Randy Newberg explains hunting the pre-rut seasonal period is one of the easier times to find elk. The highest priority need is transitioning from food and water during the early season toward breeding as the highest priority need in the peak-rut. The pre-rut period is small 10-14 day window where older bulls are starting to change patterns. By the end of the pre-rut, the bull’s needs of food and water are now replaced by breeding.