Elk behavior by regions

[Navesgane]

I read a lot here and other places of people referring to elk behavior according to dates. For example; elk rut from _ to _, or they use wallows from _ to _. Do they typically follow dates in various regions or are the dates specified more of a generalization?

[Swede]

Jeff, that is a good question. Let me state I have not hunted or even observed elk in most regions. What I know is what has been written or just what I have observed.
From western Oregon to Pennsylvania, Montana to New Mexico there may be a few days difference in the timing of elk rubbing their antlers, wallowing, breeding, etcetera, but not much. Heat, snow, hunting pressure, and moon phase do not change the age old timing of these things either.
So, what evidence can I show for this statement? The vast majority of all calves are born mid May through Mid June. Occasionally a cow is missed in the first estrus period and gets bred late. Their calf will be born a little late then. Still, their gestation period is not lengthened or shortened by any external factor. The millennia long ritual of elk leaving the winter range and heading to calving grounds, then to summer range, and finally back to winter range goes on and on unabated. When we see calves born in March or September in significant quantity, then we should check to see what has changed or if there is something different in that particular region. As of today we can still reliably hunt Alberta or Arizona in the late September rut. Good hunting.

[Navesgane]

Makes sense Swede, thanks