Elk rut and elevation?

[bldrbuck]

Is it just me or do elk rut earlier at higher elevations? I'm hunting at 8-9k in Northwest CO and they are just starting to sound off, while a friend is hunting another unit about two hours east at an elevation of 10.5-11k and they are all cowed up and going nuts? What do the experts here think--let's don't hash out the diminishing amounts of daylight as the only signal to the elk to start rutting--there's got to be more...
thanks

 

[completesportsman]

Maybe the cooler temps makes feel more frisky up there? Dunno

____________________________________________________________________
"Ain't no pisscutter worth it but we keep doing it!" -Bobcatbess

 

[mmwb]

I really don't know, but my understanding is that the length of day is what sets the cows into estrus. Now in terms of when the bulls start chatting and it gets fun, that may be affected by other factors. I always think of the rut as when the breeding starts as opposed to when they are talkative.