From what I've read and seen, the rut usually iscontrolled by the amount of light per day that affects the pituitary gland of deer; it causes the does to come into heat and the buck to "get rutty". That's why they have a rut in Florida as well as other, colder states. Shorter days = less light = rut.
But having said that, it also seems like colder weather will get the deer to moving more - and that may have more to do with their increased need for food than anything else. But as the does move around more, the bucks also move around more - so in my experience, I have seen more deer being more active when the weather cools down than when it's warm.
Don't worry about getting that first deer - spend time in the woods and apply the knowledge you can get from this and other forums, and it will happen. A guy I was hunting with last week made a very profound observation: "When you are out in the woods with your rifle, you significantly increase yourchances ofgetting adeer."
Good Luck!
ps - Glad to see that you value your time with your family; it always meant a lot to me too. Note the signature at the bottom of my post.
Me and my dad
My brother hunted for six years before getting his first deer, but apply what you learn here and it will happen soon.
