RE: Phase of the rut
Around here in Ohio the bucks are getting hormonal, but they are 99% nocternal right now (at least the mature ones). Little guys are running around all day. The biggins are just feeding and bedding, but they are moving more than before. Next week or two they should really turn it on and begin to actually move with some sort of purpose.
This Saturday I watched a mature buck feed right past 3 does without a care. Obviously, no rutting activity as of yet here.