I was out the 12th til the 19th and it seemed like the rutting activity was not really going yet at least where I was. This was not my first time hunting the area. I noticed similiar behavior in OR the last week. You guys think this is going to be a year they are going nuts early Oct.? Thinking of heading back for the rifle season.
Late rut?
- Thread starter elkocd
- Start date
dirtclod Az.
Veteran member
Weather patterns sometimes will make the rut early or late.Some areas the cows have a second estrus and 2nd rut is possible.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
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Interesting and kind of off-topic for your question but here is something unusual I discovered last week.
I have 4 - 25-30 pound fawns (COVERED in spots...TINY) at my feeder daily current time..They just started showing up. I figured the does were still hiding them.
By my calculation the does were supposed to be bred in February. The first rut here is normally very close to thanksgiving.Second rut around early January. That would have put this deer being bred 2 months later than usual. At a minimum a month and a half later. .
I have 4 - 25-30 pound fawns (COVERED in spots...TINY) at my feeder daily current time..They just started showing up. I figured the does were still hiding them.
By my calculation the does were supposed to be bred in February. The first rut here is normally very close to thanksgiving.Second rut around early January. That would have put this deer being bred 2 months later than usual. At a minimum a month and a half later. .
dirtclod Az.
Veteran member
mallardx2 are your weather patterns way off this year?I'm standing outside and it Friggen' 100' out here and 114' in the sun.I started planting Melons and Pumpkins yesterday.Maybe too soon for the climate this year?Az. boyo!
Slugz
Veteran member
Gents.....the rut as defined as the most cows in heat is always the same every year. Sept 21/22 fall equinox. The amount of light versus dark is what puts the cows in heat. 2nd estrus cows or ones that didn't get bred will cycle back in mid Oct to provide a little rutting behavior as the bulls clean then up.
This year during archery went pretty normal in my GMU. opener till 9 Sep was steady and consistent rutting activity to include vocalization by the bulls (pre rut)
They got quiet from roughly the 10th till 16th as herd bulls did their sorting and we're hiding the harems in the dark stuff.
They fired off again 16/17 Sept with the small cold front and the bulls chasing cows that were not claimed yet.
Not hearing the animals or seeing them is merely data yo say they are somewhere else doing their business. Too often we as humans get tied up with needing the vocalizations to consider the rut going on when actually it is going on.
This year during archery went pretty normal in my GMU. opener till 9 Sep was steady and consistent rutting activity to include vocalization by the bulls (pre rut)
They got quiet from roughly the 10th till 16th as herd bulls did their sorting and we're hiding the harems in the dark stuff.
They fired off again 16/17 Sept with the small cold front and the bulls chasing cows that were not claimed yet.
Not hearing the animals or seeing them is merely data yo say they are somewhere else doing their business. Too often we as humans get tied up with needing the vocalizations to consider the rut going on when actually it is going on.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
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I hate it when people try to act smart and talk sense....
Just kidding of course. I'm still going to just blame the moon and the heat for my bad luck I have had in the past. lol
Unless, I'm hunting with someone else, then I will blame them personally for my bad fortunes! haha
Slugz
Veteran member
We just need to get you in the right spot regardless of moon and weather with a good hunting partner to fix your chi��I hate it when people try to act smart and talk sense....
I'm still going to just blame the moon and the heat for my bad luck I have had in the past. lol
Unless, I'm hunting with someone else, then I will blame them personally for my bad fortunes! haha
Slugz, I realize all of this and don't rely soly on vocal elk. I did not have any problem finding elk and had many opportunities at smaller 6 points. I know you don't know who I am, but if you did or have read any of my stories in Eastmans or Western Hunter you'd know finding elk is never my problem
My point was after hunting two states for a solid month the rut(defined by many factors not just vocalizations) was really weird this year. At least where I was. This was not just from listening, but also watching hundreds of elk.
I'm sure it was not the same everywhere. There were no cold fronts anywhere I was at. Maybe that was a factor. I'm just hoping things change a bit in the next week. I'm still looking for a special bull.
Slugz
Veteran member
Well sounds like then you are in them all the time and know they will fire off again in Oct when the cows that didn't get bred come into heat. The rut is the rut is the rut.....happens every year same time.
Good luck finding that special bull.
Good luck finding that special bull.
dirtclod Az.
Veteran member
Oct. is peak and later! IN AZ> trout fishing in late Oct.,Bulls going off everywhere!3 cows killed in camp!Never stop hunting.
WapitiBob
Veteran member
They were going nuts in my wyoming unit from the 8th. Bugling on their own at 2: in the afternoon that first day. Called in 3 in less than an hour of hunting.