Week 3 of the Elk Rut: Herd Bull vs Satellite Bull, Equinox Estrus, and When He’s Chasing Cows (Sept 15–21)

Yeah.

So realistically, as we've talked about throughout this whole series, fall equinox is when the cows within those few days surrounding fall equinox when cows go into estrus because the light is the same going into their pupils, right? And that day is September 22nd.

So that starts technically next week, but we're leading up to it, right? So with the moon, we are actually increasing our moon, right? The moon is now waxing towards full moon, which is technically on the 26th.

So we're starting to see, we're going to see how that implements and affects the rut.

But yeah, so the moon is starting to grow.

Yeah.

And then the fall equinox.

So what does that do for the elk?

Honestly, that is when the cows go into estrus.

So.

So everything is based off of it because let's be real, they have one purpose on their mind, the men especially, is to increase their genetics for next year, right? And they've done studies, the fact that these cows go into estrus at an exact specific time, all within a few days of each other to help the breed, right? That's an evolutionarily trait.

And so the cows want the men just as bad as the men want the cows, right? And so we can talk about things like how the moon affects and causes the estrus buzz.

So I'm really excited for us to view hunting this week as a herd rather than just the bulls.

The first week, we're talking about bedded bulls and how that implements.

The second week, we're talking about how the younger boys are super excited.

They're getting everything, all the groups together.

This week, that herd bull, he is in his element.

This is his chance.

Think gladiator style, right? This is his moment.

I am Marcus Aurelius.

I am ready to be a man and I'm super excited for it.

Caitlin, what about you? Yeah, this is this is the exciting part because this is when they're bugling from our experiences, just hearing them out there bugling as you're going to bed.

When you're getting up in the morning, they're here.

They're around versus that first week.

You're kind of are there elk out here? I see sign, but I'm not sure there's any animals.