I have an opportunity to go Elk hunting in Montana next September. Which week would be the best. Is it just as good to go early in the month as it is to go late in the month.

We always shoot for the 3rd wkd of the month as being a reliable time to hit the rut in full swing. The question is, is that what you want? You may want to hit it earlier when it might be easier to call a herd bull than later when he's got his cows and won't come to calls. We did Montana the 3rd week of Sept this year and it was really tough getting them to talk until the 2nd to the last day when we stumbled into a herd on private land and tried to coax them off (to no avail).. but this year seemed very unusual in the lack of bugling (we blamed it on the large fires).

Keep a close eye on fire conditions too.. this year was bad and closed down much of the Bob Marshall during early hunts. It would sure hurt to plunk down a bunch of money on an outfitted trip only to get burned out.

Yes I know the 3rd week is always the best down here in NM