The smell is normal most bucks shot after velvet loss will have a musk smell to them and but does get worse closer to the rut. Was his tarsal glands well worked, meaning soiled with a heavy brownish colour or were they more yellowed? Brown is closer to rut and yellowed is early stages of pre rut. Our rut isn't until Mid nov. and I have been seeing lots of signs, scrapes, rubs, licking branches, spars but this is usual. LatelyI have noticed the larger bucks are seeking solitute so this to me is an indicator thatthey are gearing up. Isuspect soon their will be bucks nosing the ladies and a little nervousness when they enter the playing field.

I agree Rut happens pretty much the same time each year, however the weather plays a part in how much daylight activity we hunter'se. Up here it has been warm withlittle snow the past few years, this has caused for slower activity but your only kidding yourself if you believe the rut ain't going on as per usual. I do believe that the population has strung out the rut a little causing for a less defined period in certain areas but does are being breed the middle of november like prior I just think its happening under darkness more b/c of their activity levels.

Any way congrats on your deer.