What is the temperature's affect on the elk rut?

[Pajay 1962]

I've hunted elk a few times, but in October with the rifle and not during the rut. I'm heading to western CO late next week with the muzzleloader. I just checked the temperatures in Rifle, CO (nearest town), and they're predicting highs around 80 each day and high 40's at night. Elevation in the mountains we'll be in is between 8500 and close to 10,000 feet.

1. What affect will this have on the elk rut?
2. Will they be active at night and lay down at first light?
3. Should I concentrate on north slopes and dark timber?
4. Will the elk say "**** the temperatures, the heat is on?!"
5. Suggestions on how to hunt them at this time in these conditions?

Thanks
Jay

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Down here in the SW part of the state the weather is very similar. The elk are still high (9 to 10k) where it is cooler and fewer bugs. Full moon so lots of activity at night. Little or no bugling, rut activity almost non existent. Weather for the next couple of weeks is forecast to be about the same. We are getting lots of afternoon clouds and thundershowers as it is monsoon season.

About all I can tell you.

 

[wolftalonID]

Elk tend to kick into heavy rut when two things happen together. Cold weather at nights, and a new moon. I plan accordingly so the elk sleep at night then more, and stay awake longer in the AM.

My success has worked the last several years having kept this schedule.

 

[Pajay 1962]

That's good to hear as ML season is during the new moon. What would you say is "cool" at night? low 40's at night cool enough? We'll hunt hard regardless, but it would be nice to hear them and zone in on them though!

 

[brianboh]

Air temperature has zero effect on rutting. Cows come into heat due to the decreasing amount of day light. However it can effect wether they are more active during the day or night as well as the moon. The new moon should defiantly be in your favor. From my experience too they are not checking the weather up in the mountains. It should be cooler up in the mountains

 

[jjenness]

Air temperature has zero effect on rutting.

In my experience this statement is not too accurate. (Not trying to start an arguement Brian). When the temps stay hot I have literally seen the elk shut down the rut. Last two years we have had a stretch of cool weather about the middle of Sept which ramped up the rut to a fever pitch, and then around the third week when the elk typically hit peak estrus around here, the weather turned hot again. The elk literally stopped all rutting activity and went into a weird cow and bull mixed summer pattern. I thought that the elk were just getting busy during the night so I even hiked in several hours before sunlight and the bugles were minimum for that time of year. Once the weather broke around the second week of Oct it was like it was the full rut, in full force. The best thing about this is that opening week of rifle season still had rutting Bulls running around, which is not very common here, just to bad I didn't have the rifletag for a bull, but that's where things are different this year! I would classify cool weather as low 40's at night and high 50's in the day. Good luck!

 

[jjenness]

I guess I didn't answer your last question. When it is that time of year when the rut should be in full swing and the temps are hot I typically get fairly aggressive. Usually if you get in close enough to the elk you can work up a bull and get him coming to you. I also spend a lot more time hunting water, obviously. I don't ground blind hunt water, I usually try to get an advantage point to see the water, or sit on the travel routes to and from so that I can stay mobile and move with the elk. This has its advantages and disadvantages, me personally I can't stand watching elk walk away at 100 yards and me being stuck in a ground blind, drives me literally crazy! For example the bull you see on my profile pic was shot after he bedded down from taking his morning drink of water, temp was about 95 degrees when I killed him.

 

[Hilltop]

From a pure biology standpoint, cow elk will come into estrous regardless of outside air temperature. Not all cows come into estrous at the same time so really there is a 2-4 week window depending on the area when there are available cows to breed. A cool stretch during this window will be the "peak" to us hunters. The activity that us hunters call the rut is more visible during cooler weather because the animals are just more active in cooler weather. Regardless of the time of year, if it's hot the elk will spend more time in their beds. If it's cool, they will be on their feet longer thus the breeding activity will be more visible/audible.

From a hunting standpoint, I agree with jjenness above. If your there for only a week you may as well hunt hard. Hunt water, get aggressive, and basically keep trying. Do your best to put yourself in the hot areas at first and last light when they will be more active.

 

[Pajay 1962]

Great info guys, I appreciate it!

 

[ivorytip]

I prefer hunting on cooler overcast days as the elk seem to be more active during day, but with that said, last year it was 80 outside and the elk were going crazy all day long, in heat of day chasing cows in the open meadows. if cows are ready to be bread, its gonna happen.