th-25th, the rut seems to me to be less "hot." However, since the new moon is during that time this year, I think the rut is going to be a little later, the 18th is my peak prediction. Also, the farmers almanac says we should get a cold, wet snap during that time.... anyone else have any thoughts, observations, etc?... there is TONS written about timing the whitetail rut, but not too much about the elk rut....
I think your logic makws sence, as far as entering the better part of the rut. On the otherhand, I killed my second elk (a yearling cow on September 1. there was already 30 + cows with the one bull.
my opinion is however that the natural peak of the rut is somewhere in the last 10 days of September.
Hunter activity & excessive calling, can dramatically effect calling, and the rut.
The full moon phases IMO increase night time vocality of bulls and breading activities, and cause them to be less active.
Last, the earlier the rut, and the earlier that the cows get covered, the earlier, the calves are born, and the larger / more fit they are going into their first winter.
Can't waite for more input!!!
oops double post
:rolleyes: :)
I think your logic makws sence, as far as entering the better part of the rut. On the otherhand, I killed my second elk (a yearling cow on September 1. there was already 30 + cows with the one bull.
my opinion is however that the natural peak of the rut is somewhere in the last 10 days of September.
Hunter activity & excessive calling, can dramatically effect calling, and the rut.
The full moon phases IMO increase night time vocality of bulls and breading activities, and cause them to be less active.
Last, the earlier the rut, and the earlier that the cows get covered, the earlier, the calves are born, and the larger / more fit they are going into their first winter.
Can't waite for more input!!!
As REM says in song: "I haven't said enough; I've already said too much." Having been blessed to spend the past 25 years living year-round with elk, making a fair part of my meager living studying elk, and trad bowhunting elk very successfully, every time I offer honest, heartfelt advice, I get slammed by someone whose experience has been different. Best advice I can (safely) offer is to pay more attention to biologists than to outfitters and other hunters, and no attention whatsoever to anyone making videos and/or selling something. I will say: good bugling does not mean high hunter success. What it does mean is lots of fun ... assuming you have the ability to discern real bugling from really good fake bugling. While I can say that I've never killed a snot-slinging-hot bugling bull, I must also admit that I've missed several shots, over many years, at the biggest bulls I've ever encountered, who were in fact slinging snot and ripping their throats out. Ah, but these all were either in deep-deep wilderness where most outfitters even don't go, or on unhunted private land, and also way deep in ... the way it was for millions of years before we got over-civilized. Exeptions never make the rule, no matter how dramatic. When's the best time to hunt elk? Every minute a season is open! Do as I've done and marry a wife who understands, quit your job if they won't give you enough vacation in hunting season, stay out of debt. Everything has a price, including elk-bumbing. But hey, you can come to gorgeous,high cool green elk country any time during the season, and so long as you get away from the motorized mobs, you're gonna have fun. And adventure. Nothing truly good is ever guaranteed. dave
I have found that here in Oregon the new moon phase ramps things up. This year it is the week of the 11th. I plan on being in the woods that week! It has proven true the past 5 yrs.