RE: 08 rutt in IL..?
I dont believe the rut is directly tied to ruting activity, if anything a full moon IMO allows deer to run all night and sleep all day, I'm sure the moon may have some influence, though I doubt any of us know that complex relationship.
I'm a big pre-rut guy, anyway, so ya id rather be early than in the middle of it.
1st week of NOV is pretty solid, so is that last week of OCT