Hiawatha, I have heard the samething about ruts changing for various game from previous. Probably very true, I still think a lot has to do with the sheer numbers of game in the deer and elk herds, they have flourished in the past decade, one can assume this would or could change breeding patterns as well. Most likely weather and pressure have played a part as well, even though we see less guys taking after deer each year and on the same token elk hunters are on the rise. The fact remains our public areas to hunt are not getting larger, so we have more concentration which will increase the pressure even with less boot prints in the dirt/snow overall. Moose have been pretty much constant peak rut is still around the 1st of october, but I have had them working from last week of sept - 2nd week of october with a call..population as you know hasn't really been on a spike for well over a decade either, this just might further point to changes in game moving in the opposite direction but who knows! As always we will take it as it comes and just enjoy being out, it just means one might have to work it differently than in the past - adapt and react is premise with hunting and really part of the challenge as well. Certainly it is nice when you can go out to bugle or rattle and get a response but more than one way to skin a cat, it just is so damn nice hearing them scream back at you!

Dirt, I agree we may be jumping the gun and hard on the biologists. However if they acknowledged the changes and even offered the odd theory it would be much different than flat out denying it to those who are experiencing it in the field. Obviously I wouldn't expect them to do something based on a blip on the radar but it should be something that is monitored and documented, so that if the trend continues they would have some thoughts or be better equiped on how to react.