Personally, I don't think the rut corresponded with the first few days of rifle in my area as far as CHASING. A few weeks before the season, we saw bucks seeking. During the two days of rifle we hunted, not one of us saw or heard a single chase. The 9 pointer was apparently stopping byto check a few scrapes that my buddy didn't even know were there until he walked up on it after he killed it. Having said that, I did see the button buck mount a doe, so I don't know what the deal was!