Already planning for next year... Which days in September

[Brandon_SPC]

So this year wasn't as eventful in the realm of elk rutting for me and next year I would like to try and optimize when I go so I can experience it. Not just trying to kill an elk but I want to experience the bulls chasing and screaming. With that I'm planning to go next year to hunt 15 days instead of 7 days. Now the question becomes which two weeks would you take off to hunt based on the moon phase?
Option 1 (September 5th-20th)
Option 2 (September 12th-27th)

 

[Dakota Dude]

12th through 27th.

 

[AaronMColeman]

Moon phase does seem to make a difference in their movement. But the rut is the rut and from my limited experience that seems far more important than the moon phases. Not sure about your area, but in most areas, it seems like September 18-22 is the prime time.

 

[cnelk]

If you want to experience screaming bulls and chasing, go to Estes Park late September. Its a guarantee.

If you want to kill an elk, figure out when your area has the most elk during the season and hunt then. No guarantee.

^^^ The two above are not always synonymous

 

[Brandon_SPC]

If you want to experience screaming bulls and chasing, go to Estes Park late September. Its a guarantee.

If you want to kill an elk, figure out when your area has the most elk during the season and hunt then. No guarantee.

^^^ The two above are not always synonymous

Wish I could figure out when the area I hunt holds the most elk but living about 1600 miles away makes that a little hard. lol

 

[Txbownut]

I like the 12th-27th, should get pre through peak rut.

 

[elkocd]

If you want to experience screaming bulls and chasing, go to Estes Park late September. Its a guarantee.

If you want to kill an elk, figure out when your area has the most elk during the season and hunt then. No guarantee.

^^^ The two above are not always synonymous

+1

Chasing the "rut" is not always your best bet to kill a bull.

As an example... My teenage son had an OR LE tag this year in an area I've hunted many times. We were into screaming bulls from labor day until the last day. Mostly morning and night. He did have lots of chances but didn't kill a bull. I pretty much gave up my entire OR season for this.

After his hunt I went to MT, never heard a single bugle and killed a good 6 point in 36 hours. Entirely different kind of country, but country I had familiarity with and country I could kill a good bull even if they were quite.

My point is, if you want to kill good bulls every year you better not be so focused on them being in any certain phase of the rut or vocalization. You just can't count on anything! You have to pick a time frame you can hunt and hunt country that you can find elk and kill elk no matter what they are doing.

 

[Indian Summer]

12-27 for sure. Great hunt dates. I could never leave on the 20th!

 

[IdahoElk]

#2

 

[Catahoula]

Option 2 if it was that I only had the two weeks.

 

[5MilesBack]

This year there was only one day where the elk were screaming and going crazy, and it was earlier in the season. The rest of the season I was on elk every day, but they were never as fired up as on that one day.

 

[KHNC]

i have always liked the mid sept dates for sure myself. Even though i have killed two bulls early season as well. All of my elk trips are after the 10th now.