This years elk rut

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

When all other elk seemed to be settled down his was letting the world know where he was. I think it Is kind of the same thing as a young guy beating his chest because of his accomplishment (sound familiar  )

    good one.

Thought it might just be me...  My concerns have been affirmed.

The elk rut is the best time of year ever.  October 1st they'll start sounding off.
 

[Elkstuffer]

location,  weather, moon all have a factor in the rut.

They have an affect on observeable rut activity, but as far as the actual rut itself they have no bearing.  Cows come into estrus at the same time every year based on photoperiod.  If the timing of the rut varied, you would have calves dropping at different times each year.  That would be a bad thing for calf survival and cows coming back into estrus when they should.

The majority of the cows will be in estrus and be bred in the middle of September regardless of the weather, moon, etc.

When it's hot, dry, full moon in the middle of September you won't have much observeable rut activity because the bulk of it is going on at night.

Very well put JLS!

[Bullkllr]

Its not rocket science. Even when elk are quite, if you get in their kitchen and you sound like a challenge then they are going to sound off....all good hunters know this. I think that most folks are referring to, is not hearing any of the locator bugles in the am or pm. I have been astounded by folks who during September, will randomly call in a drainage, here nothing call back and assume the elk are not there.

Then why do some bulls come in quiet and others freak out explain that are u an elk??? This year i got in ones kitchen and he was bugling back and racking $hit then with a different bull he didnt make a sound but was racking $hit... I believe it has to do with 1. Weather 2. Competition 3. Location/area

All bulls are different.  One drainage can be on fire and the next one over may be dead (elk in both).

* Is a cow in estrus in one herd and not the other
* Competition from satellite bulls (the larger and more comparable the sattelite bull the more action there seems to be)
*Did the bull just move Into the area and is rounding up cows
*How many Satellite bulls are around that talk a lot
*The elk are elk and we may not know the reasons they do what they do.

One of the most vocal and aggressive bulls I've ever seen was a heavier 4x4 herd bull running the show.  When all other elk seemed to be settled down his was letting the world know where he was. I think it Is kind of the same thing as a young guy beating his chest because of his accomplishment (sound familiar  )

I recall a situation where I had (all in the same small corner of a drainage)
a smallish 5 point going off every few minutes and chasing everything that looked or sounded like an elk, a 4 point that did not respond to any calling- and was actually mounting a cow, a 6 point and another bull that came in slow and silent, and 2 spikes oblivious to the whole situation.

[janttihunter]

Thanks for the advice guys. I always fely like the moon effected animals I always keep track of moon phases while hunting and scouting and record everything. But wasnt sure about the rut. I found 4 shooter bulls bedded down while  scouting the other day so trying to get my game plan.