Attacking the Heart of Elk Season

September flies by, and seizing this critical part of the elk rut is crucial. As the old saying goes, you only get so many Septembers—and even more so, only so many days within those Septembers. By mid-month, the elk rut should be in full swing, and being in the woods during this time can be magical. If you're near elk, you’ll likely hear them being vocal, engaging in their annual rutting rituals.

While this can be exciting, it's essential to capitalize on it instead of just watching or listening to the action. It would help if you got a lot right, but a few key strategies can increase your chances of success and potentially lead to a shot at a bull.

Don’t Skip Midday

While it’s not an exact science and can vary depending on conditions, elk tend to be most active during the mornings and evenings, especially from mid to late September when the rut is in full swing. During these times, you’re more likely to hear bulls bugling and see elk on the move. However, hunting heavily pressured public land can change this dynamic, and elk often don’t always bugle throughout the day. By mid-morning, around 9 or 10 a.m., they tend to quiet down and can be much harder to locate as they bed down for the day.

But don’t let this midday lull fool you into thinking the action is over until the evening. Elk often resume their activities in the last few hours of daylight, becoming more vocal and active. Many hunters fall into the trap of heading back to camp for lunch or a nap during this midday period (and I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty of it myself).

Elk may bed down early after a night of rutting under the cover of darkness, but that doesn’t mean they stay down for long. Often, they become restless by midday, especially as temperatures shift and the thermals change. During this period, bulls might get up to check on their cows, feed, or re-establish dominance through bugling. This creates opportunities for hunters who stay in the field while others are resting back at camp. In fact, some of the best action can occur between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. when elk stir in their bedding areas.

This pattern is particularly pronounced during a full moon, as we’ll experience this year in mid-September. Elk are more active at night during full moon phases, meaning they may bed down earlier in the morning and become restless earlier in the day. Midday hunting during a full moon can be especially fruitful because elk, having spent much of the night on their feet, will likely be up and moving again by midday.

While I generally prefer morning hunts for their predictability and cooler temperatures, I’ve found that midday and evening hunts during a full moon can be highly productive. This makes it even more important to stay in the field and remain alert for midday opportunities.

One tactic that’s worked for me is packing enough food and gear for the day, then taking short naps on the mountain rather than heading back to camp. That way, you’re already in position when elk start moving again, and you’re not wasting precious time hiking back to your hunting spot.

So, while it’s easy to assume that midday is a slow time, it can be one of the most rewarding parts of the hunt if you’re patient and prepared.

Know When to Push and When to Back Off

Opportunities to move in on elk can come and go quickly, so acting when the time is right is vital. Elk are often “here today, gone tomorrow” creatures, moving due to pressure from hunters, satellite bulls, weather, or even bugs.

When conditions are right, and the elk are in a good location, it’s often best to strike while the iron is hot. You may think waiting for a better time is wise, but when you know precisely where a herd or a bull is, the best time to act is usually now. Delaying often means they’ll move on their own—or worse, another hunter might make the play you were considering.

However, there are times when it’s wiser to hold off. Waiting is your best option if the wind is swirling and won’t settle. Or, if elk are in an area with no approach where you won’t be spotted, it’s better to hang back until the thermals shift or they move to a more approachable spot.

Just last fall, my friend Brian and I were in on a bull mid-season that was bugling at everything we threw at him but wouldn’t commit and just kept climbing the mountain. Knowing the area well, we just continued to dog him, knowing he was running out of timber. Soon, he had to decide whether to cross a thousand yards of shale rock and scree or commit to our calls. Luckily for us, but not so much for him, he went with the latter, and I made good on the opportunity.

Time is Your Greatest Strength

Ask any consistently successful elk hunter, and they’ll tell you that time is one of the most crucial factors in their success. It seems obvious, but many overlook that those who always seem to kill elk usually spend the most time hunting.

If you have limited time to hunt, it’s better to spend it on one more extended trip rather than breaking it up into multiple shorter ones. While I enjoy being in the elk woods throughout the season, I would prioritize the middle to the end of September if I were pressed for time. There will be more hunters in the woods, but there’s a reason. As the rut heats up, so do your odds of encountering elk. So, if your time is limited, this is the period you want to be out there.

Here’s why I believe an extended trip is more beneficial than several shorter ones: locating elk is a big part of the challenge, and as mentioned, elk move for various reasons. If you’re on a more extended trip and find elk, you can usually stay on them, even if they move to the next draw or canyon. But if you leave for a week or more, there’s no telling where they might be when you return.

A more prolonged hunt will offer more opportunities. Just be sure not to burn yourself out early. Hunt hard but also hunt smart, conserving energy whenever you can.

Final Thoughts

I realize none of this may be groundbreaking information, but surprisingly, each is underutilized by most that head into the elk woods. You can talk about all the gear and tactics in the world, but some of the simplest things can yield the most results. Make your elk hunting vacation as extended as possible, utilize the time of the day when most are relaxing, and metaphorically speaking, learn when to put your foot on the gas and when to hit the brakes. These few things might be the key to the puzzle you’ve been missing and could lead to you finally putting that bull on the ground. Good luck!

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