Archery Elk Timing

[TeacherMan]

When I was in college I got a elk with my bow 5 years in a row, it was great the season ended before the 24th or Sept so I got to hunt the entire thing ever season for 5 years (the main reason I went to a quarter college, not a semester). But for the last 5 years I have not got to enjoy the early season due to myself actually teaching and starting the first week of Sept, this year starting opening day the 8th  So this is the question guys, I have never actually had to use the end of the archery season, this year the 20th, are the bulls usually still fired up chasing the cows around? I remember the last time we had Peaches tags I saw 20 bulls the first day the second day we saw around 5 then it was hit and miss until we had both filled our tags by the third day into the hunt. We stuck around a couple more days just enjoying camp since our elk where down in the cooler and by the time we left we where not even hearing the bulls. My dads elk that year woke us up in our tent and we actual snuck out of camp and got it 5 minutes into shooting light. I thought he was outside my tent with a bugle messing with me  By the end of the season have the elk completely headed into the wilderness areas? Both bulls me and the Da Stump got back in 04 where within a 1/2 mile of the road, made for an easy packout. Not wanting to be lazy but not really wanting to take a bull out 5 miles on my back either. Da Stump shoots I pack . Just wandering your thoughts, thanks...

[jackelope]

based on what i saw last year, the later the better.
the bulls were bugling in october from what i heard. we hunted 4 days and never heard a bugle in sept.
it's all weather related IMO, so i think it can vary year to year.

[SHANE(WA)]

funny thing when it opened on sept 1st I tagged out 4 yrs in a row in the first 4 days, when it changed to the 8th nothing for me lol except muzzy

[BLUEBULLS]

I've found peak rut to be anywhere from sept 8th - oct 1st

generally sept 17-20th are hard to beat in WA.

[EastWaViking]

I've found peak rut to be anywhere from sept 8th - oct 1st

generally sept 17-20th are hard to beat in WA.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I am getting old and my memory is going but back in 1988 archery elk was the first week of Oct., then it went to beginning of Sept for only a couple seasons (3 I think?) then it was Sept 8th. What State were you guys in? is my memory that bad? 

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Last year where you are headed very little bugling and the bulls were not even acting like the rut was near at the beginning.  THen around the 14th they started up and were going strong all the way to our last day (21st).  So in my opinion the later the better. 

[coachcw]

try jim horns early season elk calling ,you might be surprised . Ilike to get to the bulls early .before every dude with a bugle hammers oCoreyn them.

[bullchaser]

I've found peak rut to be anywhere from sept 8th - oct 1st

generally sept 17-20th are hard to beat in WA.
Dead on