Early Summer, Early Rut; Late Summer, Late Rut?

[longstevo]

Was talking to the father in law tonight on the phone and he and a buddy have come up with a theory.  Their idea is that on years when where we have a hot early summer, the elk rut follows and tends to peak in the early archery season.  But years where summer peaks later, the elk rut follows, and peaks (or seems to be peaking currently where we were hunting). 

Case in point:
Last year, we had an early hot summer, and he and I didn't see a single animal during the entire muzzle season nor heard any bugles.

This year, summer was later due to our wet and cool spring, and the rut seems to be hot and heavy now in the muzzle season.  The bull he shot was raring to go and sprinted towards him from across a meadow even without him using a call.  Another guy he knows reports that the chorus of bulls in the same area are sounding loud and proud in the last two days. 

Thoughts?

[WapitiTalk1]

The various phases of the elk rut occur at the same time each year. 

[bkaech]

Biologists have concluded that photo-period (length of day) is the primary driving force in ungulate hormonal changes. Personally I think the entire premise for early or late rut is wrong. Hunters think that worked up bugling bulls is peak rut, but worked up bugling bulls have all types of factors and can happen at all stages of the actual rut with hundreds of variables, one of which is weather. But the actual rut/cows going into heat happens at the same time of year every year based on the length of the day.

[Matth]

Biologists have concluded that photo-period (length of day) is the primary driving force in ungulate hormonal changes. Personally I think the entire premise for early or late rut is wrong. Hunters think that worked up bugling bulls is peak rut, but worked up bugling bulls have all types of factors and can happen at all stages of the actual rut with hundreds of variables, one of which is weather. But the actual rut/cows going into heat happens at the same time of year every year based on the length of the day.

This is spot on.

[jstone]

So when the daylight starts to change to earlier daylight is when the rut starts?
Estrus?

[buckfvr]

https://www.elk-hunting-tips.net/elk-rut.html


Agree or not, this sums it up clearly.

[longstevo]

So the rut starts on the same calendar day every single year? 

I don't know.  Seems like there's a lot more factors at play that kick things off.  Weather, lunar cycle, and a ton of other things at play contribute to the bulls getting kicked off. 

Like I mentioned in the original post, last year:  no bull activity whatsoever.  This year, they're tearing up the woods. 
Clearly something is different between this year and last year. 

[85yota]

I think there's to many factors to pinpoint it down.. just got out of the woods since Friday for a beer at the local bar before the last days.. here's the theory on the mtn.
Near goat rocks fire so everywhere is thick smoke (everyone thinks the smoke is spooking them because they can't smell so there not being vocal), most people have hunted here for years and claim this hot weather has either stopped the later rut or it hasn't fully took off(sounds wrong but whatever), the others claim all the bears and wolves have spooked them into being silent. One thing for sure is this area, even with the early season has seen less rut activity than others when it's colder.. big way to say I don't think anyone has a clue and it's all excuses lol. But you can't argue with the old timers it seems. There is fresh rubs and wallows around and the woods are silent as can be, except for trying to walk around haha.

[huntnfmly]

Biologists have concluded that photo-period (length of day) is the primary driving force in ungulate hormonal changes. Personally I think the entire premise for early or late rut is wrong. Hunters think that worked up bugling bulls is peak rut, but worked up bugling bulls have all types of factors and can happen at all stages of the actual rut with hundreds of variables, one of which is weather. But the actual rut/cows going into heat happens at the same time of year every year based on the length of the day.

This is spot on.

 

The various phases of the elk rut occur at the same time each year.