Peak of Elk Rut?
08-28-2004, 12:51 PM
#1
Typical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 590
Peak of Elk Rut?
For those of you who have hunted elk during the month of September for at least 2 seasons, I have a couple of questions.
If you had to give an exact date that represents the peak of the rut, what would it be? (I mean one single day, like September 21st.) What state do you hunt? How many years of September hunting experience do you have?
If you had to give an exact date that represents the peak of the rut, what would it be? (I mean one single day, like September 21st.) What state do you hunt? How many years of September hunting experience do you have?
08-31-2004, 12:52 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location:
Posts: 2,395
RE: Peak of Elk Rut?
I don't know why but September 21st. has been the best day for us. I had to look back in my hunting journal for this answer. The last 8-years in a row someone in our group or myself has killed a good bull on September-21st.
08-31-2004, 10:55 PM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NW Montana / SW Alberta Rockies
Posts: 3,258
RE: Peak of Elk Rut?
Shouldn't the question ask, When do the cows go into estrus? Don't the cows just have a 24 hour window to successfully breed and if not then they start whinning,ect to attract that bull within this short period, therefore the cows actually triggering the rut, or am I missing something cause I am still learning every time I venture out. 
Bobby
Bobby
09-01-2004, 07:05 AM
#8
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Saskatchewan Canada
Posts: 6,921
RE: Peak of Elk Rut?
According to the DNR Sept 15th is peak rut for where we hunt, however the last 2 years have proved otherwise. 2 Years ago they were going strong the last week of sept so basically 2 weeks late. Last year they were going first of sept and all done by the 15th. This year some spikes aren't even out of velvet yet and they are not talking where we hunt. I have heard reports they are lighting up a bit in the forest which would be about normal...so hopefully this year the Biologist 15th peak date is right on cue(I'll be hunting then...lol).
09-01-2004, 11:17 PM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Idaho
Posts: 2,072
RE: Peak of Elk Rut?
Third week is definatly the best. Cows will be in esterous from opening week until well into rifle season. But the majority are in esterous the third week of september. Yes a cows is in heat for around a day , but all of the cows are staggered. Most will come in around the same week. Man would those bulls have a heck of a night if all of the cows were in heat the same night????? I have heard of yearling cows that will cycle around November and can be bred. The cows that did not take can also cycle again around this time. This rut is nowhere near the same as the september rut, but it does happen.
09-02-2004, 10:59 AM
#10
Typical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Chester County Pennsylvania
Posts: 869
RE: Peak of Elk Rut?
This is my first time ever hunting elk.. let alone hunting em with a bow. But I am going to Idaho from Sept17th-26th....Figure I should hit it just about right with what you are all saying.