I dont know about a late rut, but i've been seeing bucks dogging does in iowa for 2 weeks. it wouldn't be out of the question for a buck to smell musky. probably his tarsal gland. I really don't read into that late rut early rut stuff. Moon phases are out the window. It's all photoperiod. that's why its within a few days of itself every year. either way, i've been seeing rutting activity, and the magazines say i shouldnt be seeing rutting activity. that's when you make that thing turn into something useful, like something to start a fire with, or toilet paper.