In general it kicks off in Nov. and will run through Jan. depending on where you are. Up north the activity gets going sooner than down south. Photoperiodism is the key. They will start rutting all about the same time, but due to the heat in the south, the big bucks do not get moving as much as the Northern ones. Which in effect leaves more estrus does for the later months. That would be the reason for the rut going on longer in the South. OR at least that has been my experience.