Snow Level 5500ft Sunday

[stlhdr1]

Wow, if there were enough moisture there could be some measurable snow where we plan to bow hunt Sunday.... We'll see what the following week will have in store for us...

What's your take on the early low temp's picking up the pace on the rut?

Keith

[Eagleclaw]

where i'm going highs in low 60's lows in low 30's 20% chance of showers on sunday... sounds like some darn good elk hunting this weekend.. i have that feeling that we are going to tag out on elk this weekend...

[OR_Bo_Huntr]

The weather has nothing to do with the elk rut, or behavior of such

[Eagleclaw]

Originally Posted by OR_Bo_Huntr

The weather has nothing to do with the elk rut, or behavior of such

the rut will start when the cows come into heat and weather has nothing to do with that.

[OR_Bo_Huntr]

You nailed it...I could tell you what exactly causes the cows to come into esterus...but I might come under fire lol
All it does is keep them a little more mobile in the morning and evening...another thing is that with any type of overcast, the elk will tend to not head to bed quite as early because the sunrise is percieved slower than with clear skies

[stlhdr1]

I'm just anxious to get out and see and hear some animals..... Weather, time of year, it's all got me fired up!

Keith

[Eagleclaw]

Originally Posted by OR_Bo_Huntr

You nailed it...I could tell you what exactly causes the cows to come into esterus...but I might come under fire lol
All it does is keep them a little more mobile in the morning and evening...another thing is that with any type of overcast, the elk will tend to not head to bed quite as early because the sunrise is percieved slower than with clear skies

with the cool weather overcast sky's and a new moon this weekend it's going to be a good weekend to elk hunt. I'll be hunting all day and that we tag out this weekend but i have that feeling that we are going to get our elk this weekend.

[Rank Amateur]

Originally Posted by OR_Bo_Huntr

The weather has nothing to do with the elk rut, or behavior of such

I don't totally agree, the rut is triggered by photo-period, the weather can and does affect the photo-period. Cloudy weather will create a later sunrise and earlier sunset to a limited degree, but then again we are talking a few minutes on both ends and the rut starts.

This is why you will find many old timers that would say that when the weather turns cold, the elk/bucks will rut (of coarse we are talking two different time periods), but that usually means cloudy weather.

[OR_Bo_Huntr]

Sure, but it doesnt mean 3 weeks early either...I get what your saying, but it is also not the the amount of daylight that does it, alot has to do with the moon...for the cows anyway.
You can go out in July and if your making the right esterus noise you can fire one of those lil bulls up in full velvet

[ehunter]

I want to hunt the pre-rut any way before the herd bulls have cows this weekend should be good with bulls still trying out the pecking order and not running from a bugle because they have not yet been picked on or educated by hunters from pre-season bugling by Sunday it may be different Then again maybe Sunday I wil be sleeping in with a smile on my face

[Rank Amateur]

Do a google search on photoperiod rut, some interesting studies done on this theory. Especially look at the study on Red deer in New Zealand, interesting how the rut is in March! Temperature was documented to have an effect.

Of coarse wikipedia..........http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rut_(ma...n_reproduction)


This one had some facts and it comes from a bow site.....http://bowsite.com/BOWSITE/features/...es/moontheory/


I just find it interesting that temperature and photoperiod are doublely linked. Yes, you will not get three weeks reduction in the rut! You probably can pick a certain date on the calendar and hunt that week each year and do well year in and year out.

[Yeti]

Originally Posted by Rank Amateur

I don't totally agree, the rut is triggered by photo-period, the weather can and does affect the photo-period. Cloudy weather will create a later sunrise and earlier sunset to a limited degree, but then again we are talking a few minutes on both ends and the rut starts.

This is why you will find many old timers that would say that when the weather turns cold, the elk/bucks will rut (of coarse we are talking two different time periods), but that usually means cloudy weather.

Rank,

I think you are right up to a point. It would take an extended period of clouds to change the timing of the rut. A two day low isn't going to do it. They react to changes over time not on a day to day variation.

[Rank Amateur]

Originally Posted by Yeti

Rank,

I think you are right up to a point. It would take an extended period of clouds to change the timing of the rut. A two day low isn't going to do it. They react to changes over time not on a day to day variation.

Agreed!

[quackersnacker]

Originally Posted by OR_Bo_Huntr

The weather has nothing to do with the elk rut, or behavior of such

Exactly right, the elk rut will instantly go full speed with every bull throwing caution to the wind and running to any and every call within earshot the moment I have packed up and am returning home!

[Eagleclaw]

Originally Posted by quackersnacker

Exactly right, the elk rut will instantly go full speed with every bull throwing caution to the wind and running to any and every call within earshot the moment I have packed up and am returning home!

isn't that the truth... i feel your pain it's happened to me many of times

[Steelheader]

Originally Posted by ehunter

I want to hunt the pre-rut any way before the herd bulls have cows this weekend should be good with bulls still trying out the pecking order and not running from a bugle because they have not yet been picked on or educated by hunters from pre-season bugling by Sunday it may be different Then again maybe Sunday I wil be sleeping in with a smile on my face

lol, ehunter: You are a goof. I really enjoy all of your posts and replys, Most herd bulls allready have there cows by now, and as far as being educated most elk are educated anyways especially after hearing elk calls made by new hunter/callers that in no way shape or form sound like an elk. Thats why I allways hunt the late season. This weekend the woods will have more hunters than animals tromping around, blowing calls and making noise educating them that much more. If you are one of those going, be safe and good luck.

[jr5575]

A few years back my Girlfriend and I were walking a closed road behind our camp only about a half a mile back and we herd something big and loud coming through the woods so we stopped and looked down through the small pines planted on the edge of the road into this draw. I knew it had to be a hunter and then a huge branch bull comes walking down through there and he stops broadside about 50 - 75 yards away looks around and bugles instantly the woods came alive and 16 cows go walking by then a 3 point and after i thought they had all gone around the corner a spike goes cruisin by trying to catch up I was rifle hunting that year and this all happened the weekend before elk season started

The next weekend my father and I went in there and ran into a few really nice bucks and about a hundred hunters

It was still an amazing expirence though. One of thoughs things I will never forget

[StickHNTR]

Originally Posted by Rank Amateur

Do a google search on photoperiod rut, some interesting studies done on this theory. Especially look at the study on Red deer in New Zealand, interesting how the rut is in March! Temperature was documented to have an effect.

The rut is in march because its the southern hemisphere and thats the begining of fall.