Elk Rut Update

[BOHNTR]

I saw a pretty good bull breed a cow this evening, so there’s some rutting still going on.  

[trphyhntr]

On 10/3/2025 at 5:02 PM, PRDATR said:

 

Brian they always seem to peak in Mid October.

The elk rut peaks in mid October? 

[Tbar]

I just came back from Unit 23 and the elk were rutting hard. Seen a nice size bull with at least 15 cows. 

[Mountain]

7 minutes ago, trphyhntr said:

The elk rut peaks in mid October? 

Tapering off most likely 

[wish2hunt]

The rut has normally wound down after first week of October

[CatfishKev]

Several years in 23 on the youth hunt they still have been on fire. But that's 23 couldn't say crap about any other unit.  

[Rudebob]

They were screaming in 6a today.  Saw lots of quality bulls pushing cows.  Reminded me of the best archery hunts from days gone by.  Two of the youth hunters we were helping doubled up today for their first kills in the cow elk general hunt.

[bigbuckfever]

Multiple bulls came thru my brother's property in Young last night screaming.  Came within 80 yards of his campfire just at dark and put on quite a show.

[bojangles]

14 minutes ago, bigbuckfever said:

Multiple bulls came thru my brother's property in Young last night screaming.  Came within 80 yards of his campfire just at dark and put on quite a show.

Yes, the rut ran late in 23 this year.  The big boys didn’t show up until right before the youth hunt.  I felt sorry for those who had early tags this year.  

[thegunsmith2506]

The bulls in unit 8 have been on fire the last 2 days. 

[Markleo21377]

On 10/16/2025 at 3:05 PM, trphyhntr said:

The elk rut peaks in mid October? 

Nope, these conversations on the rut are always interesting. The scientific facts, proved by biologists everywhere is peak estrus is always the same give or take a couple days because it is triggered by length of day. The perceived “rut” can vary based on drought, temperature, bull to cow ratios and other factors. If cows aren’t bred in their “window” typical 10-16 hours they will come back in estrus approximately 28 days later.

Often, October intensity can be high because available cows left to breed is low and bulls are competing heavily for last breeding rights. They get desperate and seek more, sleep less and bugle more to announce to cows they are available.

[GreatWhiteBuffalo]

Still Rutting in SW CO yesterday 

[firstcoueswas80]

They were going nuts on my son's hunt. In fact we would have killed opening evening as there was four or five Bulls bugling their asses off if we had not gotten caught in a torrential downpour and opted to retreat for dryer pastures.

[wildwoody]

Yup there still screwing..

[PRDATR]

1 hour ago, wildwoody said:

Yup there still screwing..

Same thing every year since I started hunting them in 77. I have seen them hot after it in early September, in some years. Maybe dominant cows affect a few subordinate cows which suppresses their harmones and they don't go into estrus, then.

There always seem to be plenty of bugles to chase for the junior cow hunts in October.