Advertise Here T.R. Michels' Trinity Mountain Outdoors Your Internet Portal to Hunting & Fishing News, Information, Products and Services Peak Elk Bugling Dates I Elk Hunting Tips Elk Communication I Elk Articles "T.R.'s Tips" Talk Forum / Message Board The articles on this page are excerpts from the Elk Addict's Manual, by T.R. Michels. For more information on elk biology and behavior, and elk hunting techniques, order your copy in the Trinity Mountain Outdoor Products Catalog Elk Activity Graphs
	This is the only website on the internet, that has elk activity graphs, because no other website owner has spent 4 years researching elk himself, and has read the research papers of as many other elk researchers as he can. I hope they are helpful. The graphs below are the result of my elk research project from 2001 to 2004. The data provided here is taken from elk herds in southern Minnesota. However, the results may apply to other areas. These graphs will help you better understand when bugling activity peaks during the day, and during the fall rut. The graphs will also help you understand how the weather affects bugling, and why the moon does not affect bugling and peak breeding. If you have questions feel free to log on to "T.R.'s Tips" Talk Forum / Message Board and ask questions, or e-mail me. Good luck elk hunting, and let me know how you do.   T.R. Michels
Daily Bugling Peaks Photo by T.R. Michels, elk photos for sale Elk bugle most frequently at dawn and dusk, with slight increases in bugling activity at noon and midnight. This graph shows the daily bugling activity of approximately 165 bull elk. It has been theorized that elk bugling should correlate with the activity of the cow/calf herds. The results of these studies support that theory. This graph shows that bugling generally begins to pick up 45-60 minutes before sunrise, as the cows begin to feed in the morning, and decreases within 2-3 hours of sunrise, as the cows go back to wooded areas to bed down for the day. Bugling begins to increase again about an hour before noon, when the cow herds often get up to stretch and eat for a short time, and generally decreases within an hour of noon, as the cows bed down again. Bugling then begins to increase again about 2-4 hours before unset, as the cows get up to feed in the afternoon/evening, and decreases within 1-2 hours of sunset, as the cows bed down for the night. Research studies show that elk may often begin moving at about midnight, when bugling may increase again.
Morning versus Evening Bugling Data from Elk Bugling Activity in Response to Meteorological Conditions in Southeastern Minnesota, T.R. Michels Trinity Mountain Publishing. This graph shows that, from late August to late October, bugling was slightly higher in the evening than it was in the morning. This was probably due to the fact that morning temperatures were generally lower than evening temperatures. The dates given here may not apply to other states. Check the Peak Elk Bugling Dates to find out when bugling peaks in each area.
Bugling and Temperature Data from Elk Bugling Activity in Response to Meteorological Conditions in Southeastern Minnesota, T.R. Michels Trinity Mountain Publishing.  The above graph shows that elk bugling increased with the temperature; it peaked at about 70 degrees, and then decreased. I suspect that at some point it is too hot to bugle.
Monthly Bugling Peaks and the Moon