In reality, bucks dont go into the "rut"as much asthe does come into estrous. The bucks are always willing to breed, they just have to wait for the does to let them.They do know when it is getting close, and will prepare themselves and watch the does more.The swollen neck doesnt have anything to do with the bucks ability or readiness to breed. The buck you took simply may not have had as big of a neck as some other deer youve taken. From what Ive seen, the smaller yearling bucks dont have the large swollen necks that the mature bucks have.