RE: without the rut...
Welcome to my world!! [:@] Bow season in VT runs 1st Saturday of October (all crops cut by then = no summer feeding patterns) until generally the last Sunday of October (before the chasing starts). This year is October 4th thru October 26th.
Like you said "just plain ole deer hunting like the middle of october... ". That's all I get, which is one reason why on the success rate poll my buck rate is less than 5%! I shoot does whenever I can, but the bucks just aren't moving. It's tough hunting.
... Shockwave