This years elk rut

[janttihunter]

I noticed this years September new moon is 11 days earlier than last year. I know whether is a big factor but do you think this will influence a slightly earlier peak rut?

[JPhelps]

Nope, the rut is based on photo periods (length of day). 

Now the perceived rut from the weather and moon may be evident.

[Pigfuz]

Im not a biologist and have no clue what actually triggers the rut however I think weather plays a big role.  Where I hunt the elk don't seem to care about the exact time they start rutting but actually more of the temperature.  They wont start rutting until after a couple good frosts.  With our late summer weather it seems to push them later and later into the year.  Seemed to be that the rut was always in mid September but now it is closer to the first week of October during muzzleloader.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Yeah early october is best. I cant wait!!   

[elk247]

Nope, the rut is based on photo periods (length if day).  Now the perceived rut from the weather and moon may be evident.

This is exactly right. Like JP said the perceived rut is what you guys are noticing. Those cows are bred on time. That's why the woods are shut down the last week of September and the first week of October typically.

[bone head]

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

[JLS]

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.

[rtspring]

Its all about the length of hours in a day, cooler temps!   The moon just gives them more chance of activity at night.

[huntnnw]

RUT is not pushed back or ahead due to weather...it still happens on time..its what the hunter is hearing and seeing as a judge of what the rut is doing. Perfect example..one year I was hunting some elk in NE WA..I ran into a hunter on the road on the way out..he was adamant that the rut was late..he had seen no sign or heard any elk in a week...well I had been listening to screaming bulls and cow talk for 3 days in a row.

Another issue with the rut is the area you hunt..if it lacks bulls your going to have a quiet hunting season

[RoyBoy]

Its all about the length of hours in a day, cooler temps!   The moon just gives them more chance of activity at night.

exactly. there not worried about the moon just makes it easier to feed at night

[TommyH]

Yeah early october is best. I cant wait!!   

  My adivice is for everyone to wait till then! 

[Bigshooter]

I was always under the impression that rut was always set by when the first sunday of september was.  If the first sunday was close to the 1st then the rut was early, and if the first sunday was closer to the 7th then it would be later.  But then you had to factor in rain.  If it rained before the 1st no matter the day of the week then that would push the rut back by a week.  But if it didn't rain until after the first that meant the rut would be early.  And then the last thing you have to look at is what time you get out of bed and into the woods.  If you're not in the woods before daylight then the rut probably won't start until after the season is over.  But if you're in the woods before daylight each day then we will probably have an early rut. 
Clear as mud?

[bucklucky]

I love september 

[JLS]

I was always under the impression that rut was always set by when the first sunday of september was.  If the first sunday was close to the 1st then the rut was early, and if the first sunday was closer to the 7th then it would be later.  But then you had to factor in rain.  If it rained before the 1st no matter the day of the week then that would push the rut back by a week.  But if it didn't rain until after the first that meant the rut would be early.  And then the last thing you have to look at is what time you get out of bed and into the woods.  If you're not in the woods before daylight then the rut probably won't start until after the season is over.  But if you're in the woods before daylight each day then we will probably have an early rut. 
Clear as mud?

You forgot to factor in how many miles driven, and how rough the roads are.

[TommyH]

I was always under the impression that rut was always set by when the first sunday of september was.  If the first sunday was close to the 1st then the rut was early, and if the first sunday was closer to the 7th then it would be later.  But then you had to factor in rain.  If it rained before the 1st no matter the day of the week then that would push the rut back by a week.  But if it didn't rain until after the first that meant the rut would be early.  And then the last thing you have to look at is what time you get out of bed and into the woods.  If you're not in the woods before daylight then the rut probably won't start until after the season is over.  But if you're in the woods before daylight each day then we will probably have an early rut. 
Clear as mud?

You nailed it there!!!