I find this kind of unfortunate in a way because these so called biologists and government people sit in their little cubical in the office and think that they know whats really going on. Meanwhile the hunters are out there actually experiencing it rather than just sitting back and estimating when the rut is happening. On a september evening we can walk out of the house and listen to hear the bulls screaming at night out in the farmland. The bulls seem to be bugling, scraping up, wallowing more early than normal. So Skeeter I agree it seems to be happening ahead of schedule. As for why this is happening is difficult to lay a finger on. I will go along with a few of your theories, the easy winters may have something to do with it. Also remember these last 2 years end of Aug-Middle Sept were very very wet. We got a pile of rain in those few weeks. It may be possible that the sudden weather change from being dry all summer turned them on a little early. I am not sure if where you hunt also got this moisture or not. Another theory of mine is that we haven't had those cool mornings where it dips down below freezing. The elk seasons have recently been fairly warm. I have found that on a cold night the bulls will scream all night long, if you choose to stay up and listen to them. In my area it seems that by the opener of rifle elk the bulls are slowing down and the rut is finishing up. This was one of the reasons I purchased a bow, I seem to get them talking pretty good in the earlier archery season. But whatever this fall brings I will be hunting them Aug 23 until I tag out or the end of Sept rolls around.