Elk in rut?

It depends somewhat on where you are. I have seen cold weather in Colorado start the rut in early September, but it is usually closer to the end of September. I have seen some research that says it depends on how and when the cows had their calves in the spring. Still others say that it depends on how long the sun is out as the days start to get shorter. In my experience, it seems to be the temperature... but it is probably a combination of all three.

I will be in Colorado 16 days from today hunting with a muzzle loader hoping to catch the early parts of the rut.

At any rate, the time is never exact; but mid-September is probably the best bet.

Elk 's hormones kick in on every animal at slightly different times of the 'season'..[and I'm not talking about 'hunting' season here..}..one bull will start as much as a couple weeks Pryor to his Buddy's...another elk wont start his hormones until 4 - 5 - maybe 6 weeks after that first bull started.

The 'rut' will often span as many as 8 to 10 weeks, but normally it seems to last only so long as there are cows still cycling, and not yet bread.

'Early' bulls tend to be younger,.. older bulls have bachelor party's, 'spar' with one one another until they come to season, and will abandon there groups as they come to hormonal readiness.

Sometimes, if ya listen, you will hear the bulls clicking...tapping there antlers with each other, but they aren't really in 'rut' yet..just exploring the reach and strength of there beams and tines.. that's always a rush to hear echoing around in the canyons.. and the sound will be a real good indication of the size of antler ..too.

I think it is usually around those first 2 weeks of Sept when things begin happening... for nearly all the states.

Depends on where, it varies. In the Northwest it is usually September.