Moved to Colorado back in January and will be taking off a full week in September to go chase some elk. Been researching and studying my a** off. My only question for you vets is simple. What week of September would you say is best on average as far as the rut goes? Reading mixed reviews online so was hoping to hear some first hand experience here. Thanks all!
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Originally posted by deerslayer94 View PostMoved to Colorado back in January and will be taking off a full week in September to go chase some elk. Been researching and studying my a** off. My only question for you vets is simple. What week of September would you say is best on average as far as the rut goes? Reading mixed reviews online so was hoping to hear some first hand experience here. Thanks all!
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I like the last 10 days because temps are usually lower(though not always). Higher temps usually means less vocal elk, earlier to bed and later to rise. Herd bulls are cowed up, but satellites are frustrated and tend to come to cow calls. Use a decoy if you can lay your hands on one. DON'T PASS UP A LEGAL BULL-- if this is your first elk hunt. Good luck.
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Originally posted by kerrbow View PostI like the last 10 days because temps are usually lower(though not always). Higher temps usually means less vocal elk, earlier to bed and later to rise. Herd bulls are cowed up, but satellites are frustrated and tend to come to cow calls. Use a decoy if you can lay your hands on one. DON'T PASS UP A LEGAL BULL-- if this is your first elk hunt. Good luck.
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Originally posted by Trumpkin View PostThe rut will always peak around the third week of September. Weather events might make it happen at night, or quietly. And human pressure can do the same.
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I always time it with the fall equinox.
Several days each side of it.
I don't know that I've ever been and the haven't heard them bugling.
It's for sure the most scientific approach you could take, everything else is a guess.
The amount of daylight hitting a cow elks pupil is what triggers her to go into estrous.
Essentially as the nights get longer and longer in the fall, and less and less daylight hits her pupil, she triggers.
The equinox is when we hit 12/12.
Nothing is guaranteed and they can and do get thrown off for different reasons.
Regardless you'll still have some cows in estrous and some bulls rutting around that time.
My friends in Colorado said last year all the smoke in some areas set em off early, and the cows were in estrous in late August.
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Originally posted by Trumpkin View PostThe rut will always peak around the third week of September. Weather events might make it happen at night, or quietly. And human pressure can do the same.
Lots of variables that could push it one side or the other but that is what I have always gone by.
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Originally posted by WyoBull View PostThis. 3rd week of September has always been kind of the standard up here for the elk rut.
Lots of variables that could push it one side or the other but that is what I have always gone by.
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OP, I would go first week of Sept. We've gotten bulls going with bugles and cow calls first week no problem in CO. We've hunted 3rd week, and the woods is a ghost town. We have also had some good luck getting responses in mid October as well, during first rifle.
Good luck!
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