The Perfect Storm (i.e. Day to hunt)

[one_elk]

No doubt most of us would agree that the perfect day to hunt elk is whenever we can get out and hunt as someone once said a day in the elk woods is, well, better than any other way to spend a day…..but back to my question, and just out of curiosity . If you had but one day to hunt this season what would that day look like i.e. exact date, weather conditions (what is the barometer doing, wind (now that’s a no brainer, or is it?), precipitation, temperature, cloud cover…..), phase of the moon….Some would say that’s easy, regardless of all other conditions I want to be as close to the peak of the rut as possible others would say I want to hunt the day with the most daylight hours and yet others will say I want to hunt on the day of the fall equinox….so if you had a one day season but you could select the conditions and exact date what would it look like? No if, then or butts you got ONE day…..

[cnelk]

Sept 11-13 [this year]
Moon phase - No impact
Weather - cloudy - cool - no precip - no wind

Cloudy/cool conditions really set off the bulls where I hunt

Be where you want to be before daylight.
Be rested because its gonna be a full day of hunting

[>>>---WW---->]

Hmmmmm! I guess I really never gave it all that much thought. I've hunted in all sorts of condidtions. Even been out there in weather that kept most hunters in their tents with a deck of cards.

It would be much easier to tell about the type of weather that I least prefer. And that would be those warm nights followed by 85-90 degree days with lots of sunshine. As soon as that sun peeks over the eastern horizon, those elk are headed for any cool spot they can find. That makes for a mighty tough hunt unless you are lucky enough to be ahead of them when they enter the timber.

[otcWill]

Everything cnelk said plus its been high winds and pooring rain for the last few days forcing elk to hole up. Bulls go bananas when they're forced to take a day or two off during da rut!

[Swede]

My favorite is the first day of the season. Make mine hot and dry, and I do not care about moon phase unless I am packing out at night. Then it is good to have a full moon.

[WapitiTalk1]

One day huh.. OK, I'll play. Date: 25 September Time: 20 minutes befeore the sun pops over the high ridges Weather: Crystal clear, 28 degrees, with 10 inches of fresh snow on the side of the mountain side I'm standing on. I remember a few times in Montana that we had those September snows and it really seemed to turn em on. Oh, and the snow was really nice for tracking ..

[tdiesel]

20th of sept I want a breeze in my face no matter the direction I turn (makes leaves rustle covers noise) cloudy cool and prefered new moon but that's just so they move slower cause they are feeding a little later. Not a biggy and surrounded by elk and no one else!

[elkmtngear]

One day huh.. OK, I'll play. Date: 25 September Time: 20 minutes befeore the sun pops over the high ridges Weather: Crystal clear, 28 degrees, with 10 inches of fresh snow on the side of the mountain side I'm standing on. I remember a few times in Montana that we had those September snows and it really seemed to turn em on. Oh, and the snow was really nice for tracking ..

Perfect! (except I only want 4 inches of snow )

[RockChucker30]

A cold snap, last week of the archery season. Cloudy and overcast all day with a steady light wind that doesn't swirl. One of those days that stays the same temp from sunup to sundown.

Alternatively, a bluebird sky kind of day after a bad front has pushed through with cold temps, high pressure, and low humidity.