what is it that makes the moose go into the rutt. I have asked this question before and have recieved different answers,along with some puzzled looks.

I would assume it's Nature's/evolution's way of getting the cow 'knocked up' at the right time in order for the calves to be born at the time of year to gain sufficient strength before the onset of the following season's adverse weather.

I would bet its no different the deer.....moon phases and weather!

According to biologists the determining factor concerning when animals go into rut is the amount of light in the day.The weather effects how active the animals will be in rut but not when rut occurs.

man so thats what I am doing wrong LOL...at around 18 hours of daylight during the first part off moose season loosing about 6-7mns a day, by the time sept is over those bulls are going mad!

It's called photoperiod.
Daylight length.
Must also be some genetics involved.
As same breed of deer can vary from area to area within the same light period.

I have also read that it is the amount of daylight that governs when they rut. If it's too warm they become more nocturnal to get away from the flies. In my experiences they will come to a call better when it is cold & crisp.

I watched a show on elk some time ago,they said that what determins when the elk goes into the rut is the amount of light that hits the retna, they never said any other animals.it sounds like the moose is the same.if you see it on t.v. its gotta be true.