No rut activity

[Shadow24]

I hunted 5 days in early Sept. and noticed very little rut activity but I knew it was still pretty early so I didn't think much about it. I heard two bugles in 5 days, and there was no wallow use. I was able to hunt the same area this last weekend and still nothing. I saw a group of 5 cows all by themselves with no bulls around. I was able to get a few replies with locator bugles but nothing was sounding off by themselves. Has anyone ever noticed a particular area enter the rut later than normal? In most cases the rut should be in full swing by now am I right?

[Kleinpm]

One of the areas I hunt seems very similar. I can find cows but there are never bulls with them, that I can see.

In this particular case, I think the bulls are getting it done at night in the fields they all move down to at night to eat. Morning rolls around and the bulls take for the hills before sunrise, followed by the cows a little later.

My point is, unless there are NO bulls in the area you are hunting they are still not to far from the cows. They are just wise enough to not get caught during daylight.

Patrick