shed...it's actually a little rag horn bull. Look closer (but it's hard to see his spikes).

ag...there has been much debate on this subject (for years) and on other websites. Really I think it's like saying if I go to the casino on Saturdays, will I be more likely to hit a jackpot? Seriously, you can take all the scientific data about daylight, combine it with the moon phases and correlate it to the rut and come out with an approximate date of the rut. Throw in the weather and who knows??? I only say this because I have hunted here my whole life and have yet to see a specific time that they are consistantly the same (especially in what area). Some times I've seen them rutting down south the first part of the month and up north they haven't even started to rub/scrape. Really I'd say it's about 98% luck that the big guy will be where you will be at the same time. 2% is you (or the equipment in Skeeters case). I switch it every year hoping to hit it right one of these times. Funny enough, I picked the same date as you for this year. We were about 2 weeks late last year (from what the locals told us) and 1 week early. This is how it works...plan your trip according to what your outfitter tells you (he knows best in his area if you trust him). Pray to the Gods that they send a decent buck down your trail (with or without a doe). Shoot and be happy!

Last year I was driving home from work on the last day of the season (in the City) only to have a big mule deer run right in front of me chasing a doe! Prior to that I saw very little rutting activity as I was hunting, remember Nov was extremely warm. That just goes to show you how it's very difficult to pick & choose. Even for those of us who live here it's really a crap shoot! Good luck and doin't second guess yourself, just have a blast!!!